Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Tourism, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 333, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of:

begs leave to report as follows:

Based upon your Committee's evaluation of the testimony received from, and in support of, the nominee, your Committee finds that the nominee should be afforded an opportunity to serve the public.

Testimony in support of the nominee was received from the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), Maui Office of Economic Development, Maui County Council Chair, Maui County Councilmember, Diamond Resort Hawaii, Maui Chamber of Commerce, Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce, Lahaina Town Action Committee, Princeville Resort, Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa, Maui Hotel Association, Wailea Marriott, Wailea Golf Resort, Inc., Napali Kai Beach Resort, Four Seasons Resort, Waikoloa Beach Marriott, Kapalua Bay Hotel, Destination Resorts Hawaii, Inc., The Hawaii Hotel Association, Whalers Village, Budget, KIKU TV and JN Productions, Inc., Ocean Tourism Coalition, Heli USA, Blue Hawaiian Helicopters, Island Insurance Companies, Fujimoto Landscape, Inc., Car Quest Hawaii, Kanu Inc., Wailea Point Realty, Inc., David Paul St. John Marketing, a retired Hawaii State Senator, and eleven individuals.

Kiyoko Y. Kimura is the President and General Manager of Diamond Resorts Hawaii, a subsidiary of Diamond Resort Corporation which owns and operates twenty-one resort facilities in Japan and Taiwan. The Hawaii entity is responsible for the resort in Wailea. She is a former interpreter for President George Bush, was selected as Woman of Maui in 1995, and was nominated as General Manager of the Year in 1997 by the Hawaii Hotel Association. She is a Board Member of the Japanese Cultural Center and serves on the Board of Governors of the Hawaii Employers Council. She has participated extensively in Maui civic and cultural affairs.

Your Committee notes the responses of the nominee at her confirmation hearing that the nominee believes that "Hawaii as a brand name is not high enough in the world". As a Board Member of the HTA, she would work to increase the visibility of Hawaii as a tourist destination particularly in Japan and scrutinize the HTA's contracts more. With her knowledge of Japan, she states that the HTA should endeavor to "brand Hawaii as a prestigious destination". As to the Governor traveling to Japan to promote Hawaii, she states that the effectiveness of the visit "depends on how the media translates it." The visit needs to be tied into a big event or show in Japan. Even so, the Governor's visit would not be enough and she suggested that the Governor herself needs to become better known in Japan.

Your Committee further notes that the nominee feels that she can commute to Honolulu and the other Islands from Maui to conduct the business of the HTA. In particular, she hopes to boost Maui's influence on the HTA.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Tourism that is attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, character, experience, and qualifications of the nominee, has found the nominee to be qualified for the position to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nomination.