Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s top two advisers have resigned.

The governor’s office said today Chief of Staff Amy Asselbaye and Deputy Chief of Staff Andrew Aoki informed the governor of their decision earlier this week.

They resigned “in order to spend more time with their families and young children,” according to a news release from the governor’s office. Asselbaye has three children; Aoki has two young children.

Bruce Coppa, the state comptroller, was named chief of staff and a search has begun to fill Coppa’s post.

“Amy and Andrew and their families have sacrificed for years on behalf of the people of Hawaii and I respect their desires to want to reconnect with their families,” Abercrombie said. “The two of them have helped me make the transition from the campaign to governing.  I’m sure the transition to continued leadership in the Governor’s Office will be a smooth one.”

Asselbaye has worked for Abercrombie for 18 years, first as a legislative assistant for him during his years in Congress before being promoted as his Congressional Office’s Chief of Staff.

Aoki’s time with Abercrombie began in the 2010 gubernatorial campaign as the deputy campaign manager before joining the new administration.

Coppa was head of Coppa Consulting, Inc. before joining the Abercrombie Administration in December. Prior to that, Coppa served as chief operating officer of Communications Pacific and executive director of Pacific Resource Partnership.

Hawaii News Now Video: Richard Borreca discusses governor’s staff resignations