STAND. COM. REP. NO. 475

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 535

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 535, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of: 

 

Commission on Fatherhood

 

G.M. No. 535

MICHAEL DIAS,

for a term to expire 6-30-2016,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by the nominee and finds Michael Dias to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the Commission on Fatherhood.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Michael Dias from the Department of Human Services.

 

     Mr. Dias earned a Bachelor's degree in Social Science and English with a Hawaiian Studies Minor from the University of Hawaii at Hilo.  He is currently an Employment Specialist with Alu Like, Inc., in Hilo, Hawaii.  He has previously served two consecutive terms on the State Commission on Fatherhood, ending on June 30, 2011.  After taking a break for about a year, he was asked to apply again, which he did in June 2012, and began another term in August 2012 on an interim basis.

 

     Mr. Dias' background includes serving as a Father Involvement Specialist with Alu Like, Inc.'s Hookahua Early Childhood Department.  His duties included developing and implementing program activities for fathers in Hookahua programs, researching local and national programs on fatherhood, facilitating fatherhood groups, and collaborating with other agencies.  Mr. Dias also developed a Hawaiian culture-based curriculum for fathers and made presentations at national and local conference workshops.  He also has an extensive background working with native Hawaiian young children from when he was a part-time instructor and program coordinator in a program run by the University of Hawaii at Hilo.

 

     Mr. Dias has enjoyed working with other talented and committed State Commission on Fatherhood commissioners over the years and is very familiar with the many issues concerning fathers and their importance to the family and community.  As a member of the State Commission on Fatherhood, he has consistently attended the commission meetings, provided input, and followed up on necessary tasks.  He has also served as a resource for the Commission and the community on resources for fathers and fatherhood programs, and he plans to continue to fulfill these roles and responsibilities.

 

     Mr. Dias is a proud father of biological, step-, and hanai children and is familiar with the issues, challenges, and joys of manhood and fatherhood.  Your Committee finds that Mr. Dias' past experiences on the State Commission on Fatherhood, as well as his continuing commitment to issues relating to fatherhood, will be great assets to the Commission.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominee, has found the nominee to be qualified for the position to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nomination.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

 

 

 

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair