STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1451

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 309

 

 

 

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

 

Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii

 

G.M. No. 309

CHUCK YIM GEE,

for a term to expire 6-30-2010,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by the nominee, and finds Chuck Yim Gee 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 City and County of Honolulu's Office of the Mayor; Hong Kong China Hawaii Chamber of Commerce; Kuakini Health System; Kingdom Hotel Investments; Wailana Coffee House; V2 Leadership Group, Inc.; Global Education Trust; Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties; and six individuals.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     Chuck Yim Gee is currently a Consultant and Advisor in the areas of international tourism, hotel investment, and human resources.  Prior to his current work, Mr. Gee served as the Dean of the School of Travel Industry Management at the University of Hawaii Manoa from 1976-2000, and as Associate Dean and Professor from 1968-1975, and was honored with the title of Dean Emeritus upon his retirement.  Mr. Gee has also provided his expertise as Interim Dean, College of Business, University of Hawaii at Manoa from 1998-2000 and served for many years as Advisor to the East‑West Center Institute of Technical Exchange Tourism Training Program.  Mr. Gee is a graduate of the University of Denver, and holds a Master's Degree from Michigan State University.  As a result of his extensive experience, he has been appointed three times to the fifteen-member Travel and Tourism Advisory Board of the United States Department of Commerce, and was a delegate representing the State of Hawaii at the first White House Conference on Travel and Tourism in 1995.  Mr. Gee has played an active role in many professional and community organizations, including but not limited to the Pacific Asia Travel Association, Board of Directors of Kuakini Health System, and the Mayor's Advisory Committee for the Oahu Strategic Tourism Plan.

 

     Your Committee discussed several critical issues with Mr. Gee from his perspective based on his many years as Dean, including the challenges facing the next President of the University of Hawaii, projected tuition increases, and how the system can better respond to current and future challenges.  Your Committee has also reviewed Mr. Gee'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