SSCR1479

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1479

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: GOV. MSG. NO. 306

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 306, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of:

Board of Regents of the University of Hawai‘i

G.M. No. 306

MICHAEL A. DAHILIG,

for a term to expire 6-30-2013,

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by the nominee, and finds Michael A. Dahilig to have the necessary qualifications to be appointed to the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this nomination from the University of Hawaii at Manoa Office of Student Life and Development; National Federation of Filipino Americans Associations, Region 12; Oahu Filipino Community Council; Filipino Americans Citizens League; Filipino Coalition for Solidarity; Central Pacific Bank; Goodsill, Anderson, Quinn & Stifel; International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, District Council 50; and ten individuals. Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

Michael A. Dahilig is a Land Use and Environmental Planner with PBR Hawaii and Associates, a position he has held since July 2007. He has also worked as a Housing Advisor to Representative Maile S.L. Shimabukuro and as a Summer Associate with Dawn S. Chang, Esq./Kuiwalu Consulting. Mr. Dahilig is a graduate of the University of Hawaii, with a Bachelor of Science in Geology and Geophysics, and a Juris Doctor, Environmental Law Certificate from the William S. Richardson School of Law. He is currently a Candidate for a Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree at the University. While attending the University, Mr. Dahilig served as Student Body President of the Associated Students of the University of Hawaii at Manoa from 2002-2003, and as a member of the Board of Regents since September 2005. He is active in numerous community organizations, including serving as Vice‑Chairman of the National Federation of Filipino-American Associations Region 12 and as Legal Counsel to the Honolulu Filipino Junior Chamber of Commerce, among others. Mr. Dahilig is a reappointment to the Board of Regents, where he previously served as the student member.

Your Committee discussed critical issues facing the University with Mr. Dahilig, and in particular how he perceived the role of the student member of the Board in responding to these issues. He acknowledged that the expectations for the student member are high, given the diverse student population represented, and that balancing expectations can be challenging. Your Committee has also reviewed Mr. Dahilig's responses to questions regarding his motivation as a member of the Board of Regents, his goals and priorities for the University, his views on the University presidential selection process, his suggestions for dealing with the unprecedented budget crisis, and his views on the current ten-campus University of Hawaii System.

Following up on Mr. Dahilig's response to the questions of real or perceived conflicts, your Committee requested that he seek the opinion of University of Hawaii counsel as to whether or not he may participate in Board of Regents matters related to University of Hawaii – West Oahu, or any or all professional contracts, given his current employment.

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.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,

____________________________

JILL TOKUDA, Chair