Experience in Dealing with County Administration and Regulatory Processes
As Deputy Managing Director with Hawaiʻi County, Peter Young was the third highest County administrator serving in the Hawaiʻi County Mayor’s Office.
The Mayor’s Office of Management supervised the administrative functions of all agencies, departments, boards and commissions in the County, overseeing an operating budget in excess of $205-million and over 2,000 employees.
The following are the various departments within Hawaiʻi County government: Civil Service; Corporation Counsel; Data Systems; Finance; Housing & Community Development; Parks & Recreation; Planning; Prosecuting Attorney; Public Works and Research & Development.
As the only County Cabinet member stationed in West Hawaiʻi, Peter Young had island-wide responsibility with a focus of activity on West Hawaiʻi issues, programs, facilities and personnel.
Experience in Dealing with State Administration and Regulatory Processes
As Director/Chairperson of the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Peter Young served as a State Cabinet member.
As Director of DLNR Young was responsible for the management, administration and exercised control over public lands, the water resources, ocean waters, navigable streams, coastal areas (excluding commercial harbor areas), and minerals and all other interests therein and exercise such powers of disposition thereof as may be authorized by law.
‘The department also manages and administers the state parks, historical sites, forests, forest reserves, aquatic life, aquatic life sanctuaries, public fishing areas, boating, ocean recreation, coastal programs, wildlife, wildlife sanctuaries, game management areas, public hunting areas, natural area reserves, and other functions assigned by law.
As Cabinet member and Director of DLNR, Peter Young served on numerous State and National Boards, Councils and Commissions. The following are just a few of these:
- Board of Land and Natural Resources, Chairperson
- Commission on Water Resource Management, Chairperson
- State Historic Preservation Officer
- Hawaiʻi Ocean and Coastal Council, Chair
- Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council, Co-Chair
- Hawaiʻi Board of Agriculture, Member
- Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority, Member
- Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission, Member
- Western Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Council (WESPAC), Member
- Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), Commissioner
- Coastal States Organization, Executive Committee
- Coastal States Stewardship Foundation, Member
- U.S. Coral Reef Task Force, Member
Some of the entities we have helped and worked with include:
OHA has multiple, multi-faceted and multi-form beneficiaries, including direct and multiple layers of less direct and indirect interested parties. It has responsibility for places, natural resources, cultural traditions, sacred sites and gathering areas. Its interests transcend time and cover the past, present and future. Thus, simplistic, narrow, situational approaches are likely to result in suboptimal, even disappointing outcomes, both generally and especially in terms of OHA priorities. Therefore, OHA strategies must reflect the breadth, scope, subtlety and diversity of its multiple beneficiaries and responsibilities. The primary consulting function focused on advice on Public Lands Issues, including environmental and economic issues to enable OHA Trustees to make informed decisions on the real estate portfolio and other related matters. Ultimately, that led to the preparation of a Structure, Strategies, Policies and Procedures statement.
In 2008, Peter Young represented the State of Hawaiʻi and served on a core, three-member committee that included Washington, DC senior leadership from the Department of Interior and Department of Commerce to assist with coordination and resolution of matters in the preparation of the Monument Management Plan and Federal NEPA and State HRS 343 Environmental Assessment.