Candidates for the vacancy on the Kamehameha Schools board of trustees have until Sept. 30 to apply for the opening created by the resignation of trustee Constance Lau.

The seven-member Trustee Screening Committee, which was appointed by Probate Judge Colleen Hirai, will begin narrowing its list of applicants to three candidates after the deadline.

Lau, who has served as a Kamehameha Schools trustee since 1999, announced in February that she was stepping down after she was named chief executive officer of Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc.

Lau agreed to remain at the estate until her replacement was named.

Hirai will select Lau's successor from the screening committee's list of three nominees.

Panelists include former Honolulu Police Chief Francis Keala, Hawaiian Electric Co. executive Robbie Alm, the trust's former court-appointed master, Ben Matsubara, Kamehameha Schools alum Michael Rawlins, attorney Melody MacKenzie, Queen Lili'uokalani Children's Center President Claire Asam, and George "Keoki" Freeland, executive director of the Lahaina Restoration Foundation.

Established by the 1884 will of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, the Kamehameha Schools is the state's largest private landowner and one of the nation's largest charitable institutions. Each year, the trust educates more than 5,400 children of Hawaiian ancestry at its Kapalama Heights and Neighbor Island campuses and its 30 preschools.

Lau's replacement will serve the remainder of her five-year term, which expires on June 30, 2008. The appointee could qualify for reappointment for a maximum of two, five-year terms.

Prospective candidates should send their nominations — including resume, cover letter and statements of goals — to Inkinen & Associates at 1001 Bishop St., Pauahi Tower, Suite 477, Honolulu, HI 96813. Applications can also be faxed to (808) 521-2380 or e-mailed to jobs@inkinen.com.

Reach Rick Daysog at rdaysog@honoluluadvertiser.com.