HONOLULU, HI — Mayor Caldwell announces that he has named Mark Yonamine as Acting Director of the Department of Design and Construction (DDC). Yonamine had been serving as the department’s Deputy Director for more than six years. Yonamine requires confirmation by the Honolulu City Council before officially being named Director of DDC. A search for a Deputy Director for the department is ongoing.

“I want to thank Mayor Caldwell for allowing me to build upon the good work by former DDC Director Robert Kroning over the past five years,” Yonamine said. “The department is filled with many hardworking and dedicated civil servants who are focused on making our city even better, and I am looking forward to tackling all of the infrastructure projects that lie before us in the coming year.”

Former DDC Director Robert Kroning is leaving the City and County of Honolulu after serving in the Caldwell administration for the past five years. Kroning began at the city in September of 2014 and was instrumental in completing much-needed infrastructure improvements, including the KK Tunnel project, hundreds of millions of dollars in repaving contracts and recent improvements to Ala Moana Regional Park, to name just a few. Kroning and his wife are returning to Europe where they have lived previously.

“The experience I’ve had working at the city has far exceeded my expectations,” Kroning said. “I’m extremely appreciative to Mayor Caldwell for his vision, dedication and genuine care for the people of O’ahu and for the superb team he put together to manage the city’s affairs. Just as impressive have been the outstanding civil servants that I’ve gotten to know and work with. Honolulu can be very proud of its remarkably talented government staff. Although I’m off to pursue previous promises, I’ll always be grateful to the City and County of Honolulu for accepting me into the family with open arms.”

“Robert made a huge difference for the people of the City and County of Honolulu during his time at the Department of Design and Construction and really moved the needle forward on this administration’s focus on infrastructure,” Caldwell said. “The city is extremely lucky that Mark Yonamine has agreed to lead the department in a seamless transition that ensures the city’s infrastructure projects will progress in an expeditious manner during the coming year.”