{"id":236983,"date":"2026-07-02T12:07:21","date_gmt":"2026-07-02T22:07:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=236983"},"modified":"2026-07-02T13:49:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-02T23:49:13","slug":"bor-new-leadership-5-new-regents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/07\/02\/bor-new-leadership-5-new-regents\/","title":{"rendered":"UH<\/abbr> Board of Regents elects new leadership, welcomes 5 new regents"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 3<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"Three
Keith Amemiya, Lauren Akitake, Gabriel Lee<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The UH<\/abbr> Board of Regents (BOR<\/abbr>) elected Lauren Akitake as chair for the 2026–27 academic year and welcomed five new members during a special meeting on July 2 at UH<\/abbr> Mānoa<\/span>. Akitake was elected by a vote of seven to four.<\/p>\n

\"Three
Lui Hokoana, Akitake, Wendy Hensel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Akitake was appointed to the board in 2023 and represents Maui County. The BOR<\/abbr> governs the UH<\/abbr> 10-campus system and is responsible for policy direction, financial oversight and long-term strategic planning. As chair, she will preside over board meetings and work closely with UH<\/abbr> President Wendy Hensel and fellow regents to help guide the university’s strategic priorities.<\/p>\n

“This is more than an honor. It is a responsibility to serve the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> system—our students, faculty, staff and the communities we are entrusted to serve across Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> and beyond,” said Akitake (the complete statement is included below). “At the center of our work must be our students—their experience and their success—while supporting their academic and life journey.”<\/p>\n

The board also elected former Chair Gabriel Lee as first vice chair and newly appointed Regent Keith Amemiya as second vice chair. Both will serve one-year terms during the 2026–27 academic year.<\/p>\n

\"Five
New regents from left: Whittaker, Freitas, Laderta, Gee, Amemiya<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Five new regents begin service<\/h2>\n

The new leadership takes office alongside five newly appointed regents, making this one of the board’s largest transitions in recent years.<\/p>\n

Joining the 11-member governing board are Keith Amemiya, Marie Laderta, Makai Freitas, Keola Robert Whittaker and student Eric Pōmaikaʻi<\/span> Gee. Together, the new regents bring expertise in higher education, business, finance, law, labor, public service and student leadership.<\/p>\n

Amemiya, a UH<\/abbr> Mānoa<\/span> graduate and senior vice president at Central Pacific Bank<\/a>, previously served as BOR<\/abbr> executive administrator and secretary.<\/p>\n

Laderta has nearly three decades of public service experience<\/a>, including leadership roles with the state Department of Human Resources Development, Department of Taxation and the Department of the Attorney General.<\/p>\n

Freitas is a Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Island labor leader<\/a> with more than two decades of experience with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, where he has led workforce development initiatives and labor negotiations. He also serves as the West Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> representative on the Hawaiian Homes Commission.<\/p>\n

Whittaker is a Maui-based land use attorney<\/a> with experience in environmental and regulatory law and a longtime community volunteer.<\/p>\n

Gee, an honors student at UH<\/abbr> Mānoa<\/span><\/a> majoring in international business and finance, has served in state and county youth leadership roles and will represent students across the UH<\/abbr> system.<\/p>\n

The 11-member board is composed of volunteer regents representing every county in Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>, including five members from the City and County of Honolulu, two each from Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> and Maui counties, one from Kauaʻi<\/span> County and one student regent.<\/p>\n

\"Five
From left: Amemiya, Laderta, Freitas, Whittaker, Gee<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Akitake’s statement after being elected BOR<\/abbr> chair<\/h2>\n

“To say this is an honor is an understatement. I was born and raised in Waiehu, on Maui, and I was shaped by my community, my public school teachers, and the values I learned at home. I carry that foundation with me, and it is what brought me to this seat today.<\/p>\n

This is more than an honor. It is a responsibility to serve the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> system—our students, faculty, staff, and the communities we are entrusted to serve across Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> and beyond.<\/p>\n

I often ask a simple question: Where are we going? My hope is that, as a board, we continue to answer that question together—clearly, consistently and with purpose—so that our decisions are connected, not piecemeal, and that we are moving in one direction. I am grateful to be doing this work with five new regents who bring experience and fresh perspectives, and I look forward to working with all of you.<\/p>\n

At the center of our work must be our students—their experience and their success—while supporting their academic and life journey. I look forward to working with you to strengthen this university—not only as a place of learning, but as a destination for world-class research, academics, athletics, innovation and service to our communities. Thank you for this honor. I will not take it lightly, and I look forward to the work ahead.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Lauren Akitake was elected chair, and Gabriel Lee and Keith Amemiya will serve as vice chairs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":236986,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1193],"tags":[72,61,62,63,64,65,71,14,9,60,947,59,66],"class_list":["post-236983","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-administrative","tag-board-of-regents","tag-hawaii-community-college","tag-honolulu-community-college","tag-kapiolani-community-college","tag-kauai-community-college","tag-leeward-community-college","tag-uh-community-colleges","tag-uh-hilo","tag-uh-manoa","tag-maui-college","tag-uh-system","tag-uh-west-oahu","tag-windward-community-college","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t