Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 344, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of:

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee finds that the Hawaii Workforce Development Council is a thirty-one member body appointed as an advisory state workforce policy body which plans and has oversight for a state workforce strategic vision. The Council also fulfills the federal mandate for a state workforce investment board which prepares the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) plan, negotiates the federal performance measures and is responsible for the evaluation, oversight on partner collaboration and program results and incentive and recognition awards.

Your Committee notes the following qualifications of the nominees.

Alan S. Ito currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Convergence CT, in charge of developing new products and services for this company that services the Life Sciences industry. Mr. Ito received a master's degree in Business Administration and a bachelor's degree in mathematics from the University of Hawaii.

Edward M. Boughton currently serves as the President of Hawaii Industrial Laboratory, Inc., a consulting organization specializing in the commercialization of high technology research results. Mr. Boughton has over forty years of experience in software and computer applications, electronics, and alternate and conventional energy systems.

Wayne H. Kishida has been involved with the trade of carpentry for his entire professional life. Mr. Kishida holds a carpenters journeyman certificate and has worked not only as a carpenter, but as a Training Coordinator and later the Director of Training for the Hawaii Carpenters Training Trust Fund. Mr. Kishida also possesses industrial relations experience as a Field Representative/Organizer for the Hawaii Carpenters Union.

M. Winona Cabral Whitman currently serves as the Employment and Training Program Administrator for Alu Like, Inc., and is responsible for administering and directing the development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of a statewide job training delivery system targeted towards Hawaiians, Native Americans, and Native Alaskans. Ms. Whitman possesses a master's degree in Business Education and a bachelor's degree in Secretarial Science from Morehead State University.

Upon review of the testimony and the statements submitted by the nominees, your Committee finds that Alan S. Ito, Edward M. Boughton, Wayne H. Kishida, and M. Winona Cabral Whitman, have the necessary character, experience, and qualifications to serve on the Hawai`i Workforce Development Council.

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