Kaua‘i Appoints Tyler Saito as County Attorney, Ensuring Legal Continuity
Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami appointed Tyler Saito as Kaua‘i County Attorney, with the Kaua‘i County Council confirming the appointment in October and Saito sworn in effective Nov. 3. The internal promotion from First Deputy County Attorney maintains continuity in the county’s legal leadership as outgoing County Attorney Matthew Bracken departs for private practice.
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Kaua‘i County’s legal leadership shifted this month when Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami appointed Tyler Saito as County Attorney, a move ratified by the Kaua‘i County Council earlier in October and made effective with Saito’s swearing-in on Nov. 3. Saito succeeds Matthew Bracken, who is leaving county service to enter the private sector.
Saito’s elevation from First Deputy County Attorney signals an internal succession that preserves institutional knowledge within the county’s legal office. His prior experience as First Deputy County Attorney and a past role as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney give him familiarity with both civil legal work for the county and experience in public prosecution. The appointment follows the established municipal process in which the mayor nominates and the council confirms the county’s chief legal officer.
The County Attorney’s office serves as the primary legal adviser to the mayor and county departments, handles legal representation in litigation, and plays a role in enforcement of county ordinances and legal matters that affect municipal operations. The leadership change will be consequential for ongoing legal strategies, contract reviews, land-use and permitting disputes, and the legal underpinnings of county policy on issues such as affordable housing, infrastructure projects, and environmental regulation.
Promoting an internal candidate is likely to provide continuity across active matters, reducing potential disruptions in litigation and ongoing advisory work. It also maintains staffing stability at the senior levels of the office, which can be significant during periods when the county is managing recovery and resilience projects, capital improvements, and other long-term initiatives that rely on consistent legal counsel.
At the same time, Bracken’s departure for private practice takes a seasoned public-sector lawyer out of municipal government and raises questions about how the office will manage transitions of ongoing cases and institutional memory. The council’s confirmation role reinforces a system of local checks and balances; observers should note how the new County Attorney and the council interact on high-profile legal questions that touch public priorities.
For residents, the appointment matters because the County Attorney shapes how Kaua‘i interprets and enforces rules that affect daily life, from development approvals and shoreline protections to contract procurement and emergency response. Civic engagement in county meetings and oversight forums will provide the public an avenue to follow any changes in legal interpretations or enforcement priorities under new leadership. As Saito settles into the role, watch for formal opinions, litigation filings, and departmental guidance that will reveal the office’s priorities and approach to legal risk and public accountability.
