STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1809

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  GOV. MSG. NO. 288
                                        




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. 288, as amended by Governor's
Message No. 348, submitting for study and consideration the
nominations of:

COMMUNITY-BASED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COUNCIL

     G.M. No. 288       DAVID FUERTES, for a term to expire
                        June 30, 2001;

                        JOHN ISOBE and LORRAINE M. MENDOZA, for
                        terms to expire June 30, 2002; and

                        DAVID B. FISHER, JOYCE L.E. KAAIHUE,
                        ALAN T. MURAKAMI, and YOU SOUKASEUM for
                        terms to expire June 30, 2003,

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, who will work
with compassion and commitment.  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 Community-Based
Economic Development Advisory Council to which they have been
nominated.


 
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     The Department of Business, Economic Development, and
Tourism submitted testimony in support of all of the nominees.

     Your Committee notes the following specific qualifications
of the nominees:

     David Fuertes combines two careers, as Department Head and
Teacher at Kohala High School, and as a consultant on strategic
planning, facilitation, and training.  A teacher for over twenty
years, Mr. Fuertes is equally committed to building a strong
community through civic action.  In addition to his many
community projects, he is a member of the Big Island Association
of Nurserymen, an advisor for the Future Farmers of America, as
well as a member of a wide range of rural and community
associations.  He holds both an undergraduate degree and
professional education diploma from the University of Hawaii.
The Chairman of the Honolulu City Council and one individual
submitted letters in support of Mr. Fuertes.

     John Isobe is Rural Grant Coordinator, Kauai Community
College, and has served as Director of the Kauai Economic
Development Board and with the County of Kauai.  His community
organizations include the Kauai Visitors Bureau, the Kauai
Chamber of Commerce, and the Kauai Northshore Business Council,
among others.  He attended the University of Hawaii, and is a
lifelong resident of the State.

     Lorraine M. Mendoza, an Administrative Assistant with the
Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce, is also active in a range of
community organizations.  She is the President of the Rural South
Hilo Community Association, a board member of the Hilo-Hamakua
Community Development Corporation, board member and advisor to
the Pepeekeo Community Association, and a member of the Filipino
Chamber of Commerce.  A lifelong resident of Hawaii, she is a
graduate of Hawaii Community College.  A letter of support was
received from one individual.

     David B. Fisher, Director of the U.H.H. Small Business
Development Center Network, launched the Network operations on
Maui.  He has also operated his own business and served in
management positions with mainland companies in New York and New
Jersey.  Mr. Fisher is a graduate of Yale University with a
Master's degree from New York University.

     Joyce L.E. Kaaihue is community Development Lender and
Government Lending Programs Credit Officer with Bank of Hawaii.
In addition to her banking career, Ms. Kaaihue has experience in
sales and the health industry.  A graduate of the University of

 
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Hawaii, she is also a member of the Pilot Club of Downtown
Honolulu. 

     Alan T. Murakami is Litigation Director for the Native
Hawaiian Legal Corporation, where he is responsible for
litigation, case management, and training.  Mr. Murakami is a
member of the National Economic Development and Law Center, the
Hawaii Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights,
and the Environmental Poverty Law Working Group, among others.
He holds a law degree from the University of California at Davis
and a Master's degree from the University of Hawaii.

     You Soukaseum, the owner of You Soukaseum Farm, is also the
U.S. Small Business Administration Minority Small Business
Advocate for 1998.  Twenty years ago, Soukaseum fled Laos to
begin a new life in Hawaii as a farmer.  With no money, skills,
or contacts, and unfamiliar with the language, he built a
successful business and along the way has helped over two hundred
Chinese and Laotian refugees become independent farmers.  Mr.
Soukaseum's concerns embrace many areas, and he is also the
founder and past president of the Association of Chinese from
Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos.  His nomination was supported by the
Governor's Special Assistant for Housing.

     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
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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