Esther Kia’aina, the deputy director at the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, announced today that she has applied to the Democratic Party of Hawaii‘s state Central Committee for consideration to replace the late Sen. Daniel Inouye in the U.S. Senate.

Kia’aina, 49, who began a 20-year career on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. as an intern for Inouye before rising to chief of staff for two different congressmen in the U.S. House of Representatives, expressed appreciation for any consideration that could result in her being one of the three nominees the party would ask Gov. Neil Abercrombie to select for the vacant post.

“It would be a tremendous honor and privilege to serve the people of Hawaii in the U.S. Senate,” Kia’aina said. “With Senator Inouye’s passing and Senator Akaka’s imminent departure, it is important to ensure that Hawaii has the strongest representation possible in our nation’s capitol. With their exemplary leadership and accomplishments, I pledge to build upon their foundation and continue to fight for the people of Hawaii.”

Kia’aina, who is Native Hawaiian and Nanakuli resident, was a candidate in the August primary election for Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District seat in the U.S. Congress. Before that, she was the chief advocate for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Prior to joining OHA, she was a land asset manager for Kamehameha Schools. In addition, she previously was a legislative assistant to Sen. Daniel Akaka before becoming chief of staff to U.S. Congressman Robert Underwood of Guam. In 2007, she ended a 20-plus career in Washington, D.C. as chief of staff to then-U.S. Congressman Ed Case.