Jon Yoshimura, communications director for U.S. Sen. Dan Akaka, is stepping down at the end of the month to take a job with a Honolulu-based solar energy firm.

Yoshimura, a former television news reporter who also served on the Honolulu City Council before joining Akaka’s staff, is joining Honolulu energy firm SolarCity as director of government affairs, Akaka’s office said in a news release.

"Mahalo nui loa to Jon for leading my communications office for over six years," Akaka said in a statement.  "He successfully increased our outreach to the people of Hawaii through news media, my website, e-newsletters and social media sites.”

Deputy Communications Director Jesse Broder Van Dyke will take over as director Nov. 1.

Broder Van Dyke has served as a spokesman for Akaka since December 2006.  He previously was a news producer and assignment editor at KHON2-TV from 2002 to 2006.

Akaka plans to retire when his term expires Jan. 3, 2013.