It’s only Thursday, but Gov. David Ige has announced the latest appointment to his Cabinet.

He had made a habit of announcing nominations on Fridays, but his spokeswoman said that practice was unlikely to continue after a Civil Beat story raised concerns about the decisions being buried over the weekend when fewer people were paying attention to the news.

Ige announced Thursday afternoon that he wants Leonard Hoshijo to be the deputy director in the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

Gov. David Ige, pictured here in December, announced Thursday that he wants Leonard Hoshijo to be the deputy director of DLIR.

Cory Lum/Civil Beat

It’s unknown who Hoshijo will work for though. Ige announced last month that he wanted Elizabeth Kim to head the DLIR but had to withdraw her name. She didn’t meet residency requirements after living and working the past year in Washington, D.C., as an appointee of President Barack Obama.

“Leonard Hoshijo understands the history of labor in Hawaii and the current needs of working people and employers,” Ige said in a statement released Thursday. “He is well respected by both those within labor and the businesses that grow our economy, create jobs and hire local employees.”

The governor’s office said in the release that Hoshijo’s professional experience spans decades in which he has worked on behalf of those who labor in Hawaii and gained valuable insights about the role employers play in solving workplace issues.

To take on this responsibility, the statement said, he will be leaving his position as the Education and Political Director for the Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters where he has run member-education programs, participated in the contract negotiations and project labor agreements, and administered contracts. Prior to this, he carried out various responsibilities for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, including housing representative, organizer, international representative and international vice president.

He is an active nonprofit board member, the release said, for a number of organizations including the Hawaii Housing Development Corp., the Labor Education Advisory Board, University of Hawaii Center for Labor Education and Research, and the Hawaii Labor Heritage Council.

“I’m looking forward to applying the experience I’ve gained to the purposes of the department and to contributing to the success of Hawaii’s 21^st Century workplace within the balanced parameters set out by the Legislature,” Hoshijo said.

Hoshijo’s nomination is subject to Senate approval.