The U.S. Senate on June 26 confirmed Esther Puakela Kia’aina as Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas. Born in Guam to Native Hawaiian parents, Kia’aina has strong connections to Pacific islands and extensive experience on Capitol Hill, said Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell.
President’s nominations include APIs
President Obama sent his judicial and departmental nominations to the U.S. Senate on Jan. 6. Among the nearly 250 names submitted were the following members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities: Vince Girdhari Chhabria, of California, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of California, vice Susan Y. Illston, retired.
Esther Kia’aina nominated as Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas
Esther Puakela Kia’aina was nominated to serve as the Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas at the U.S. Department of the Interior by President Barack Obama on Sept. 11. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Kia’aina would lead the Department’s efforts to coordinate federal policy for Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. […]