Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation and Government Operations, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 313, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of:

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nominee from the Department of Accounting and General Services; Staff of the State Procurement Office; Executive Officer and Staff of the Land Use Commission; Hawaii Tourism Authority; Hawaii County Finance Department; Aloha Harvest; Coalition of Hawaii Engineering and Architectural Professionals; The Hawaii Business League; National Association of Social Workers; The Salvation Army-Family Intervention Services; ORI Anuenue Hale, Inc.; Hale `Opio Kauai, Inc.; Kauahikaua & Chun / Architects; Catholic Charities Hawaii; American Council of Engineering Companies of Hawaii; and two individuals.

AARON S. FUJIOKA received a B.S. degree in Human Resources Development and an M.S.W. degree in Administration from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He has been the Administrator and Chief Procurement Officer of the State Procurement Office, Department of Accounting and General Services, since 2001. However, he briefly served as the Special Advisor to the Department of Community Services, City and County of Honolulu, from March 2005 to October 2005. The nominee has served in various administrative procurement positions with the Department of Accounting and General Services since 1997, including Assistant Administrator, Procurement Officer, and Procurement Manager. Previously, he performed procurement and planning functions for the Office of Community Services of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, and the Executive Office on Aging.

Mr. Fujioka is Director of the Western States Contracting Alliance, and Administrator of the State Purchase of Service Team. He is also a member of the Access Hawaii Committee, National Association; the National Association of State Procurement Officials; National Institute of Governmental Purchasing, and Hawaii Accounting and Audit Review Committee.

Your Committee is impressed with Mr. Fujioka's personal statement that the State Procurement Office continues its efforts to build public confidence and to enhance the transparency of procurement operations. He states that he will continue to advocate for the consistent application of the procurement statutes and rules, and will work conscientiously at making fair and informed decisions.

Furthermore, your Committee notes that the nominee has been an invaluable resource to the Legislature on procurement issues.

With over twenty years of experience in public procurement, contracts management, and planning and program development, Aaron S. Fujioka is eminently qualified for the position to which he is nominated.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, 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.