HomeMy WebLinkAboutDOWNR022117DepartmentofWaterwelcomesThomasCanutetotheKauaiBoardofWaterSupplyContact: Jonell S.T. Kaohelaulii
Information Specialist
Phone: (808) 245-5461
Mobile: (808) 755-5432
Email: jkaohelaulii@kauaiwater.org
Water has no substitute…
Conserve it!
News Release
For Immediate Release: February 21, 2017
Department of Water welcomes Thomas Canute to the Kauai Board of
Water Supply
LIHUE – Thomas “Tom” J. Canute was recently appointed to the Department of Water’s Board of Water
Supply (KBWS). Mr. Canute is the vice president and Lihue branch manager for First Hawaiian Bank.
He was officially sworn in at the Board’s Regular Meeting, held Jan. 27 at the Department of Water
(DOW).
Mr. Canute joins six other Board members in overseeing and determining the policies and direction of
the KBWS. Within the KBWS, four Board members are appointed by the mayor with the approval of the
Kauai County Council. Appointed Board members are volunteers who do not receive compensation for
serving on the KBWS. The remaining three Board members are ex-officio voting members, but do not
serve as chair or vice chair of the Board. The current Board members are:
Sherman Shiraishi – Appointed member since December 2012, Mr. Shiraishi is an Attorney at Law at his
private practice firm established in 1979. He currently serves as the Board's chairperson.
Laurie Ho – Appointed member since February 2014, Ms. Ho is a retiree with over 32 years of
experience with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service.
She currently serves as the Board’s vice chairperson.
Beth Tokioka – Appointed member since July 2016, Ms. Tokioka is the communications manager for
Kauai Island Utility Cooperative. She currently serves as the Board’s secretary.
Michael Dahilig – Ex-Officio Member since December 2010, Mr. Dahilig is the planning director for the
County of Kauai’s Planning Department.
Lawrence “Larry” Dill – Ex-Officio Member since December 2010, Mr. Dill is the State of Hawaii
Department of Transportation’s district engineer. Mr. Dill served as an ex-officio member from
December 2010 to February 2016 while in the position of county engineer for the County of Kauai. He
continues as an ex-officio member when he began his position with the Department of Transportation in
2016.
--more--
Lyle Tabata – Ex-Officio Member since May 2016, Mr. Tabata is the acting county engineer for the
County of Kauai.
Mr. Canute fills the Board’s vacancy left by former Board Member Clyde Nakaya who served a full 6-year
term on the KBWS. Mr. Nakaya, who is the assistant vice president at First Hawaiian Bank, joined the
KBWS in June 2011 and served as the Board’s chairperson from January 2014 to December 2014 and
vice chairperson from January 2012 to December 2013 and from January 2015 to December 2016. The
DOW and KBWS extend its appreciation to Mr. Nakaya for his years of volunteer service to the Board
and the community.
About the Kauai Department of Water
The Kauai Department of Water, a semi-autonomous agency of the County of Kauai, manages and
operates the water supply and distribution systems for the County of Kauai. The Department derives all
of its revenue from water service accounts with no direct subsidy from the County General Fund. Its
mission statement, “Together, we provide safe, affordable and sufficient drinking water through wise
management of our resources and with excellent customer service for the people of Kauai” is embr aced
by the department’s staff and the Board of Water Supply. For more information about the Kauai
Department of Water, visit www.kauaiwater.org or its Facebook page at
http://www.facebook.com/KauaiDOW.
Photo Attachment 1: Thomas J. Canute
Photo Attachment 2: Tom Canute being sworn in to the Department of Water’s Board of Water Supply
by Eddie Topenio, administrative assistant to the county clerk.
###