Dawn Takeuchi Apuna named Acting Director of City’s Department of Planning and Permitting

News Release from Office of the Mayor, Sept 16, 2022

HONOLULU – Mayor Rick Blangiardi announced Friday that Dawn Takeuchi Apuna will serve as Acting Director of the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP), effective immediately.

“Our decision to ask Dawn to lead DPP during this critical period for the department and our City and County, was predicated on our complete confidence and respect for her knowledge, understanding and professional skills to handle this very difficult and demanding challenge,” said Mayor Rick Blangiardi. “I admire her tenacity and courage in taking on this crucial leadership role for our team, and she has my strong support and deepest appreciation.”

Prior to joining the City as the Deputy Director of DPP in 2021, Takeuchi Apuna’s experience included numerous legal and planning roles. Most recently, she served as a deputy attorney general for the State of Hawaiʻi.

Prior to that, Dawn was chief planner for the Hawaiʻi Public Housing Authority. Her role with the Department of Planning and Permitting is a return to City service for Dawn, as she served as deputy corporation counsel for the City and County of Honolulu from 2009 to 2014.

Dawn completed her undergraduate degree and an M.A. in Urban Planning at the University of California Los Angeles. She also holds a J.D. from the University of California Hastings College of Law.

—PAU—