To contact any of the staff below, email kilauearecovery@hawaiicounty.gov. 

Douglas Le

Disaster Recovery Officer

(808) 961-8174

Misty Carter

Disaster Recovery Program Coordinator

(808) 961-8084

Jen Myers

Disaster Recovery Communications

(808) 961-8729

Patti Pinto

Recovery and Redevelopment Assistant

(808) 961-8500

Jeff Deason

CDBG-MIT Program Specialist

(808) 961-8091

CDBG-DR

The following staff members joined the Disaster Recovery Division in 2021 to oversee the County's housing assistance initiatives funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program.

CDBG-DR staff can also be reached at 808-961-8996 or kilaueabuyout@hawaiicounty.gov.

Julie Leialoha

CDBG-DR Program Manager 

Sandra Chun-Thornburg

CDBG-DR Housing Program Supervisor

Kyla Lee

CDBG-DR Program Compliance Specialist

Kekua Hosea 

CDBG-DR Housing Specialist

Shantel Yomes

CDBG-DR Housing Specialist

Ann Cho-Wagatsuma

CDBG-DR Housing Assistant

Zeda Ann Medina

CDBG-DR Financial Compliance Supervisor

Michael Palmer

CDBG-DR Financial Analyst

Len Miyazono

CDBG-DR Accounting Analyst

Lindsay Moore

CDBG-DR Project Specialist

Legislative

County Council

As legislative partners, County Council members from the affected districts play an important role in supporting communications with the public and, as planning and recovery implementation advances, they will be engaged in making key decisions along with the rest of the Council.

Ashley Kierkiewicz (District 4)

Ashley L. Kierkiewicz is Big Island born and raised. She was elected as the District 4 Council Member for the 2018-2020 Hawai‘i County Council. Ashley is focused on empowering community, leveraging public-private partnerships, and activating local economy so all Hawai‘i Island residents can thrive.

Ashley has nearly a decade of experience working in communication and outreach for Hastings & Pleadwell, where she provided strategy and media relations for a range of clients statewide. She is engaged to Kaui Nakanelua, a Hawai‘i County firefighter. Together they are raising their two children, Arya and Toby, in Hawaiian Paradise Park.

Ashley has an open-door policy, and she looks forward to working directly with the community to revitalize Puna, and our island, with vision and vitality.

Matthew Kaneali‘i Kleinfelder (District 5)

Matthew Kaneali‘i-Kleinfelder lives in Kurtistown with his wife, Dawn, and their two children, Adam and Maya, while their oldest child, Alexis, attends Avila University in Missouri. Matthew attended Hawai‘i Community College and UH-Hilo where he received his Associate in Liberal Arts. He wears many hats: he is a server, a bartender, an electrician, a solar installer, a glassblower, and a small restaurant owner. Yet, at his core, Matt holds true to family values, honesty and hard work. Today, he’s ready to make a difference that goes beyond single rooftops and help make decisions that uplift his community.