Esther Kia'aina
| Esther Kia'āina | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Areas | |
| Preceded by | Anthony M. Babauta |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
July 16, 1963 Guam, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater |
University of Southern California George Washington University Johns Hopkins University |
Esther Kia'āina (born July 16, 1963) is an American politician who heads the Office of Insular Affairs as Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Areas.
Esther Kia'āina was born in Guam to parents Lorelei Haunani Kia'āina and Melvin Leialoha Kia'āina. Before she was born, her parents left Hawaii due to her father being stationed in Guam while serving in the U.S. Navy. Kia'āina moved to Oahu in 1978, graduating from Kamehameha Schools in 1981.
Kia'āina received her B.A. from the University of Southern California in international relations and political science. She then attended George Washington University to receive her J.D. and Johns Hopkins SAIS to receive her M.A.
After graduating from the University of Southern California in 1985, Kia'āina served as an intern to then-Senator Daniel Inouye in Washington, D.C. She also worked for then-Senator Daniel Akaka during the 1990s, and as a Chief of Staff for Congressman Robert Underwood of Guam and former Congressman Ed Case.
In Hawaii, Kia'āina served as a Land Asset Manager at her alma mater Kamehameha Schools for two years before moving on in 2009 to work for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
In 2012, Kia'āina ran to represent Hawaii's 2nd congressional district in the United States Congress, following the retirement of Congresswoman Mazie Hirono, who had decided to run for United States Senate following the retirement of Senator Akaka. She was one of six candidates and placed third with 10% of the vote, losing to Congresswoman-elect Tulsi Gabbard, and former Mayor of Honolulu Mufi Hannemann.
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