GOVERNOR GREEN NAMES MIZUNO TO SERVE AS NEXT LEADER OF HOMELESSNESS TEAM

News release from Office of the Governor, December 20, 2023 

HONOLULU  ̶  Governor Josh Green, M.D., today named State Representative and former State House Vice Speaker John Mizuno as the Governor’s Coordinator on Homelessness.  

Mizuno will succeed James Koshiba, who laid the groundwork for Governor Green’s campaign to reduce chronic homelessness and provide housing solutions for the disadvantaged. Koshiba will return to nonprofit work.

A successor for Mizuno who has served in the House since 2006 and has been in public service for more than 32 years will be named within 60 days. 

“I have known John Mizuno for decades and he has a heart for the people that will serve him well as he works to build roofs over people’s heads. As a physician, I know that housing is healthcare and every human being has a right to be housed. John is going to work very hard to expand that reality for as many people as he can.”  said Governor Josh Green, M.D.

Mizuno is a veteran in the social services field and is an advocate for Hawaiʻi’s youth,  kūpuna and the disability community. Prior to his career as a lawmaker, he was a special investigator for the Department of Human Services and served as a Public Hearings Officer for the department between 1992 and 1998.  

As a first-term lawmaker, he was the first in Hawaiʻi to be recognized as Legislator of the Year, in 2006. He was vice speaker of the House from 2013 to 2017 and was re-elected to serve as vice speaker again from 2020 to 2022.

“It is humbling to have been appointed by Governor Green as his coordinator on homelessness and I am honored and grateful,” Mizuno said. “My time with the House Committee on Human Services has greatly informed me of the needs of the houseless community and I will work tirelessly to fulfill Governor Green’s mission.” 

Mizuno is a graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa with a B.S. in Sociology and a law degree from Willamette University, College of Law in Salem Oregon.

Photos, courtesy Office of the Governor, can be found here.

Photos include Governor Josh Green, M.D.; State Representative John Mizuno (House District 29, Kamehameha Heights, Kalihi Valley, portion of Kalihi) and Mrs. Joje May Mizuno. 

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Total Fail: After Closing Sole ‘Kauhale’, Green’s Homeless Coordinator Is Leaving Post

CB: … James Koshiba, a nonprofit leader and community organizer heading the governor’s push to dramatically reduce homelessness in Hawaii, is stepping down from his role as the state’s homelessness coordinator next month.

Gov. Josh Green appointed Koshiba to the position last December.

In a brief statement Friday afternoon, the governor’s office said Koshiba had worked to “lay the foundation” for achieving Green’s goal of reducing the number of unsheltered homeless people in the state by half in the next three years.

(TRANSLATION: ‘Lay the foundation’ = ‘Accomplish nothing’)

No reason was given for Koshiba’s departure….He will stay in his current position until Jan. 12 to help onboard his replacement, though it is unclear yet who that will be….

(CLUE: Homelessness is 100% about drugs, 0% affordability of housing.  Until you accept this, you will fail to end homelessness.)

read … Green’s Homeless Coordinator Is Leaving Post

CB: Green Appoints Rep. John Mizuno As Hawaii Homeless Czar - Honolulu Civil Beat

SA: Editorial: Homeless need more kauhale 

HNN: Lawmaker tapped to address Hawaii’s homeless crisis inspired by brother’s struggle