Committee confirms Darlene Blakeney to Employees' Retirement System; nominee pledges recusal on bank matters

The Senate Committee on Labor and Technology advised and consented to the appointment of Darlene Blakeney to the Board of Trustees of the Employees' Retirement System on March 6, 2026.

Blakeney introduced herself as executive vice president and chief lending officer at First Hawaiian Bank and described a long career in banking and finance in Hawaii. She told the committee she has served on the ERS on an interim basis, has attended both investment committee and board meetings and is focused on improving retiree access to information and education about retirement planning.

When asked about potential conflicts of interest if First Hawaiian Bank had investments with the ERS, Blakeney acknowledged the relationship. "There there is a conflict, and that First Hawaiian Bank does do business with the ERS. It's a very small portion of the ERS's corpus. It's less than 1%," she told the committee, and added that she would "recuse myself from the discussion as well as the vote" on matters involving the bank.

The chair recommended "advise and consent," and the clerk recorded that all members present voted aye; two senators were excused. The committee adopted the recommendation and congratulated Blakeney.

Blakeney told senators she is focusing on retirees' access to information and on preventing kupuna exploitation and fraud, and that she hopes to use her experience to improve education and planning tools for retirement. The committee placed her confirmation on the record without further action.