By Staff Reports
(Honolulu)– Mayor Rick Blangiardi is pleased to announce the return of Kēhaulani Puʻu to the City and County of Honolulu as Deputy Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR). Puʻu officially resumed her duties as the department’s second-in-command following a swearing-in ceremony held at Honolulu Hale on Friday, August 1, 2025.
“We are thrilled to welcome Kēhau back to our administration,” said Mayor Blangiardi. “Her leadership, deep cultural knowledge, and passion for serving our community make her an incredible asset to the Department of Parks and Recreation. We look forward to the positive impact she will continue to have on the care and enhancement of our parks and public spaces.”
Puʻu previously served as DPR’s Deputy Director from June 2021 to June 2024 before accepting the position of Chief Operating Officer at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. During her tenure with DPR, she helped organize major City events such as the Mayor’s Memorial Day Ceremony and Kapolei City Lights, while also championing the integration of cultural and educational elements into the department’s recreational programming. She played a key role in supporting a department that manages nearly 800 full-time employees and 6,722 acres of park land with an operating budget of $109.8 million in Fiscal Year 2024.
“I am both honored and excited to return to the City and County of Honolulu as Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation,” said Puʻu. “It’s a privilege to once again serve our island community and work alongside dedicated staff to steward our parks, programs, and public spaces, all of which are vital to our quality of life and sense of place.”
Puʻu succeeds Edward “Ted” Hayden, who served as DPR’s Deputy Director from October 2024 through June 2025 and now continues his dedicated public service as Program Administrator for the Community Based Development Division within the Department of Community Services.
A graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi and resident of Leeward Oʻahu, Puʻu holds a Master’s degree in Education from Harvard University. Prior to joining the City, she spent over a decade with Kamehameha Schools in various leadership roles and has dedicated much of her career to advancing Hawaiian culture and education through her work with Leeward Community College, Hale Kuamoʻo at the University of Hawaiʻi Hilo, and ʻAha Pūnana Leo Inc.
Her official start date with DPR is Friday, August 1, 2025, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the department and the communities they serve.