HILO — With the resignation Friday of Parks and Recreation Director Charmaine Kamaka, Mayor Harry Kim has lost his third department head in almost as many months.
Kim said Monday he was “stunned” by Kamaka’s sudden resignation. Deputy Director Ryan Chong also resigned and will return to a position in the Department of Human Resources. Both resignations took effect last Friday.
Earlier this month, Finance Director Collins Tomei put in his notice, with his last day set for this Friday. Public Works Director Frank DeMarco tendered his resignation in late July, effective Aug. 31.
The loss of key personnel isn’t a trend, Kim said, because each case was different. He noted he had only one department director resignation in the entire eight years of his first mayoral administration.
Kim has allowed department directors to select their own deputies, a departure from the prior administration.
He said DeMarco had been a reluctant appointee who said he’d serve for a year. Kim took office in early December.
DeMarco had told the newspaper he resigned to move to Arizona, where his family lives.
Tomei, a longtime bank executive who was new to government work, has said the steep learning curve to setting county budgets and overseeing finances proved too steep a hill for him to climb.
Kamaka declined comment when contacted Monday. But Kim said he doesn’t think the resignations stemmed from a single incident, but was caused by something that had built up over the months.
“I think it was a difference in management styles. …. I’m not saying one is right and one is wrong,” Kim said. “I’m going to impose my will, obviously.”
Kim has appointed Roxcie Waltjen, the department’s culture education administrator, to the $99,000 position. Waltjen, who has more than 30 years experience in the department, faces County Council confirmation, probably in mid-October.
He’s named former Finance Director Deanna Sato, who has been serving as Tomei’s deputy, as director, a $110,000 position. Her confirmation is likely to come up before the County Council next week.
Kim said he’s still looking for the best candidate to head Public Works. A licensed professional engineer is required under the county charter for the $110,000 position. Finding qualified candidates to work for that pay is difficult, he said.
Allan Simeon, a DPW employee chosen by DeMarco to be deputy director, is a licensed professional engineer. But Kim said the deputy isn’t currently interested in moving up.
Kamaka served as Parks and Recreation director under former Mayor Lorraine Inouye, and then served as Health and Safety Division personnel program specialist in the county Department of Human Resources before retiring after 20 years in county government.
Both Kim and Managing Director Wil Okabe praised Kamaka’s work.
“We are very appreciative of the work Charmaine has done,” Okabe said.