STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1536

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 478, 479, 567, 568

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Transportation and International Affairs, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 478, 479, 567, and 568, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Hawai'i Sister State Committee

 

G.M. No. 478

LISA TERUKA MARUYAMA,

for a term to expire 6-30-2011;

 

G.M. No. 479

SHERRY R. MENOR,

for a term to expire 6-30-2011;

 

G.M. No. 567

ROMY M. CACHOLA,

for a term to expire 6-30-2010; and

 

G.M. No. 568

ANITA MAE K. NAONE,

for a term to expire 6-30-2009,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Lisa Teruka Maruyama from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; University of Hawaii; East-West Center; and two individuals.   

 

     Ms. Maruyama represents a nominee of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.  She is currently the Executive Director of the Pacific and Asian Affairs Council.  She received a Bachelor of Business Administration in International Business from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where she participated in the Pacific Asian Management Institute during the summer of 1990.

 

     Ms. Maruyama participated in the Pacific Century Fellows Program (1999-2000), Weinberg Fellows Program (1996), Japan-America Institute of Management Science, National Philanthropy Day, and National Student Exchange Program at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

 

     Ms. Maruyama's current professional and community activities include Board Member of the Hawaii Society of Corporate Planners, Advisory Council; Hawaii Pacific University College of International Relations, Advisory Council; University of Hawaii College of Marketing Department, Advisory Council; and University of Hawaii Center for International Business Education and Research.  She has been a member of the World Affairs Councils of America; United Nations Association-USA, Hawaii Division; and Japanese Junior Chamber of Commerce.

 

     Ms. Maruyama received the Pacific Business News "Top Forty Under 40" recognition in 2001; Daniel K. Inouye Award for Excellence in Community Mental Health Service, presented by the Hawaii Psychological Association in 1997; Pacific Asian Management Institute Field Study Abroad Scholarship (1990); and Richard Kosaki Award for Excellence in Research, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Political Science Department (1988).

 

     Ms. Maruyama has traveled extensively on the Mainland, Asia, Canada, and Western Europe.  In addition, she has lived in Tokyo and Nara, Japan; Amherst, Massachusetts; and Omaha, Nebraska.

 

     Your Committee notes the nominee's personal statement that she hopes to bring relevant outside information to the Hawai‘i Sister State Committee that would shape the decision-making process; to develop and/or refine criteria in determining which sister-state relationships are worth pursuing, maintaining, or discontinuing, and to assist in determining the best ways that sister-state relationships could be expressed to fully maximize the benefit to Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Sherry R. Menor from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; McCabe, Hamilton & Renny Co., Ltd.; First Hawaiian Bank; The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii; Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce; Hawaii Korean Chamber of Commerce; Hong Kong Business Association; Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce; Legal Realty; Wilson Homecare; The Limtiaco Company; Hawaiian Telcom; Kaiser Permanente; Sheraton Hawai‘i Bowl; and one individual.

 

     Ms. Menor is a nominee of the Senate President.  She is employed with the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii as Director of the Business Advocacy Department.  She received a Juris Doctor degree from the William S. Richardson School of Law and an Master of Business Administration degree from the Shidler College of Business, at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  Ms. Menor received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of California at Los Angeles.  She also participated in graduate studies in public administration and public policy at the University of Southern California.  She has been a summer law clerk for the Hawaii County Corporation Counsel and a Legislative Assistant for the Hawaii State Legislature.

 

     Ms. Menor has experience creating relationships to further enhance the mutual understanding, respect, and cooperation among people of diverse backgrounds.  This experience would serve her well on the Hawaii Sister State Committee, as well as the fact that she was born in a foreign country.  She also has worked abroad and for foreign companies and appreciates and respects the cultural differences among countries.

 

     Your Committee notes the personal statement of the nominee that she will seek to build understanding and mutual respect of each state's culture, people, and economy, and to work to enable sister-states to collectively seek ways to address similar issues.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Romy M. Cachola from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

 

     Councilmember Cachola represents the appointment from the Hawaii State Association of Counties.  He is a Honolulu City Councilmember.  He received a Bachelor of Law (Juris Doctor) and M.L. degrees from Quezon University.

 

     Councilmember Cachola was a State Representative from 1984 to 2000.  He is on the Board of Governors of the Kalihi YMCA; a member of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce; on the Board of Directors of the Kalihi Business Association; and a member or past member of various community organizations, including the Ilocos Surian Association of Hawaii, Kalakaua Lions Club, Narvacaneos Club of Hawaii, St. Anthony Church's Filipino Catholic Club, St. Anthony Church's Parish Pastoral Council; St Anthony's School Board (Past President), Statewide Sakada Committee, Susannah Wesley Community Center, and Waipahu Business Association (Past President).

 

     Councilmember Cachola has received numerous awards for distinguished service and accomplishments, including the Distinguished Legislator Award of the State Legislative Leaders Association, presented at the August 1990 National Conference of State Legislators in Tennessee; Public Servant of the Year presented by the Community Advocate Magazine, 1990; and Progress Award for Public Service presented by the United Filipino Community Council, 1997 and 1999.

 

     Your Committee notes from the nominee's personal statement that he has past experience setting up sister state relationships during his tenure as a city councilmember. 

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Anita Mae K. Naone from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, and two individuals.

 

     Ms. Naone is a nomination of a Native Hawaiian cultural organization.  She is the Forward Equal Employment Opportunity Manager for the United States Army Corp of Engineers at Fort Shafter, where she has authority to plan, organize, direct, staff, implement, and evaluate a management-oriented affirmative employment program, including the complaint process.  She has also served as a Defense Communications Coordinator for the Naval Communications Station in Wahiawa.

 

     Ms. Naone attended Windward Community College, and completed numerous leadership and equal employment courses with the United States military.  She brings experience in working with people from all walks of life, including professional engineers, managers, and diverse ethnic groups.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and International Affairs that are 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.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation and International Affairs,

 

 

 

____________________________

J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair