Rapoza named UH Hilo director of HR
The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administrative Affairs is pleased to announce that Kalei Rapoza is named to the position of director for the Office of Human Resources, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, effective September 1.
A UH Mānoa alumnus, Rapoza has served as interim director for the UH Hilo HR office since January 2016 and will now have full management and supervisory oversight for the human resources and personnel functions of the office. He has overseen a pilot program to facilitate the APT search process and integration of the campus’ workers compensation function into the HR office. He has worked collaboratively with leadership across the UH Hilo campus in a range of human resources matters and at all levels to positively address and quickly resolve personnel complaints and grievances.
UH Hilo looks forward to his leadership in HR. He has comprehensive knowledge and understanding of public sector employment laws and has served as part of the negotiating team for the University of Hawai‘i and for the Hawai‘i Department of Education. He has a high level perspective for the role of human resources in the current environment of higher education.
Rapoza joined UH Hilo as associate director of Human Resources in 2013, moving from the DOE. He has a BS from UH Mānoa, a JD from the William S. Richardson School of Law and is a graduate of the University of Hawai‘i President’s Emerging Leaders Program.