Gov. David Ige has appointed Linda Chu Takayama to be his new chief of staff, effective Aug. 1.
Takayama, who has extensive government experience, serves as director of the state Department of Taxation where she has been responsible for the collection of more than
$7 billion annually in revenue and has overseen modernization efforts within the department.
Prior to that, she served in Ige’s Cabinet as director of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.
“I am truly honored by this appointment and will be working hard to justify the governor’s confidence in me,” said Takayama in a news release issued Friday by the governor’s office. “Although the state faces tough challenges, I believe, as LBJ did, ‘There are no problems we cannot solve together, and very few that we can solve by ourselves.’”
Takayama has also served as director of the Office of Economic Development for the City and County of Honolulu; deputy director
of the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; and as state insurance commissioner.
She also worked in Washington, D.C., as the chief of staff to the U.S. Senate sergeant at arms.
An attorney, Takayama received her law degree from George Mason University School of Law in Virginia.
Takayama replaces Mike McCartney, who was appointed Opens in a new tab director of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism in January.
Ford Fuchigami also served as a principal adviser to Ige, taking on traditional chief of staff duties until he accepted a civil service job Opens in a new tab in May with the Department of Transportation.
Ige has not yet announced a replacement for the top post at the Department of Taxation.
Ige also announced Friday that he has appointed Keith Yamamoto to serve as his chief operating officer. Yamamoto previously served as first deputy director of the state Department of Health.
