HONOLULU — Honolulu’s former chief attorney has been recommended as the next general counsel for the University of Hawaii.
Carrie Okinaga has been recommended for vice president for legal affairs and general counsel by University of Hawaii President David Lassner, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported.
Her appointment will be considered Thursday by the Board of Regents. If approved, she would start in late June with an annual salary of $235,008.
Okinaga is now general counsel at First Hawaiian Bank. She’s also a board member of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, a position she would leave if hired by the university. Prior to that, she was the City and County of Honolulu’s corporation counsel from 2005-2011, serving with three mayors.
Okinaga earned her bachelor’s degree in government and public policy from Pomona College and is a graduate of Stanford Law School.
“Our university serves such a critical, game-changing role in educating our youth, developing our workforce and increasing the number of high-quality jobs through innovation and research,” Okinaga said in a statement. “I am humbled by the opportunity to work with President Lassner and his team in their service to our university and community.”
Among other high-profile appointments Lassner has made since taking office last summer include Kalbert Young as vice president for budget and finance, Risa Dickson as vice president for academic affairs and Jan Gouveia as vice president for administration, a post he reinstated.