INTERIM DIRECTOR OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES APPOINTED, STATE CONSERVATION EFFORTS DISCUSSED BY GOVERNOR

July 25 - At the 15th Annual Hawai`i Conservation Conference, Governor Lingle announced she has appointed Laura H. Thielen to serve as interim director of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.  Thielen will begin her new job on July 30.

"We have a great working relationship with [Laura]," said Jeff Mikulina, director of the Sierra Club - Hawai`i Chapter. "We look forward to working with her at DLNR and hope she can continue some of the conservation success that (former director) Peter Young initiated."

The Governor also shared the state's efforts to "lead by example" and work collaboratively with environmental organizations, the private sector, government agencies, native Hawaiian groups, educational institutions and the community to protect and enhance Hawai`i's environment and natural resources.

"Conservation doesn't mean staying the way we are," the Governor said.  "Conservation will take innovation to be successful."

In addition, Governor Lingle joined the Hawai`i Conservation Alliance in recognizing 25 students for their achievements as part of the "My Hawai`i" environmental writing contest.  The contest was an education outreach project for middle schools and intermediate schools statewide. The Hawai`i Conservation Alliance and Pacific Rim Concepts asked students to describe their feelings about Hawai`i's environment in a 1,000-word essay or 150-word poem. The top 25 entries were published in an anthology and honored with a commendation from the Governor.