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. 259, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of:

MONA ABADIR for a term to expire on June 30, 2006;

MARY PHILPOTTS for a term to expire on June 30, 2005;

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nominees from the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. Your Committee received testimony in support of Mona Abadir from the Fine Art Associates, Communications-Pacific, Inc., First Hawaiian Bank, Hawaii Theatre Center, and two private individuals. Your Committee received testimony in support of Charles M. Freedman from Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc., Graphic House, and a private individual.

Mona Abadir is one of the three founders of Honu Group, Inc., a prominent development and management company, and has been a leader in the field for the past 25 years. This company has sponsored numerous artistic events. She is also very active in the arts locally as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Contemporary Museum, Advisory Committee of the Honolulu Culture and Arts District, and numerous other arts organizations such as the Hawaii Consortium of the Arts, Honolulu Academy of Arts, Kumu Kahua Theatre, Iolani Palace, and Honolulu Printmakers.

Mary Philpotts, owner of Philpotts and Associates, Inc., is an icon in the design world who has received dozens of awards for commercial and residential interiors. She is affiliated with numerous professional organizations in interior design and has been extremely active in the community for the last two decades as a member of dozens of civic groups. She attended the Universities of Colorado and Hawaii.

Charles M. Freedman has ample experience in communications in both the public (serving two Lt. Governors and Governor Waihee) and private (with Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.) sectors, as well as in the non-profit field (as a Peace Corps volunteer in Palau, Planning Director of Palau Community Action Agency, and Deputy Director of the Hawaii County Economic Opportunity Council). Mr. Freedman is also an early education advocate who served as a Board Member on KCAA Pre-schools (in addition to other non-profit boards of the Honolulu Media Council, Live Aloha, and Aloha United Way). He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Lafayette College.

Upon review of the statements and oral testimony submitted and presented by the nominees, your Committee finds that the nominees will work with compassion and commitment to assist in administering the government functions related to arts and culture. Your Committee further finds that these nominees will bring a renewed sense of purpose and direction to the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. They can be expected to help create a superior state art museum that will anchor the development of a world class cultural and historical destination in the capitol district. They also expressed a welcome support for native Hawaiian arts and culture.

Your Committee further finds that the nominees have been appointed based upon their credentials, integrity, and desire to make Hawaii better through their participation on the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts Commission.

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 nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nominations.