Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 443, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of:

begs leave to report as follows:

Testimony in support of the nomination of MARLENE MARIE HAPAI to the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii was submitted by twenty-four individuals, most of them affiliated with the University. Ms. Hapai holds a Ph.D. in Entomology and has taught biology and related courses at the University over a period of twenty-one years. She has also held a number of administrative posts, including Chair of the Natural Sciences Division at the University of Hawaii at Hilo; Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs at the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources; Director of the Mauna Kea Astronomy Education Center; and most recently, Project Director for a U.S. Department of Education STARnet grant. She has received numerous grants, honors, and awards over the course of her career.

Ms. Hapai takes pride in creating and organizing successful programs, and in her thorough and intimate understanding of Hawaii's educational system. She is collaborative, astute, committed, and capable of detailed considerations while being visionary; someone who supports her team and takes responsibility for her decisions; a motivator who can instill a sense of pride in effort toward common goals; and a person whose exceptional contributions to education will serve as a model for members of the Board of Regents.

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