Ige names BOE appointees

Gov. David Ige reappointed two members and appointed three new members to the state Board of Education. The appointments are subject to approval by the Senate.

Damien “Kaimana” Barcarse is being reappointed to the Hawaii County seat for a three-year term beginning July 1 and ending June 30, 2025.

Barcarse currently serves as “catalytic initiatives” for Kamehameha Schools and is also a DJ and program producer of Alana I Kai Hikina, a radio show which broadcasts entirely in the Hawaiian language on KWXX-FM.

Bruce Voss is being reappointed to an at-large seat for a three-year term beginning July 1 and ending June 30, 2025.

Voss is a partner with the law firm of Bays Lung Rose & Holma, specializing in business, real estate, and employment law and litigation.

N. Makana McClellan is being appointed to the City and County of Honolulu seat for a three-year term beginning July 1 and ending June 30, 2025. She will fill the position currently held by Kenneth Uemura, who will complete his term on June 30.

McClellan is the director of business development and community relations at Shriners Children’s Hawaii.

Lauren Moriarty is being appointed to complete Lyla Berg’s three-year term in a City and County of Honolulu seat. The term began on July 1, 2021, and runs through June 30, 2024. Berg declined to continue in the position following the current legislative session. Berg will serve until May 5, and Moriarty will start May .

Moriarty is a former U.S. Ambassador, career diplomat, and dean of Academics at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies.

Ken Kuraya is being appointed to complete the three-year term of Catherine Payne’s at-large seat, which began on July 1, 2021, and ends on June 30, 2024. Payne declined to continue in the position following the current legislative session. Payne will serve until June 30, and Kuraya will start July 1.

Kuraya is an educator who served for 40 years in various roles within the state Department of Education from the classroom to the administration.

“The highly skilled people I’ve selected to be on the Board of Education bring a range of experiences that will contribute to a public education system that delivers results for the people of Hawaii,” Ige said in a statement. “They will continue to ensure that our public schools are places where students can unleash their curiosity and creativity and prepare to help us meet the state’s goals in renewable energy, locally grown food production, environmental stewardship and more.”