Peter Boylan, who’d been Inouye’s deputy chief of staff and spokesman, was named Hanabusa’s campaign communications director today.

According to the campaign, Richard Rapoza, who had been serving as Hanabusa’s spokesman on both the Congressional and campaign sides, will go back to focusing on her work in the House.

“I have always said that when the time came that I could no longer effectively serve both the campaign and the Congressional office, I would step back from my dual role,” Rapoza said. “I am happy to put the campaign in Peter’s very capable hands.”

Boylan had been helping out with campaign communications as a volunteer while working as a senior manager at Time Warner Cable in Washington, DC. Prior to working for Inouye, he was a reporter at The Honolulu Advertiser from 2003 to 2009.

“We are extremely pleased to have Peter on board full time,” Hanabusa campaign chairman Cameron Nekota said in a press release. “His skills and experience will be a tremendous asset in what we believe will be a tough, hard-fought campaign.”

In addition to his experience, Boylan’s hiring also serves as a reminder of the ties between Inouye and Hanabusa — an idea her campaign has been pushing. Inouye had wanted Hanabusa to take his place in the Senate.

Among other former Inouye aides working for Hanabusa is his former chief of staff, Jennifer Sabas, who is serving as a senior advisor to the campaign.

— Kery Murakami