STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2563

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 420

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Transportation and International Affairs, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 420, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of: 

 

Hawai'i Sister State Committee

 

G.M. No. 420

THANH-LO SANANIKONE,

for a term to expire 6-30-2012,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by the nominee, and finds Thanh-Lo Sananikone to have the necessary qualifications to be nominated to the Hawai‘i Sister State Committee.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Thanh-Lo Sananikone from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

 

     Ms. Thanh-Lo Sananikone has served in international leadership positions, with a focus on the Asia-Pacific region, over the course of a distinguished thirty-year career.  Currently the Managing Director for Pacific Management Resources (PacMar, Inc.), she has a wide range of experience, from consulting on business opportunities to assisting immigrants and refugees.  Ms. Sananikone has also worked closely with the Hawai‘i trade missions to Vietnam, where her knowledge of the local business and investment environment, and energy and enthusiasm about assisting Hawai‘i companies has proven invaluable.

     In addition to her business experience, Ms. Sananikone has a background in education and training, and in health care.  She holds a M.P.H. in Environmental Health and Occupational Health Management and a B.S. in Chemistry and Microbiology from the University of Hawai‘i, and has coordinated medical missions to Vietnam and Laos.  Ms. Sananikone was born in Vietnam, speaks three Southeast Asian languages fluently and has work experience in two countries where Hawai‘i has sister relationships – China and the Philippines.

 

     Ms. Sananikone has served on the boards of the East-West Center Association, the Pacific and Asian Affairs Council, and as a member of the Hawaii Pacific District Export Council, among many others.  She was awarded the Outstanding Minority Import-Export Services Business Advocate in 2002 and the State of Hawai‘i 2003 Hawai‘i Minority Small Business Advocate of the Year.  Ms. Sananikone will represent the East-West Center on the Hawai‘i Sister State Committee.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and International Affairs 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.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair