STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3499

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 309, 310, 311

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 309, 310, and 311, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Motor Vehicle Industry Licensing Board

 

G.M. No. 309

RUSSELL Y. J. CHUNG,

for a term to expire 6-30-2012;

 

G.M. No. 310

THOMAS I. NAKAMA,

for a term to expire 6-30-2012; and

 

G.M. No. 311

DONALD K. TOUCHI,

for a term to expire 6-30-2012,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees, and finds Russell Y. J. Chung, Thomas I. Nakama, and Donald K. Touchi to have the necessary qualifications to be nominated to the Motor Vehicle Industry Licensing Board.

 

     Testimony in support of Mr. Chung's nomination was submitted by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

 

     Mr. Chung received his Bachelor's degree in Architecture from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and his Master's degree in Landscape Architecture from the California State Polytechnic University.  He is currently the Executive Vice President and Principal for PBR Hawaii & Associates, Inc., which is a firm active in all aspects of land planning, landscape architecture, environmental studies, and graphic design.  Prior to his employment at PBR Hawaii, he served as a Landscape Designer for Hawaii Design Associates, Inc. and two firms in California.

 

     Mr. Chung is a member of the Hawaii Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects where he also previously served as a Trustee, President, and Vice President at separate times.  Furthermore, he is a member of the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards and has previously served on the American Society of Landscape Architects Government Affairs Task Force, the Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors, and Landscape Architects, and the Diamond Head Citizens Advisory Committee.

 

     Mr. Chung is being nominated to serve for a second term on the Motor Vehicle Industry Licensing Board as a public member.  He is a reliable member who attends the Board's meetings regularly and he has demonstrated that he understands the duties and responsibilities as a member of the Board, particularly in his role in representing the public's perspective.  Mr. Chung's demonstrated commitment, motivation, education, and professional experiences will greatly assist the Motor Vehicle Industry Licensing Board.

 

     Testimony in support of Mr. Nakama's nomination was submitted by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

 

     Mr. Nakama is a graduate of Kaimuki High School and served in the United States Army and the Hawaii Army National Guard.  Prior to retiring in 2003, he was a Vice President and General Manager for Cutter Management Co. for nearly twenty-nine years, and served as a Sales Manager at Honolulu Ford before moving over to Cutter Management.

 

     Mr. Nakama is licensed as a motor vehicle salesperson and has extensive knowledge about the motor vehicle industry through his employment with several licensed motor vehicle dealerships in Hawaii.  He is a reliable member and actively participates in the discussions of the Motor Vehicle Industry Licensing Board.  Mr. Nakama's demonstrated commitment, motivation, and professional experiences will greatly assist the Motor Vehicle Industry Licensing Board.

 

     Testimony in support of Mr. Touchi's nomination was submitted by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

 

     Mr. Touchi received his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Hawaii, and received his Charter Life Underwriter's designation and his Chartered Financial Consultant's designation from American College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.  He is currently semi-retired in insurance sales.  He also served as an adjunct faculty member at American College where he taught courses in business insurance, estate planning, and pension planning.

 

     Mr. Touchi served in the 11th Army Band of the Hawaii Army National Guard from 1964 to 1991, on the State Plan Policy Council, and as the Chairperson for the City Salary Commission.  He has volunteered his time at the Institute for Human Services, and plays the piano weekly at St. Francis West Hospice, Veteran Affairs Center for the Aged at Tripler, and the Pearl City Nursing Home.

 

     Mr. Touchi is being nominated to serve a second term on the Motor Vehicle Industry Licensing Board as a public member.  He has quickly and comfortably assumed his duties and responsibilities as a member representing the public's perspective.  He methodically evaluates the issues being discussed by the Board and does not hesitate to tackle issues that are controversial.  Mr. Touchi's demonstrated commitment, motivation, education, and professional experiences will greatly assist the Motor Vehicle Industry Licensing Board for a second term.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing 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 Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing,

 

 

 

____________________________

RUSSELL S. KOKUBUN, Chair