Kaʻū News Briefs, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022

Spooktacular Experiences for Halloween
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, Kaʻū High and Pāhala Elementary, and community, school and business
venues offer a series of Halloween options through Halloween night. Costumes like this Hawaiian bat attire, are welcome. At Kīlauea Visitor Center on Saturday, Oct, 29 and at Kahuku Unit on Sunday, Oct. 30 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., pick up a Halloween scavenger hunt bingo card. Explore trails with the family, and if making bingo, return to the visitor center for a treat bag provided by the park's non-profit partner, Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association. Fourth graders can get a free park entrance pass. Complete the online activity on www.everykidoutdoors.gov and print the paper voucher to bring to the park in exchange for a fourth grade pass. Everyone in the car gets in for free, and the pass is valid until the end of August 2023. See more Halloween options in the posters below. NPS Photo

THE GOVERNOR HAS APPOINTED A NEW STATE COMPTROLLER. SHE IS AUDREY HIDANO. She

Audry Hidano is appointed
to be state comptroller.

took to the helm at Department of Accounting & General Services on Oct. 21 after serving as deputy director since April 2015. Prior to joining DAGS, she served as deputy director at state departments of Transportation and Labor & Industrial Relations. Hidano is co-founder of Hidano Construction, Inc., was a co-owner of Rim-Pac, Inc., and served as a public affairs analyst at Hawaiian Telcom (formerly Verizon and GTE Hawaiian Tel).

"Audrey is well positioned to facilitate the management and supervision of the wide range of programs and activities handled by the department," said Gov. Ige who made the appointment. Hidano replaces Curt Otaguro, who moves to the state Department of Education to be deputy superintendent of operations.

Meoh-Leng Silliman is
appointed to be Deputy
state comptroller.

Ige also chose Meoh-Leng Silliman to fill the deputy position at Department of Accounting & General Services. She has been the business management officer at DAGS since 2017. She previously held other managerial positions in the state, serving as a Branch Chief in the Department of Budget and Finance and the Business Management Officer at the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Prior to relocating to Hawaiʻi, Silliman held a series of progressively more responsible managerial positions during a ten-year tenure at the New York District Attorney's Office, including the positions of Deputy Director of Fiscal Affairs and Deputy Director of Operations. She earned a B.A. from Hamilton College in New York and a M.B.A. from George Washington University in D.C.
"Meoh-Leng has a deep understanding of the department's operations, and I know she will be successful as the new deputy," said the governor.
Both terms will end on Dec. 5, 2022, unless reappointed by whomever is elected governor. Both are subject to Senate confirmation.

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Jennie Potter, who is
leaving the PUC.

ANOTHER NEW PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSIONER IS SOUGHT. Gov. David Ige announced that PUC commissioner Jennifer "Jennie" Potter will resign Oct. 31. The term expires on June 30, 2024, and the governor said he seeks "a candidate for this key position" and that he will make an appointment to fill the seat as quickly as possible. The PUC oversees such
industries and the electric, water and gas utilities, along with transportation and shipping.
The governor praised the work of Potters, saying "For the past four years, Jennie has participated in decisions that set the standard for advanced and groundbreaking regulation. Together, we have made tremendous progress toward achieving the state's renewable energy goals, and I thank her for her service."
Potter said that Hawai'i's PUC Commission "is considered a national leader because of its innovation, regulatory muscle, and outstanding decision making, and it has been invaluable to be a part of it."