STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1453

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 307

 

 

 

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. 307, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of: 

 

Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii

 

G.M. No. 307

RAMON S. DE LA PENA PHD,

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 Ramon S. de la Pena 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 Kauai County Office of the Mayor; Kauai Filipino Chamber of Commerce; National Federation of Filipino American Associations, Region 12; Filipino Coalition for Solidarity; Oahu Filipino Community Council; Filipino American Citizens League; A&B Properties, Inc.; Northrup Grumman; Pecson & Associates; and three individuals.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     Ramon S. de la Pena, Ph.D., is an Emeritus Agronomist and Professor, University of Hawaii.  Dr. de la Pena has an extensive and distinguished career as an agronomist, and has been associated with the University of Hawaii since the 1960s.  He holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of the Philippines, and master's and doctorate degrees from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  Dr. de la Pena worked as a Research Agronomist at the Kauai Experiment Station from 1967 until his retirement in 2001, where he conducted research on tropical crop production with an emphasis on taro production and improvement.  He has published over eighty-five scientific papers in tropical agriculture, and throughout his career, has served as a mentor to high school students on Kauai.  Dr. de la Pena is also active in numerous community organizations, including the Kauai Filipino Chamber of Commerce, and the Kauai Pangasinan Association, and has served on the County of Kauai Charter Review Commission, County of Kauai Planning Commission, and County of Kauai Office of Elderly Affairs Policy Board.  He is a reappointment to the Board of Regents, where he has served since 2004.

 

     Your Committee discussed several critical issues with Dr. de la Pena, including the importance of research and research funding for the University of Hawaii System, the cultural considerations that may be arise during the research process, and the opportunities for the University related to federal funding in energy and renewable energy projects and research.  Your Committee has also reviewed Dr. de la Pena'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.

 

     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