Cades Schutte congratulates Keola R. Whittaker on his appointment to the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents by Governor Josh Green. Pending confirmation by the Hawaiʻi State Senate, Keola will represent Maui County through June 30, 2030.
As a member of the Board of Regents, Keola will help guide the governance and strategic direction of the University of Hawaiʻi System, which serves students and communities across the state.
“I understand the unique challenges facing communities on Maui, Hawaiʻi Island, Kauaʻi, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi, and the transformative role the University of Hawaiʻi can play in their future,” Whittaker said. “I will strive to bring a neighbor island perspective that is essential to the governance of a university system that serves the entire state.”
Keola has a longstanding commitment to community service. In addition to his legal practice, he serves on the boards of Habitat for Humanity Maui and Wave of Harmony, a nonprofit organization that supports performing arts education, cultural programs and youth development.
Keola advises clients on land use and zoning matters throughout Hawaiʻi, helping them navigate the state’s complex entitlement processes. He works extensively with housing developers on land use entitlements, zoning, and permitting, represents clients before planning commissions, zoning boards, and other governmental bodies statewide, and advises telecommunications companies on industry-specific regulatory matters. In addition, Keola has significant litigation and trial experience representing clients in high-stakes disputes involving corporate mergers, real estate agreements, and environmental claims, and provides strategic counsel to clients in the food and beverage industry on a broad range of business and legal issues.
Congratulations, Keola, on this well-deserved appointment and your continued service to Hawaiʻi.