Senior Advisor - Communications

"With a background in sports marketing, Lenny Klompus earns raves
for packaging Governor Lingle’s message so well."
MidWeek, January 18, 2006

As senior communications advisor to Governor Lingle (2002 to the present), Lenny Klompus strives daily to ensure all Hawai‘i residents know and understand how their state government is serving them. Klompus is the primary conduit between the Administration and the public, conveying Governor Lingle’s messages, initiatives, issues to ensure the accuracy, timeliness and clarity of all communications through all media.

Viewing the establishment of the Lingle-Aiona Administration in 2002 as a bold new start for Hawai‘i, Klompus plays a pivotal role in strategic planning within the Administration. His responsibilities extend through all media relations efforts, including internal and external communications. Klompus embraces partnerships with directors, deputies and public information officers of each state department to develop open, inclusive and collaborative lines of communication. With the ideal of innovation as a unifying thread, he combines his trademark flair for activating new possibilities with his skill for planning, organizing and distributing key messages that keep our residents informed.

Klompus champions the principle that every individual in our state deserves a comprehensive understanding of their government’s initiatives, functions and practices. He has increased the effectiveness of Hawai‘i’s Language Access law, and this year secured translation of the Governor’s State of the State address in six different languages, extending vital information to our residents with limited English proficiency.

During the past six and half years, Klompus has implemented several major policy driven events such as the Governors' International Women's Leadership Conference (now in its sixth year) and Robotics Competitions, including the development of the ROC (Robotics Organizing Committee).  The ROC encompasses six major scholastic robotics programs in the Hawai'i which are available for elementary, middle and high school students and now number over 250 teams statewide.

In 2008, Klompus was appointed to the 50th Anniversary of the Statehood Commemoration Committee. He continues to serve as Vice-Chair in charge of events/communications. One of the key components has been his development and production of the 50th Voices of Statehood.  These radio and television public service announcements identify the major individuals who have shaped Hawai'i in the past, the present and into the future.  The video anthology will run through the end of September, 2009.  He also served as the Executive Producer of the historic 50th Anniversary of Statehood Commemoration Conference on August 21, 2009. (see more at www.hawaiistateoodconference.com) 

Prior to joining the Administration, Klompus owned and managed professional and amateur sports events for nearly 30 years. His career in sports promotion included producing games for cable television before ESPN existed and becoming the first person to broadcast a collegiate basketball game live from Japan.  His leadership was instrumental in certifying the Aloha Bowl for its first game in 1982, making history with the NCAA's first double-header football bowl games in 1998, and repackaging the Hula Bowl in 1995.  The 50th Anniversary game in 1996 was a hallmark event where nearly 20 legends of the game returned to Hawai'i to play a "touch football game" prior the NCAA all-star event. While moving the Hula Bowl from O‘ahu to Maui in 1998, Klompus’ focused enthusiasm caught the attention of then-Mayor of Maui, Linda Lingle, with whom he forged a public-private partnership. 

Klompus sold his businesses and in 2002 and joined the Administration.

"Everyday brings new opportunties", says Klompus as he works with a dedicated team and fellow senior staff to further Governor Lingle's initiatives to help all the people of Hawai'i.