STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1854

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 701, 702, 703, 704, 705

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 701, 702, 703, 704, and 705, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs

 

G.M. No. 701

BEVERLY GOTELLI,

for a term to expire 06-30-2025;

 

G.M. No. 702

STEPHEN LUNG,

for a term to expire 06-30-2025;

 

G.M. No. 703

RAELENE TENNO,

for a term to expire 06-30-2025;

 

G.M. No. 704

KEALOHAKU'UALOHAKU'UPOKI'I BALAZ,

for a term to expire 06-30-2024; and

 

G.M. No. 705

LESLIE TANOUE,

for a term to expire 06-30-2025,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by Beverly Gotelli, Stephen Lung, Raelene Tenno, Kealohakuualohakuupokii Balaz, and Leslie Tanoue for service on the Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs.

 


BEVERLY GOTELLI

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the reappointment of Beverly Gotelli from the Executive Office on Aging and two individuals. 

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Gotelli's experience as teacher, commitment to public service, and dedication to the well-being of the elderly and retired community qualify her for reappointment to the Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs.  Ms. Gotelli is a retired teacher with twenty-nine years of service with the Department of Education.  Your Committee notes that, in her retirement, Ms. Gotelli currently serves as the President of the Hawaii State Teachers Association-Retired, which has a membership of almost six thousand members, and is committed to promoting the health and well-being of retired teachers.  She also volunteers with the Kauai Museum and Kauai Historical Society and is a member of a quilt guild that makes hand-made quilts to donate to charitable organizations.  Ms. Gotelli earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Chaminade University. 

 

     Your Committee further finds that Ms. Gotelli's appointment to the Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs fulfills the requirement that a representative be from the island of Kauai.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Ms. Gotelli be appointed to the Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs based on her experience in teaching and her commitment to the well-being of elderly and retired individuals. 

 

STEPHEN LUNG

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Stephen Lung from the Executive Office on Aging. 

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Lung's experience in the insurance industry, commitment to public service, and dedication to the well-being of the elderly and retired community, qualify him for appointment to the Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs.  Mr. Lung is a retired insurance industry executive, having worked for Hawaii Medical Service Association for thirty-eight years.  Your Committee notes that Mr. Lung has been an active and dedicated volunteer with the Hawaii State Health Insurance Assistance Program for many years.  Your Committee also notes that Mr. Lung has been a crucial component to the Hawaii State Health Insurance Assistance Program's growth by providing necessary feedback and suggestions and acting as a lead trainer for volunteers.  Mr. Lung earned his Bachelor's degree in business from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

 

     Your Committee further finds that Mr. Lung meets the requirement that representatives be able to make contributions to the solution of problems relating to aging.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Mr. Lung be appointed to the Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs based on his experience in the insurance industry and his commitment to the well-being of the elderly and retired community.

 

RAELENE TENNO

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Raelene Tenno from the Executive Office on Aging, Hawaii Council of Community Associations, and six individuals. 

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Tenno's experience in the housing industry, commitment to public service, and dedication to the well-being of condominium residents, qualify her for appointment to the Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs.  Ms. Tenno is currently a mortgage loan originator and mortgage loan instructor.  Your Committee notes that Ms. Tenno has served for twenty-eight years on the Board of Directors for the Hawaii Council of Community Associations, an organization that serves to educate Hawaii condo board members of their duties and responsibilities.  Recently, Ms. Tenno has co-hosted a YouTube educational show for the Hawaii Council of Community Associations, which has focused on "aging in place" in order to provide condo boards with guidance so that they can provide a safe and healthy environment for seniors living in their buildings.  Ms. Tenno earned her Associate of Arts degree in Fashion Design from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, California. 

 

     Your Committee further finds that Ms. Tenno meets the requirement that representatives be able to make contributions to the solution of problems relating to aging.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Ms. Tenno be appointed to the Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs based on her experience in the housing industry and her commitment to the health of elderly condominium residents.

 

KEALOHAKUUALOHAKUUPOKII BALAZ

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Kealohakuualohakuupokii Balaz from the Executive Office on Aging and Aloha Āina Party. 

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Dr. Balaz's experience in the health care industry, commitment to public service, and dedication to the health and well-being of the elderly community qualify her for appointment to the Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs.  Dr. Balaz is currently the Interim Executive Director at the Lunalilo Nursing Home and the Grace Project, Coordinator for Kokua Kalihi Valley Health Center, and an adjunct faculty member at Chaminade University.  She facilitates the Resources Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health program and is also a master trainer for the Savvy Caregiver program for caregivers.  Prior to her current positions, Dr. Balaz served as a registered nurse and nurse practitioner at various medical facilities.  Your Committee notes that Dr. Balaz has given many presentations on dementia and aging, and was spotlighted by the Chamber of Commerce, Hawaii Business Magazine, and the Alzheimer's Association.  Dr. Balaz earned her Bachelor's degree in nursing from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Master of Science in Nursing Education from Oklahoma University, Doctor of Nursing Practice as a family nurse practitioner from the University of Hawaii at Hilo, and Executive Master of Business Education from the Shidler College of Business.

 

     Your Committee further finds that Dr. Balaz meets the requirement that representatives be able to make contributions to the solution of problems relating to aging.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Dr. Balaz be appointed to the Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs based on her experience in health care and her commitment to the health and well-being of those living with dementia and the aging community. 

 

LESLIE TANOUE

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Leslie Tanoue from the Executive Office on Aging. 

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Tanoue's experience working in the field of aging, commitment to public service, and dedication to the well-being of the elderly and retired community, qualify her for appointment to the Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs.  Ms. Tanoue is currently the Director of the Kumu Kahi Department at Alu Like, Inc. where she directs the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the elderly services department.  Prior to her current position, Ms. Tanoue served in various capacities with Alu Like, Inc., in which she developed and managed programs for elderly adults in the State.  Your Committee notes that Ms. Tanoue is also a member of the Ha Kupuna Advisory Community and the Hawaii Healthy Aging Partnership, both of which are dedicated to improving the health and increasing the life expectancies of the State's kupuna.  Ms. Tanoue earned her Bachelor's degree in family resources with an emphasis in gerontology, an Advanced Certificate in Gerontology, and a Master's degree in public health in health services administration & planning from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. 

 

     Your Committee further finds that Ms. Tanoue meets the requirement that representatives be able to make contributions to the solution of problems relating to aging.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Ms. Tanoue be appointed to the Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs based on her experience in gerontology and her commitment to the health and well-being of the elderly community. 

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Health 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 Health,

 

 

 

____________________________

JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair