STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1575

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 711, 712, 713, 714

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 711, 712, 713, and 714, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

University of Hawaii Board of Regents

 

G.M. No. 711

EUGENE BAL III,

for a term to expire 6-30-2018;

 

G.M. No. 712

BARRY MIZUNO,

for a term to expire 6-30-2018;

 

G.M. No. 713

RANDOLPH MOORE,

for a term to expire 6-30-2013; and

 

G.M. No. 714

RANDOLPH MOORE,

for a term to expire 6-30-2018,

 

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees and finds Eugene Bal III, Barry Mizuno, and Randolph Moore to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the University of Hawaii Board of Regents.

 


EUGENE BAL III

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Eugene Bal III from the Governor and twenty-six individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Bal is the Executive Director of the Maui High Performance Computing Center.  Mr. Bal has also served in the United States Navy and has over forty years of experience in various leadership roles managing all aspects of complex scientific, technical, and engineering programs.

 

     Mr. Bal has volunteered his time serving on the Governor's Economic Revitalization Task Force, State of Hawaii Workforce Development Council, Hawaii Community Foundation Board of Governors, Maui County Small Business Advisory Council, and the Maui Economic Development Board, among others.  He has also been active with the Maui Memorial Medical Center Foundation, Maui Historical Society, and Maui County Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

 

     Mr. Bal testified that his vision as a member of the Board of Regents is to build the reputation and credibility of the University of Hawaii through the improved performance of the entire University system, including the Board of Regents.  Mr. Bal testified that in supporting this goal, there needs to be a focus on graduating students who are well prepared to be competitive in the information age, advancing the University of Hawaii as a Carnegie Institution of Higher Learning through increased research activity, growing contract and grant funding while managing tuition costs, and developing the University Affiliated Research Center to help it reach its potential.

 

     Your Committee believes that Mr. Bal's background will provide the Board of Regents with a fresh perspective in helping the University of Hawaii System in accomplishing its mission.

 

BARRY MIZUNO

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Barry Mizuno from the Governor, Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawaii, Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Hawaii, and seventeen individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Mizuno is a licensed Certified Public Accountant.  He also founded BTM, LLC, an energy management consulting firm, in 2006.  Prior to forming BTM, LLC, Mr. Mizuno was the Financial Manager of Puna Geothermal Venture.  Mr. Mizuno fully retired in 2012. 

 

     Mr. Mizuno is an active member of the Hawaii Island community.  He volunteers his time raising money for Hospice of Hilo and is involved with the Hawaii Island Economic Development Board, Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Hawaii, and W.H. Shipman, Ltd.

 

     Mr. Mizuno testified that it is important that the University of Hawaii provide quality education at an affordable price.  Mr. Mizuno also testified that the University must maintain its financial viability through thoughtful balancing of its expenses with its various revenue sources, including tuition and fees.

 

     Mr. Mizuno has served as a member of the Board of Regents since August 2011 and serves as Chair of the Planning and Facilities Committee, Vice-Chair of the Committee on University Audits, and a member of the Committees on Community Colleges and on Budget and Finance.

 

     As a current member of the Board of Regents, Mr. Mizuno testified that he is aware of the various concerns raised by the Senate Special Committee on Accountability in Special Committee Report No. 2, Regular Session of 2013, regarding the oversight, transparency, and accountability of the University of Hawaii System, including the Board of Regents.

 

     Your Committee believes that the Board of Regents and the University of Hawaii System will benefit from Mr. Mizuno's continued service.

 

RANDOLPH MOORE

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Randolph Moore from the Governor, Papa Ola Lokahi, and seventeen individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Moore has over thirty-five years of experience in the business world, starting at Castle & Cooke, where he was a Financial Analyst, Corporate Treasurer, Group Comptroller for Real Estate, Senior Vice President, Executive Vice President, and President of its Oceanic Properties subsidiary.  Mr. Moore spent three years as the President of Molokai Ranch and twelve years as the Chief Executive Officer of Kaneohe Ranch.

 

     After retiring from Kaneohe Ranch, Mr. Moore went on to become a teacher at Central Middle School.  Thereafter, he spent over six years with the Department of Education as the Assistant Superintendent for School Facilities and Support Services.

 

     Mr. Moore has been involved with Aloha United Way, The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Hale Kipa, Hanahauoli School, and countless other community and educational organizations.

 

     Mr. Moore testified that the role of the Board of Regents is to establish policies that will facilitate the University of Hawaii's ability to fulfill its mission, select and support the leadership necessary to move the University forward, monitor the results, make course corrections when warranted, and celebrate the University's successes.

 

     Your Committee believes that Mr. Moore's unique background and leadership experience in the private and public sector make him an excellent addition to the Board of Regents.

 

     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,

 

 

 

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair