[co-author: Stephanie Kozol]

At Hawaii Governor Josh Green’s recommendation, health care executive Anne Lopez (D) assumed the role of the state’s next attorney general on December 5. AG Lopez succeeds Acting AG Holly Shikada and will serve a five-year term, ending in 2026.

Before her AG appointment, AG Lopez served as CEO and general counsel for Hawaii Health Systems Corporation (2015-2022), as a special assistant to former Hawaii AG David Louie (2013-2015), and as an attorney for Chun Kerr Dodd Beaman & Wong (2004-2012). She earned her J.D. from the University of Hawaii, William S. Richardson School of Law (summa cum laude) and her B.S. from San Jose State University.

As part of the governor’s core leadership team, AG Lopez plans to leverage her professional experience and education to tackle two critical issues in the Green administration’s developing agenda — access to health care and affordable housing. AG Lopez told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser: “I want to serve [the Hawaii AG office] and ensure it enforces the laws of the state, is transparent in all of its work, and the residents of Hawaii benefit from our commitment and our commitment to public service.”

Why This Matters

AG Lopez says she will continue Hawaii’s tradition to effectively confront the state’s legal challenges with the necessary experience, values, and passion to promote the best interest of Hawaii and its citizens.