Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 182, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of:

KAREN Y. AKA, PH.D., for a term to expire on June 30, 2006; and

CARL T. TAKAMURA for a term to expire on June 30, 2004,

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee notes that Governor's Message No. 217 amended the term to expire for nominee Carl T. Takamura to June 30, 2004.

Upon review of the statements submitted by the nominees, your Committee finds that the aforementioned nominees will work with compassion and commitment to represent Hawaii effectively on the Education Commission of the States. Your Committee further finds that the nominees have been appointed based upon their credentials, integrity, and a desire to improve education in Hawaii through their participation on the Education Commission of the States to which they have been nominated.

Karen Y. Aka has been an educational consultant since 1995 through her company, Knowledge, Inc. This is the culmination of a long and varied career in education that has included teaching (with a strong emphasis on special education), support services, counseling, curriculum design, and policy work. Her academic credentials are as strong as her professional ones and include a Master's of Education from the University of Pittsburgh and a Doctorate in Philosophy from the Union Institute with an emphasis on Educational Policy.

Carl T. Takamura has been Executive Director of Hawaii Business Roundtable since 1990. Prior to that, Mr. Takamura has had ample experience in the public policy arena as a member of the House of Representatives of the State of Hawaii, Special Assistant to Governor George Ariyoshi, and Government Affairs Administrator for GTE Hawaiian Telephone. He has also won numerous awards, including one for "Excellence in Teaching" during his stint as a teacher at Windward Community College. This educational experience is complemented by a Master's degree in Student Personnel Administration from Cornell University. Mr. Takamura is also active in a number of professional and community organizations.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education 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 they have been nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nominations.