STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1734

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  GOV. MSG. NO. 257
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Economic Development, to which was
referred Governor's Message No. 257, submitting for study and
consideration the nomination of:

CONVENTION CENTER AUTHORITY

     G.M. No. 257       KATSUMI TANAKA, for a term to expire
                        June 30, 2002; and

                        GLENN K. MURANAKA and JEFF J. COELHO, for
                        terms to expire June 30, 2003; and

begs leave to report as follows:

     Upon review of the statements submitted by the nominees,
your Committee finds that the aforementioned nominees are
volunteers, willing to serve without compensation, and will work
with compassion and commitment to assist in administering a
government function.  Your Committee further finds that the
nominees have been appointed based upon their professional
credentials, integrity, and a desire to make Hawaii better
through their participation on the board of the Convention Center
Authority to which they have been nominated.

     Your Committee heard testimony in support of the three
candidates from the Hawaii Convention Center Authority.

     Katsumi Tanaka, President and CEO of E Noa Tours, holds both
undergraduate and law degrees from Harvard University.  In
addition to his current tourism business, Mr. Tanaka has

 
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extensive experience in international transactions and has served
as a negotiator and advisor on behalf of multinational
corporations in the areas of mergers, acquisitions, licenses,
joint ventures, and private and public financing.  He is an
active member of numerous visitor industry associations in
Hawaii, including the Visitor Industry Coalition, the Joint State
and County Waikiki Task Force, the Waikiki Improvement
Association, and the Hawaii Maritime Center.  Letters of support
for Mr. Tanaka were received from the Waikiki Improvement
Association, Pacific Management Consultants, Inc., and the
Chairman of the City Council of the City and County of Honolulu.

     Jeff J. Coelho, General Manager of KUMU radio and President
and Partner in "The Karaoke Box", is a lifelong resident of
Hawaii.  Mr. Coelho has served as an active and productive member
of the Convention Center Authority since 1995, where he brings
his private business acumen into monthly discussions and
decisions of the board.  He began his radio career in 1965, and
served as president of the Hawaii Association of Broadcasting for
eight years.  Mr. Coelho is also active in youth sports and
served as a board member of St. John Vianney School.  Letters in
support of Mr. Coelho were received from the Convention Center
Authority, Pacific Management Consultants, Inc., and the Chairman
of the City Council of the City and County of Honolulu.

     Glenn K. Muranaka, President and General Manager of Meadow
Gold Dairies, was born and raised in Hawaii and attended the
University of Hawaii.  Mr. Muranaka began his career at Meadow
Gold in 1972, and is a strong advocate of the company's core
values of outstanding quality, integrity and honesty, caring, and
continuous improvement.  He believes in giving back to the
community, and through his advocacy and support, Meadow Gold
Dairies is an active sponsor of various health and nutrition
activities throughout the State each year.

     Your Committee expressed its concerns regarding the
financial problems of the convention center, and discussed with
the candidates their expectations for the future of the center,
as well as their thoughts on Hawaii's tourism industry in
general.  Your Committee is very supportive of these three
candidates and the broad range of expertise they bring to the
Authority.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Economic Development that is attached to this
report, your Committee, after full consideration of the
background, character, experience, and qualifications of the
nominees, has found the nominees to be qualified for the

 
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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 Economic
                                   Development,



                                   ______________________________
                                   LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

 
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