Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Housing, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 166, 167, and 168, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of:

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee received testimony in support of OSCAR PORTUGAL from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, the Mayor of the County of Kauai, a retired state land surveyor administrator, Wagner Engineering Services, Inc., the United Filipino Council of Hawaii, and the president of the Kauai Filipino Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Portugal also provided a written statement.

Your Committee finds that Mr. Portugal received his B.A. degree from the University of Hawaii and became a licensed professional surveyor in 1980, thus meeting the requirement in section 464-6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, that certain members of the board be licensed professional surveyors. Mr. Portugal became the County Surveyor for the County of Kauai in 1988, a position he still holds. Mr. Portugal has been a member of the board since July 1, 2000, and has been a holdover member since July 1, 2004.

Your Committee received testimony in support of RICHARD M. SUZUKI, P.E., from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Mr. Suzuki also provided a written statement.

Your Committee finds that Mr. Suzuki, P.E., received his B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Hawaii and became licensed as a registered professional engineer (P.E.) in 1969, thus meeting the requirement in section 464-6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, that certain members of the board be professional engineers. Mr. Suzuki worked for the State for twenty years and for the City and County of Honolulu for ten years as a civil engineer and is now a senior project manager with a private firm. Mr. Suzuki was appointed to the board on July 1, 2004, on an interim basis.

Your Committee received testimony in support of MARC VENTURA, AIA, from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and the Mayor of the County of Kauai. Mr. Ventura also provided a written statement.

Your Committee finds that Mr. Ventura received his B.A. degree in Architecture from the University of Notre Dame and thereafter worked in the field of architecture, receiving licenses to practice architecture in Hawaii and California in 1992. Your Committee thus finds that Mr. Ventura, now president of his own architectural firm, meets the requirement in section 464-6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, that certain members of the board be professional architects. Mr. Ventura was appointed to the board on July 1, 2004, on an interim basis.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, 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.