HONOLULU n Governor Linda Lingle has appointed Russell Tsuji to serve as deputy director/land for the Department of Land and Natural Resources. “Russell’s past experience working for DLNR, and also counseling DLNR as one of its assigned deputy attorneys general,
HONOLULU n Governor Linda Lingle has appointed Russell Tsuji to serve as deputy director/land for the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
“Russell’s past experience working for DLNR, and also counseling DLNR as one of its assigned deputy attorneys general, will allow him to help make an immediate positive impact on the operations of the department,” said Lingle, according to a press release. “I am confident he will work effectively with Chairperson Laura Thielen, Deputy Director of Water Resources Ken Kawahara and the department staff to continue to protect and preserve our environment, while enhancing Hawai‘i’s natural and cultural resources.”
Prior to his appointment, Tsuji had been the state lands administrator for DLNR, where he headed the Land Division which is tasked with managing approximately 1.3 million acres of state land. The state is the largest landowner in Hawai‘i, and the Land Division is responsible for ensuring that these lands are managed in ways that will promote the wellnbeing of Hawai‘i’s people and ensure that these lands are used in accordance with the state’s public land trust obligations.
Before working for DLNR, Tsuji was with the Department of the Attorney General, where he counseled DLNR and other state agencies in real estate matters. Over the years, Tsuji has been involved in significant state projects such as the disposition of lands to The Salvation Army for the Ray and Joan Kroc Center in Kapolei; the acquisition of lands for the Maui Lani Elementary School, the leasing of lands for the Maui Wind Farm project; and the leasing of lands to KOYO, USA, a water bottling company operating at the state’s Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawai‘i Authority on the Big Island.
Prior to working for the State of Hawai‘i, Tsuji was in private practice with the law offices of Reuben S. F. Wong, a firm that concentrates in real estate law and litigation. Tsuji is an arbitrator with the Court Annexed Arbitration Program, and a member of the Hawai‘i state and American bar associations. Tsuji graduated from Washburn Law School and the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa.
Tsuji’s appointment takes effect immediately.
