Governor Selects New Policy Director, Communications Deputy Director

News Release from www.Hawaii.gov/gov Nov 16, 2012

HONOLULU –Governor Neil Abercrombie today announced the selection of two new members of his executive staff. Kendra Oishi joins the Governor’s office as Director of Policy, and Christine Hirasa joins as Deputy Director of Communications, effective immediately.

“Kendra and Christine will be valuable assets of my executive team,” Governor Abercrombie said. “Both bring with them experience that ranges from government to education to news media, and are products of the University of Hawaii System.”

Oishi has more than 14 years of government experience, including 11 years of legislative experience. Since January 2001, she worked as a legislative analyst for the state House of Representatives Majority Staff Office. From August 2010 to January 2011, Oishi served as acting director, a temporary assignment. She also served as an administrative and account clerk in the Administrative Driver’s License Revocation Office, State of Hawaii Judiciary, from 1998 to 2001.

Oishi earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Hawaii –West Oahu and associate degree in liberal arts from Kapiolani Community College.

Hirasa most recently served as a communications specialist for the Hawaii State Department of Education’s Race to the Top initiative. Prior to that, she served as the executive assistant to the chancellor at the University of Hawaii –West Oahu, as well as a public information officer at the Hawaii State Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs from 2005 to 2010 and at the Hawaii State Judiciary from 2003 to 2005. She has also worked in the news industry as a producer at KHON from 2001 to 2003 and at KHNL/KFVE from 1997 to 2001.

Hirasa earned her bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

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