STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1805

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 716, 717, 718, 719, 720, 721, 776, 777

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 716, 717, 718, 719, 720, 721, 776, and 777, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Hawaii Commission for National and Community Service

 

G.M. No. 716

ANNE MARIE MATSUZAKI,

for a term to expire 06-30-2024.  (Term amended to 6-30-2023 by GM822);

 

G.M. No. 717

ELWYN WATKINS,

for a term to expire 06-30-2021;

 

G.M. No. 718

ELWYN WATKINS,

for a term to expire 06-30-2025.  (Term amended to 6-30-2024 by GM818);

 

G.M. No. 719

GORDON KAI,

for a term to expire 06-30-2024.  (Term amended to 6-30-2023 by GM820);

 

G.M. No. 720

JOY KONO,

for a term to expire 06-30-2024.  (Term amended to 6-30-2023 by GM819);

 

G.M. No. 721

GAIL MAKUAKANE-LUNDIN,

for a term to expire 06-30-2024.  (Term amended to 6-30-2023 by GM821);

 

G.M. No. 776

ALAN CLINTON,

for a term to expire 06-30-2021; and

 

G.M. No. 777

ALAN CLINTON,

for a term to expire 06-30-2025.  (Term amended to 6-30-2024 by GM817),

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by Anne Marie Matsuzaki, Elwyn Watkins, Gordon Kai, Joy Kono, Gail Makuakane-Lundin, and Alan Clinton for service on Hawaii Commission for National and Community Service.

 

ANNE MARIE MATSUZAKI

 

     Your Committee did not receive any testimony on the nomination for the appointment of Anne Marie Matsuzaki.

 

     Upon review of Ms. Matsuzaki's qualifications, your Committee finds that Ms. Matsuzaki's current status as an Education Program Specialist at Kamehameha Schools engaged in two community-based programs - the Āina Ulu Community Partnership program and the Nā Mamo Mahiai Initiative program, qualify her to be appointed to the Hawaii Commission for National and Community Service as a member representing community-based agencies or community-based organizations within the State.  Ms. Matsuzaki has a Master of Education degree in Teaching and has served in the education sector for twenty-seven years, including eight years as an educator with the Department of Education.  Her professional expertise is in developing and managing education programs and developing culturally grounded professional networks in various sectors in the State.  For the Āina Ulu Community Partnership program, Ms. Matsuzaki developed and currently manages a portfolio of $3,000,000 in formal land and program agreements between Native Hawaiian and Hawaiian-serving non-profit organizations and the University of Hawaii, to deliver eco-cultural education and stewardship on agricultural and conservation lands statewide.  For the Nā Mamo Mahiai Initiative program, she developed and currently manages an annual portfolio of approximately $500,000 in agricultural education and new farmer training.  Your Committee believes Ms. Matsuzaki's ability to develop working relationships with various individuals and organizations statewide, and her professional expertise and knowledge of developing and managing various education programs will be a valuable asset to the Hawaii Commission for National and Community Service, and therefore, recommends her appointment.

 

ELWYN WATKINS

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment and reappointment of Elwyn Watkins from the Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL‑CIO (HGEA), and six individuals.

 

     Upon review of the testimony and his qualifications, your Committee finds that Mr. Watkins' over two decades of membership in the HGEA, fifteen years of experience as a bargaining unit representative, and service on the bargaining unit's executive board for two terms qualify him to be appointed to the Hawaii Commission for National and Community Service as a member representing local labor organizations in the State.  Your Committee finds that Mr. Watkins has been an employee of the University of Hawaii since 2000 and is currently the Building and Security Systems Engineer at the Facilities Management Office of the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine.  He has been a HGEA representative for Bargaining Unit 08 (BU08), consisting of non-faculty personnel of the University of Hawaii and the community college system since 2006, and served in various leadership roles, including Director of the BU08 Executive Board from 2015 to 2019, Chairperson of the Committees on Recreation and Community Action, and Chair of the Manoa Agency Council.  Your Committee recommends that Mr. Watkins be appointed and reappointed to the Hawaii Commission for National and Community Service based on his extensive experience as an employee of the University of Hawaii, experience and knowledge as a member and board member of BU08, and his proven leadership skills.

 

GORDON KAI

 

     Your Committee did not receive any testimony on the nomination for the appointment of Gordon Kai.

 

     Upon review of his qualifications, your Committee finds that Mr. Kai's professional expertise and knowledge in Hawaii's visitor's industry, Native Hawaiian culture and art, and arts education qualify him to be appointed to the Hawaii Commission for National and Community Service.  Mr. Kai is a master of Native Hawaiian arts, who creates objects used daily by his community in fishing, farming, making kapa, pounding poi, and practicing hula and martial arts.  Mr. Kai has been the recipient of various awards, and his work is featured in the collections of Kamehameha Schools and the Bishop Museum in Hawaii, the Peabody-Essex Museum in Massachusetts, and the Captain Cook Museum in England.  Your Committee further finds that Mr. Kai has been sharing his knowledge and experiences with people for over forty years through workshops, lectures, exhibitions and artist demonstrations at various schools, hotels, and organizations.  After working in the visitor industry for four decades, Mr. Kai is now retired; however, he continues to serve his community as President of the Aha Kane, a nonprofit organization created to strengthen the Native Hawaiian community.  Your Committee recommends that Mr. Kai be appointed to the Hawaii Commission for National and Community Service based on his expertise and knowledge in Hawaii's visitor's industry, Native Hawaiian culture and art, and arts education.

 

JOY KONO

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Joy Kono from the Hawaii Farm Bureau and one individual. 

 

     Upon review of the testimony and her qualifications, your Committee finds that Ms. Kono's professional expertise and knowledge in managing a large number of staff, working collaboratively with others to address challenges, and restructuring of organizations to increase efficiencies qualify her to be appointed to the Commission.  Ms. Kono has a Master of Business Administration degree from Santa Clara University and has held various positions at Kamehameha Schools since 2002.  She is currently the Senior Director of Education Support Services and Group Operations, managing sixty-one staff members to support the school's statewide education systems in admissions, financial aid, scholarships, and ancestry verification.  Ms. Kono also acts as the point of contact for all education programs and manages a budget of $65,000,000 for programs and operations.  Ms. Kono's key achievements include restructuring her department's operations to increase efficiencies, which resulted in significant staff reduction.  Your Committee also notes Ms. Kono's ability to work on a wide variety of policy issues concerning the needs, challenges, and opportunities faced by farmers across the State, based on her experience as the Vice President and Treasurer of the Hawaii Farm Bureau, Chair and Board member of the Hawaii Agricultural Leadership Program, and Co-Chair of the Hawaii State Farm Fair.  Your Committee believes Ms. Kono's experience and knowledge in organizational management, collaborative problem solving, restructuring of operations to increase efficiencies, and background in working with various agricultural organizations will be valuable assets to the Hawaii Commission for National and Community Service, and therefore, recommends her appointment.

 

GAIL MAKUAKANE-LUNDIN

 

     Your Committee did not receive any testimony on the nomination for the appointment of Gail Makuakane-Lundin.

 

     Upon review of her qualifications, your Committee finds that Ms. Makuakane-Lundin's expertise and knowledge in developing Native Hawaiian-related higher education programs and garnering and managing federal grants therefor qualify her to be appointed to the Hawaii Commission for National and Community Service.  Ms. Makuakane-Lundin has held various positions at the University of Hawaii at Hilo (UH Hilo) since 1984 and is currently the Principal Investigator and Program Director of its Title III Native Hawaiian-Serving Institution Grants and the Director of Kipuka Native Hawaiian Student Center.  Aside from her employment with UH Hilo, Ms. Makuakane-Lundin also served as Petty Officer Second Class, Yeoman with the United States Coast Guard from 1982 to 2000.  Ms. Makuakane-Lundin has an extensive background in developing Native Hawaiian-serving programs for UH Hilo and garnering and managing millions of dollars in grants from the U.S. Department of Education therefor, including the 2020-2025 Title III Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Five-Year Development Grant ($2.2 million); 2019-2024 Title III Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Five-Year Cooperative Grant ($2.2 million); and 2015-2021 Title III Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Five-Year Cooperative Grant ($3.9 million).  Ms. Makuakane-Lundin has received various awards acknowledging her contributions, including the 2016 UH Hilo Pūlama Ike Award and 2013 Native Hawaiian Education Association Educator of the Year Award.  Your Committee also notes Ms. Makuakane-Lundin's strong commitment to community service, as evidenced by her current membership in the Hale O Nā Alii Halau Kalākaua, Hawaii Public Health Association, Hilo Jaycees, and Hilo Hawaiian Civic Club.  Your Committee recommends appointment of Ms. Makuakane-Lundin to the Hawaii Commission for National and Community Service based on her expertise and knowledge in developing Native Hawaiian-related higher education programs, garnering and managing federal grants, and commitment to community service.

 

ALAN CLINTON

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment and reappointment of Alan Clinton from the Office of the Mayor of the County of Kauai; County of Kauai Department of Planning; County of Kauai Police Department Patrol Service Bureau; Kauai Habitat for Humanity, Inc.; and eleven individuals.

 

     Upon review of the testimony and his qualifications, your Committee finds that Mr. Clinton's current status as the Disaster Assistance Recovery, Mitigation, and GIS Officer of the County of Kauai Emergency Management Agency (KEMA) and his previous positions at municipal government qualify him to be appointed to the Hawaii Commission for National and Community Service, as a member representing county governments.  Mr. Clinton has a Master of Science degree in Geography and Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resources & Environmental Science.  From 2017 to 2018, Mr. Clinton was a Development Plan Project Assistant with the County of Kauai Planning Department Long Range Division working on updating Kauai's General Plan, which sets forth the county's long-range land use policies.  According to testimony, Mr. Clinton played an integral role in community engagement and dialog concerning the county's land use policies.  Thereafter, Mr. Clinton left Hawaii to earn a Master of City and Regional Planning degree from Ohio State University, during which he continued to serve as a government employee as a Graduate Intern with the City of Columbus Department of Technology GIS Division.  In January 2020, Mr. Clinton returned to Kauai and began work in his current position at the KEMA.  Your Committee notes numerous testimonies attesting to Mr. Clinton's invaluable service during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in multiple capacities, including his tireless efforts in developing applications and online forms as the county navigated through various travel and quarantine policies.  Your Committee also notes Mr. Clinton's strong commitment to volunteer work as evidenced by his service with AmeriCorps National's Kauai Habitat for Humanity.  Your Committee believes that Mr. Clinton's professional experience and knowledge in disaster recovery, mitigation, and technology; ability to collaborate with others under stress; and strong commitment to public serve will be valuable assets to the Hawaii Commission for National and Community Service, and therefore, recommends his appointment and reappointment.

 

     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,

 

 

 

____________________________

DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair