Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 343, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of:

begs leave to report as follows:

Upon review of the testimony and statements submitted by the nominees, your Committee finds that the nominees have the necessary character, experience, and qualifications to serve on the State Commission on the Status of Women.

Your Committee received testimony in support of all the nominees from the Lieutenant Governor and a member of the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women.

Valli Kanuha, Ph.D., is a consultant, trainer, and psychotherapist, and is an Assistant Professor at the University of Hawaii School of Social Work. She received her doctorate degree from the University of Washington, a Master of Social Work from the University of Minnesota, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in social work from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. She was born in Hilo and has been a therapist for the Child and Family Services in Hilo. She currently is on the Editorial Boards of Violence Against Women, Women and Therapy, and Affilia: Journal of Women and Social Work. She is Co-founder of the University of Hawaii at Hilo Women's Association, and has been a Board Member of the National Network of Women's Funds. She is being reappointed.

Margaret K. Matsunaga received a Juris Doctor degree from the McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific, and currently serves as a Deputy Corporation Counsel in West Hawaii in family court cases involving paternity proceedings. She previously was with the law firm of Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel in Kona. She is active with the American Bar Association and Hawaii State Bar Association, serving on various professional committees, and is currently on the Board of Directors of the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii. She has served as a Commissioner on the Human Rights Commission of the City and County of Sacramento. She is being reappointed. Testimony in her support was received from two individuals.

Mary Jo Sweeney received a Master's degree in Nursing and a Certificate in Public Health from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Sacramento State University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art from San Francisco State University. She is currently a community health nurse for the Kauai District Health Office, Department of Health. She is the current President of the Kauai Rural Health Association and President of the Kauai Children's Justice Committee. She is being reappointed. Testimony in her support was received from two individuals.

Your Committee finds that the nominees have been appointed based upon their credentials, integrity, and a desire to improve the status of women.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary 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.