STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3649

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: GOV. MSG. NOS. 356, 357

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Tourism, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 356 and 357, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of:

Board of Directors of the Hawai'i Tourism Authority

G.M. No. 356

VERNON FOOK LEONG CHAR,

for a term to expire 6-30-2010.; and

G.M. No. 357

KAWAIKAPUOKALANI K. HEWETT,

for a term to expire 6-30-2010,

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee received testimony in support of VERNON FOOK LEONG CHAR from the Hawaii Tourism Authority; the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; the President of the University of Hawaii; Hawai`i Hotel & Lodging Association; Maui Divers of Hawaii; and three individuals.

The nominee is a reappointment, representing the public (at large/Oahu) from a list submitted by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The nominee has been the senior partner in the law firm of Char Sakamoto Ishii Lum & Ching since 1988. Prior to that, he was at the law firm of Damon Key Char & Bocken, from 1966 to 1988, and was a Deputy Attorney General from 1959 to 1961 and from 1963 to 1965. The nominee received an LLB degree from Havard Law School and a BA degree from the University of Hawaii. He is active in various University of Hawaii organizations and receive the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1992. The nominee has also served as the Chair of the Hawaii State Ethics Commission and the Hawaii Bicentennial Commission, U.S. Constitution.

Your Committee notes from the nominee's personal statement and his testimony that he believes the Hawaii Tourism Authority needs to continue to work for greater integration between the visitor industry and resident groups to provide sponsorships of events. The nominee also believes that the Hawaii Tourism Authority has a role in arranging partnerships between the counties, the Department of Land and Natural Resources for parks and hiking, the Department of Transportation for harbors and airports, and the visitor industry.

Your Committee received testimony in support of KAWAIKAPUOKALANI K. HEWETT from the Hawaii Tourism Authority; the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; JALPAK INTERNATIONAL HAWAII, INC.; Hawai`i Hotel & Lodging Association; ResortQuest Hawaii; Hawaii Island Economic Development Board; and the Hula Supply Center.

The nominee is a reappointment, representing the position for Hawaiian expert/Oahu from a list submitted by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The nominee has been the Director/Kahuna Ho'ola of the Hawaiian Cultural Healing Program at the Waimanalo Health Center since 1996. He has also been the Director of Hawaiian Culture and Events for the Royal Lahaina Resort since 1989. He received a B.A. degree in Liberal Studies, Hawaiiana from the University of Hawaii at Hilo and an Associate of Arts degree from Windward Community College. In addition, he received specialized training from his grandmother, Eva Kana`e, in music, hula, la`au lapa`au, lei making, and Hawaiian language. Under the tutelage of Aunty Edith Kanaka`ole, he was instructed in oli, hula, and the Hawaiian language. He has also been recognized as a protege of Aunty Emma DeFries, who further enlightened him with knowledge of music, hula, oli, la`au lapa`au, and the Hawaiian language. The nominee's participation and accomplishments in Hawaiian culture, hula, music, and language organizations and activities are abundant, including lectures, writing, television performance, and music composition and performance.

Your Committee notes from the nominee's personal statement and testimony that he intends to focus on strengthening the relationship between the Hawaiian community, local community, and the Hawaii Tourism Authority to ensure the continuity of the Aloha Spirit, which embraces tourism in Hawaii. How the tourism industry embraces the Hawaiian and local communities will portent the future of how the Hawaiian and local communities embrace the tourism industry.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Tourism 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 Tourism,

____________________________

DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair