Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 261, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of:

begs leave to report as follows:

Upon review of the testimony and written statements submitted by the nominees, your Committee finds that Barbara K. Ideta, Carol H. Kikkawa-Ward, Robert P. Takushi, and Joan P. White have the necessary character, experience, and qualifications to serve on the Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs (PABEA).

Your Committee received testimony from the Executive Office on Aging in support of the nominees.

Barbara K. Ideta is an experienced nurse and administrator, having served as Manager of Emergency Services at The Queens’ Medical Center, Director of Nursing at Maunalani Hospital, Vice President, Nursing Director, Clinical Services at Kuakini Medical Center, and is presently a member of the Hawaii State Board of Nursing. Ms. Ideta is well acquainted with the health care needs of Hawaii’s older adults and will bring this important perspective to her work on PABEA.

Carol Kikkawa-Ward was first appointed to PABEA in 1978 and has served several terms with the board since then. Ms. Ward currently works as a personal financial advisor, and has served as President of Interim Services of the Pacific, Inc., and Director of Community Health for the American Red Cross Pacific Division. She has an understanding of aging issues in Hawaii beginning with the early years of the Aging Network and continuing into the present, which gives her a broad knowledge and understanding of the health care needs of Hawaii’s seniors.

Robert Takushi brings many years of broad-based state government experience to this appointment. He has served as deputy director of the Department of Budget and Finance, deputy director and director of the Department of Accounting and General Services, and spent many years working directly with the Legislature from budget analyst to his most recent job as Chief of Staff of the Hawaii State Senate from 1996-2000. Mr. Takushi is the only non-nurse candidate nominated for board appointment.

Joan White most recently served as vice president of the Healthcare Association of Hawaii (HAH), where her responsibilities included direct work with the organization’s long-term care division to ensure that plans and objectives were attained. Before her tenure with HAH, she was Executive Director of the YWCA of O’ahu, served from 1984-1992, as Administrator for Planning and Development at Straub Clinic and Hospital. Joan’s enthusiasm and diligence are apparent to all who have worked with her and will be an inspiration for her fellow board members of PABEA.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services 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.