STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1752

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: GOV. MSG. NOS. 291, 292

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education and Military Affairs, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 291 and 292, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of:

Advisory Board on Veterans' Services

G.M. No. 291

RONALD J. HAYS, USN (Ret.),

for a term to expire 06-30-2008; and

G.M. No. 292

LLOYD K. SODETANI,

for a term to expire 06-30-2008,

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees, and finds the nominees to have the necessary qualifications to be appointed to the Advisory Board on Veterans' Services.

Testimony in support of RONALD J. HAYS, USN (Ret.), was submitted by the Department of Defense, Office of Veterans Services, Oahu Veterans Council, Disabled American Veterans, The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, and an individual. Mr. Hays has served thirty-eight years in the U.S. Navy, with the last three in Hawaii as Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Pacific Forces. He has been a model citizen of Hawaii for the past twenty years by contributing his free time to civic and charitable boards with such organizations as the Honolulu Chamber of Commerce, Goodwill Industries of Hawaii, the Boy Scouts, and Friends of Hawaii Charities. As a veteran, his extensive knowledge of military services makes him an outstanding candidate for this advisory board.

Testimony in support of LLOYD K. SODETANI was submitted by the Department of Defense, the Oahu Veteran's Council, Disabled American Veterans, and an individual. Mr. Sodetani has served the military for more than thirty-one years with the Army, Army Reserves, and the Army National Guard and retired as a Colonel. As a resident of Maui, he successfully commanded the Hawaii Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 299th Infantry, headquartered on Maui. He is a productive member of the community and volunteers his free time to many organizations including the Maui Chamber of Commerce, Maui County Council, National Eagle Scout Association, and Wailuku Hongwanji Mission.

Your Committee members diligently questioned the nominees regarding their vision and priorities regarding veterans' services. The nominees demonstrated a commitment to proactively improve the advisory board. Your Committee believes that the nominees adequately responded to the Committee's inquiries.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominees, has found the nominees to be qualified for the positions to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nominations.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education and Military Affairs,

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair