Gov. David Ige has appointed two state employees as the new deputy directors for the state Department of Budget and Finance and the Department of Human Resources Development.

Laurel Johnston, currently Ige’s deputy chief of staff, has been appointed to a new position as deputy director of the Department of Budget and Finance effective Friday.

That post has been vacant since November, when former Budget and Finance Deputy Director Rod Becker was appointed to serve as state comptroller.

Prior to joining Ige’s staff, Johnson was director of the University of Hawaii System Budget Office. She has a Master of Science degree in public administration and a Bachelor of Science degree in criminology from Florida State University.

Ige also named Ryker Wada to be deputy director of the Department of Human Resources Development. He will replace Cindy Inouye, who is retiring.

Ige thanked Inouye for her service, calling her “a true advocate for state employees (who) has ensured that the people of Hawaii have been well served.”

Wada now serves as certificated personnel regional officer for the Windward District of the state Department of Education, where he is responsible for human resources and labor relations. Before joining the DOE he served as managing attorney for the Honolulu Office of the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii.

Wada earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington and a law degree from the University of California Hastings College of the Law.

Johnston’s appointment is subject to confirmation by the state Senate during the next regular session, which begins in January. Wada’s appointment, which is effective Jan. 3, is not subject to Senate confirmation.

MAUI

Flood damage reports sought

The Maui County Emergency Management Agency is compiling a list of property damage from the flash flooding on Sunday and is asking anyone who sustained damage to report it online.

Initial reports indicate that some townhouses and a Montessori school were affected.

The storm damage reporting document is available at mauicounty.gov/Dec11FloodReport Opens in a new tab. The information will ensure that the county has a complete picture of the scope of damage caused by the flooding and heavy rain.

Completion of a damage assessment survey does not constitute an application for assistance. Affected parties still must file claims with their insurance companies.

Call the agency at 270-7285.

HAWAII ISLAND

Suspicious device investigated

Hawaii County police have opened a first-degree terroristic threatening case after a “suspicious device” was found in Kailua-Kona.

Police, with help from Army bomb disposal specialists, determined that it was not an explosive.

At 7:23 a.m. Friday police received a call about the device in front of a business at the King Kamehameha Mall in Kailua-Kona. Police evacuated the mall and formed a perimeter around the area. As a result, Kuakini Highway, from Palani Road to Kaiwi Street, was closed to traffic until 5:05 p.m. Friday, when the explosive ordnance disposal unit determined that the device was not a threat.