The head of the FBI's Honolulu office is leaving to take a position in the human resources division of the agency's Washington, D.C., headquarters.

Janet L. Kamerman is stepping down as the FBI's special agent in charge after 19 months supervising the Honolulu division's 165 employees.

Since May 2007, Kamerman has coordinated the activities of agents based in Honolulu, Maui, the Big Island, Guam and Saipan, while overseeing an area that covers the entire Pacific Rim.

"While I am sad that my time in Hawai'i is over for now, I am comforted in knowing that the transition will be seamless thanks to the excellent partnerships forged between our federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, and the military and intelligence agencies tasked with protecting our citizenry," Kamerman said. "I have been spoiled by the kindness and generosity of everyone I have met here, and that aloha spirit will remain with me forever."

Collaboration between the FBI, state and county law enforcement agencies helped reduce crime on O'ahu by 3 percent last year — the fourth straight yearly decline — to the lowest total since the state started tracking the data 33 years ago.

Kamerman was named to the Honolulu position in 2007. Before coming to Honolulu she was a special assistant to FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III in Washington, D.C. Mueller yesterday appointed Kamerman as associate executive assistant director of the Human Resources Branch.

Kamerman became a special agent with the FBI in July 1989. Before that, she served as a U.S. Army police officer.