Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Housing, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 456, 457, and 458, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of:

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee received no testimony in support of the nomination of NORMAN G.Y. HONG. Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of CAROL H. IGARASHI from two individuals. Your Committee also received testimony in support of the nomination of HOWARD K.C. LAU from four individuals.

Mr. Hong has nearly thirty years of experience as an architect practicing in Hawaii. He began his career as an intern with Group 70 International Inc., becoming a partner in 1977, and its President in 1984. Today, Mr. Hong serves as Vice-Chairman of Group 70, one of Hawaii's largest architectural, planning, and interior design firms. Mr. Hong is also active in community organizations which include the City and County of Honolulu's Commission on Culture and the Arts, the University of Hawaii Federal Credit Union Financial Services Board, the Kaimuki Waialae YMCA, and Kaimuki Christian Church.

As a nominee to one of the three public member seats on the Board, Ms. Igarashi has experience in private industry, primarily in administrative work and human resources. Currently, she serves as administrator to the current Chief Executive Officer of Hawaiian Electric Company. She is also active as a volunteer in various community projects.

Mr. Lau has thirty-two years of experience as a structural engineer with the firm of Shigemura, Lau, Sakanishi, Higuchi and Associates, where he started out as a junior engineer in 1977. Since 1998, he has served as the firm's President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Lau is also actively involved in the community and has previous experience serving on the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund Advisory Board, the Hurricane Advisory Committee, and the Hurricane Shelter Standards Advisory Committee to the Hawaii State Civil Defense.

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.