STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1750

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 778, 779, 780

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 778, 779, and 780, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Board of Regents of the University of Hawai'i

 

G.M. No. 778

SIMEON ACOBA,

for a term to expire 06-30-2022;

 

G.M. No. 779

BENJAMIN KUDO,

for a term to expire 06-30-2022; and

 

G.M. No. 780

NORMA SPARKS,

for a term to expire 06-30-2022.  (Nominee's name amended to NORMA DOCTOR SPARKS by GM832,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees and finds Simeon Acoba, Benjamin Kudo, and Norma Doctor Sparks to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii.

 

SIMEON ACOBA

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Simeon Acoba for reappointment from the Filipino-American Advocacy Network; Nursing Advocates and Mentors, Inc.; Filipino Community Center, Inc.; SanHi Government Strategies; and twenty-one individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that Justice Acoba earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a Juris Doctor from Northwestern University School of Law.  Justice Acoba has additional ties to the University of Hawaii, including serving as a special assistant to the President of the University, an adjunct professor at the William S. Richardson School of Law, and is currently a volunteer lecturer at the law school.

 

     Prior to retirement, Justice Acoba served as an Associate Justice on the Hawaii Supreme Court, an Associate Judge on the Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals, Third Division, and a Judge of the Circuit Court of the First Circuit.  Your Committee further finds that Justice Acoba is an extremely engaged member of the community and has served in multiple civic organizations in leadership roles, including serving as a Co-Chair of the Hawaii State Bar's Judicial Administration Committee, a Director of the Hawaii Justice Foundation, and a Director of the Mediation Center of the Pacific.  Justice Acoba is also the founding and current Chair of the Hawaii Access to Justice Commission which was created to provide legal services to, and make the courts accessible to, low income individuals appearing before the court.  Your Committee notes that Justice Acoba received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the University of Hawaii Alumni Association in 2015 for his contribution to the State, the University, and the Filipino community.

 

Your Committee finds that Justice Acoba has served as a Regent since 2014, and is familiar with the role and responsibilities of Board members.  According to testimony, Justice Acoba is a valued member of the Board of Regents and currently serves on the Intercollegiate Athletics Committee, Academic and Student Affairs Committee, and Budget and Finance Committee.  Justice Acoba is also the Director of the Board of the University Clinical Education and Research Associates.  In his personal statement, Justice Acoba indicated that he hopes to further the four strategic objectives of the University for 2015-2021 and strive to achieve equal education opportunity for everyone in the State by providing multiple entry points for traditional and non-traditional students.  Your Committee finds that Justice Acoba's extensive judicial experience, analytical and leadership skills, and deep commitment to public service further qualify him for reappointment to the Board.

 

BENJAMIN KUDO

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Benjamin Kudo for reappointment from Ralph S. Inouye Co., Ltd.; SanHi Government Strategies; Filipino-American Advocacy Network; and seven individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Kudo received a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Washington.  Mr. Kudo received a Master of Business Administration and Doctorate of Philosophy in Business from the University of Hawaii Shidler College of Business and later received a Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University.

 

     Mr. Kudo is presently counsel at Ashford and Wriston, LLP, where he specializes in land use, planning, zoning, and real estate development law.  Previously, Mr. Kudo was the Chief Financial Officer and Manager of the land use, administrative and environmental law group at the law firm of Imanaka, Kudo, and Fujimoto.  Your Committee finds that Mr. Kudo has experience working with the private sector and representing legislative and administrative agencies on legal issues related to land use, environment, and natural resources.  In addition to practicing law, Mr. Kudo has served as a lecturer at the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law and an instructor at the University of Hawaii Shidler College of Business.

 

     Your Committee further finds that Mr. Kudo has demonstrated significant dedication to public service, as evidenced by his participation with the Boy Scouts of America Aloha Council, Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii, Temari-Center for Pacific and Asian Art, and Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific.  Your Committee notes that Mr. Kudo has served as a Regent since 2012, and is familiar with the role and responsibilities of Board members.  According to testimony, during the past five years Mr. Kudo has implemented more financial accountability at the University of Hawaii and played a significant role in complex real estate transactions.  In his personal statement, Mr. Kudo indicated that he hopes to find substantial ways to address the deferred maintenance problems at the University and monetize the University's land assets.  Your Committee finds that Mr. Kudo's professional background, clear commitment to the community, and experience with the University of Hawaii as a student, teacher, and Regent further qualify him for reappointment to the Board.

 

NORMA DOCTOR SPARKS

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Norma Doctor Sparks from the Salvation Army Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Division; Nursing Advocates and Mentors, Inc.; Filipino-American Advocacy Network; Filipino Coalition for Solidarity; Filipino American Citizens League; and eight individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that Ms. Sparks received a Bachelor's degree in Sociology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Master's degree in Social Work from the University of Hawaii Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work, and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law.  According to testimony by Ms. Sparks, she comes from a family committed to higher education and her husband and son also earned degrees from the University of Hawaii.

 

     Ms. Sparks lives on Kauai and is the Co-founder and President of Families First Hawaii Services Inc., a consulting firm that advocates for children and families.  Previously, Ms. Sparks served as a Deputy Attorney General, Administrator of the Family Crisis Services Branch in the Family Court of the First Circuit, Administrator of the State Child Support Enforcement Agency, and Administrator of Child Welfare Services within the Department of Human Services.  Ms. Sparks also served as an adjunct professor for the graduate schools of social work, nursing, psychology, and education for over five years at the University of Hawaii.  Your Committee finds that Ms. Sparks has extensive administrative experience with public agencies, and has managed large amounts of personnel, large departmental budgets, and implemented substantial systemic changes that improved services to the public.

 

     Your Committee notes that Ms. Sparks is an active community member and has served on many community boards including Kauai Planning and Action Alliance, Kauai Filipino Chamber of Commerce, and Kauai Filipino Women's Club.  In her personal statement, Ms. Sparks indicated that she hopes to increase the number of online degree-related offerings by the University of Hawaii to meet the needs of students, employers, and communities.  Your Committee finds that Ms. Sparks' experiences as a student and teacher at the University of Hawaii, in addition to her professional background and dedication to public service, will be strong assets to the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that are 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 Higher Education,

 

 

 

____________________________

KAIALI'I KAHELE, Chair