Office of Hawaiian Affairs Chief Advocate Kawika Riley has been honored by Hawaii Business Magazine as one of 20 “emerging leaders who have already made major contributions to Hawaii and who expect to have an even greater impact over the next two decades.”
Riley, 31, was introduced as one of Hawaii’s people to watch at the magazine’s 20 for the Next 20 event on March 12.
At OHA, Riley and his team work to advocate for policies favorable to Native Hawaiians and to ensure compliance with the law. He and his team is also working to clear the way for Native Hawaiian self governance.
Riley joined OHA in Sept. 2012 as the Washington D.C. Bureau Chief and was elevated to Chief Advocate a year later. He came to OHA from the Transportation Security Administration, and prior to that worked for the U.S. Senate Committee on Veteran’s Affairs. He is a protégé of retired U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Akaka. He worked for Akaka for nearly four years.
He was born and raised on Hawaii Island and graduated from Kealakehe High School. He is married with two young children.
See the article on all of Hawaii Business’ 20 for the Next 20 honorees at http://www.hawaiibusiness.com/20-for-the-next-20-2015/
