GOVERNOR APPOINTS LAURA H. THIELEN AS INTERIM DIRECTOR OF DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES

For Immediate Release: July 25, 2007

HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle announced today that she has appointed Laura H. Thielen to serve as interim director of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.  Thielen will begin her new job on July 30.  Her appointment is subject to confirmation by the state Senate when it reconvenes in January.

Thielen was rated very high on the list of individuals recommended for the position by a 30-member search committee Governor Lingle convened in April to find a replacement for former DLNR Director Peter Young.  The committee, which included representatives from environmental, native Hawaiian, cultural, business, and agricultural groups, conducted a statewide search of potential candidates.  The public was also encouraged to nominate candidates or submit a resume to the committee.

Thielen replaces interim director Allan Smith, who the Governor appointed on May 1 to lead the department while the committee conducted its search.  Smith has agreed to serve as interim deputy director of land until that position is filled.  He has indicated that he is not interested in serving in the position on a permanent basis.

Currently, Thielen is the executive director of the state Office of Planning which assists the Administration in planning the overall framework to guide development in Hawai‘i.  The Office of Planning also provides for the wise use of Hawai‘i’s resources in a coordinated, efficient, and economic manner, including the conservation of natural, environmental, recreational, scenic, historic, and other limited resources.  It represents the state in hearings before the Land Use Commission and assists other state agencies in planning and development, and facilitates intergovernmental coordination, working closely with the counties and federal agencies. 

“Laura has done a terrific job in leading the Office of Planning and helping to develop long-range plans for the State of Hawai‘i that balance growth with responsible management of our precious natural resources,” said Governor Lingle.  “I am confident she is the right person to lead the Department of Land and Natural Resources and continue to work collaboratively with environmental groups, businesses, the native Hawaiian community and the agricultural sector to protect our island environment and preserve the cultural and natural resources that make Hawai‘i so special. 

“I want to thank the search committee for doing such a thorough and thoughtful job in reviewing the candidates for this important position.  The members of the committee work on a regular basis with the Department of Land and Natural Resources.  They understand the challenges the department faces and the kind of leader that is needed to ensure we continue to work collaboratively to build on the progress that has been made over the past four years,” the Governor added.

Thielen has an extensive background in land use and environmental law.  She was the sole proprietor of LHT Services, which provided business consulting to non-profit organizations and state agencies.  Her clients included the Department of the Attorney General, University of Hawai‘i Foundation, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawai‘i Justice Foundation, State Department of Health, Hawai‘i Commission on Access to Justice and Hawai‘i Foster Parent Association.

Prior to opening her own practice, Thielen was a managing attorney with the Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i, where she planned, coordinated and operated a statewide legal hotline and referral system for legal services and counsel. 

Thielen also practiced law with the firms of Gerson Grekin Wynhoff & Thielen in Honolulu, and Squire Sanders& Dempsey in Cleveland, Ohio.  Her focus was land use and environmental matters. She has represented clients in state and county land use matters, contested case and general administrative hearings, applications for Conservation District Use Permits and zoning changes.  She has represented small developers, businesses and environmental interests.

In November 2002, Thielen was elected to serve on the Board of Education to represent the Windward O‘ahu district.  She also served on the Kailua Neighborhood Board from 1994 to 1996.  Thielen was the chairman of the U.S. Department of Education Pacific Regional Advisory Committee, and in 2004, she was recognized by Small Business Hawai`i as Education Leader of the Year.

Thielen has also been involved with Hawai‘i Women’s Lawyers, Hawai‘i Women’s Legal Foundation, and Hawai‘i Bar Association.

Thielen is a graduate of Case Western Reserve School of Law and the University of Colorado, Boulder.  She also earned a master’s in public policy from the Georgetown University Public Policy Institute.

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For more information, contact:

Lenny Klompus
Senior Advisor – Communications
Phone: (808) 586-7708

Russell Pang
Chief of Media Relations
Phone: (808) 586-0043