Governor Abercrombie announces DLNR deputy director

Governor Neil Abercrombie appointed Honolulu lawyer Bill Tam as Deputy Director of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Tam, 62, a lawyer who specializes in water, natural resources and land use law with Alston, Hunt, Floyd & Ing, will serve as Deputy Director of Water. He joins Interim Chairman William J. Aila and First Deputy Director Guy Kaulukukui as the team leading DLNR. Mr. Tam’s appointment will have to be approved by the state Commission on Water Resource Management, which will meet in January. Mr. Aila’s appointment is subject to confirmation by the State Senate.

For 17 years, Tam was a Deputy Attorney General for the Board of Land and Natural Resources (1981 to 1997) and the first legal counsel to the Commission on Water Resources Management (1987 to 1997). He co-authored Hawaii's Water Code (1987) and taught land law at University of Hawaii Law School. Mr. Tam graduated from Wesleyan University (Conn.) and Boston University School of Law. He is active with the Marimed Foundation, the Polynesian Voyaging Society, and the Trust for Public Lands.

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