‘Second to none’: Honolulu mayor appoints new zoo director

News admin June 10, 2026 0 Comments

‘Second to none’: Honolulu mayor appoints new zoo director

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Honolulu Zoo has a new director.

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi announced Tuesday that he appointed John Berry to lead the zoo.

“We conducted a thorough search locally and nationally and found an individual whose credentials are second to none,” Blangiardi said.

Berry comes from an extensive career in conservation and leadership.

He served as the Director of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, where he worked with the Inspector General’s Office to help to conserve millions of acres of wild habitats. He also served as the Director of the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, D.C.

“John Berry is a transformational leader with an extraordinary record of public service, conservation leadership, and organizational management,” Blangiardi said.

Most recently, Berry was the President of the American Australian Association, a nonprofit that works across the pacific to strengthen ties between the two nations.

Before that, he held senior leadership positions across the federal government, including U.S. Ambassador to Australia, Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget at the U.S. Department of the Interior, and Deputy Assistant Secretary and acting Assistant Secretary for Law Enforcement at the U.S. Department of Treasury.

“His experience leading the Smithsonian National Zoo, negotiating international conservation partnerships, overseeing complex organizations, and building world-class teams makes him uniquely qualified to guide the Honolulu Zoo into its next chapter,” Blangiardi said.

His experience with international partnerships extends beyond Australia. He also played a key role in negotiating with China to expand giant panda conservation in the U.S.

“I am very honored and excited to be joining the passionate team of professionals at the Honolulu Zoo,” Berry said. “Together with many partners, we can help advance wildlife conservation throughout Hawaii.”

Berry also has a personal and professional connection to Hawaii, where he spent most holidays over the last three decades with his family. During his tenure with the federal government, he was appointed by President Bill Clinton to help lead the Native Hawaiian Reconciliation process.

Berry holds a Master of Public Administration from Syracuse University and a Bachelor of Arts in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland.

The previous Honolulu Zoo Director Linda Santos retired after a decades-long career with the zoo.