STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1477

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 580

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

Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii

G.M. No. 580

JAMES H.Q. LEE, for a term to expire 6-30-2014,

begs leave to report as follows:

     Your Committee reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by the nominee, and finds James H.Q. Lee 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 Big Brothers Big Sisters of Honolulu; ‘Iolani School; Devens, Nakano, Saito, Lee, Wong & Ching; and four individuals.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     James H.Q. Lee is a Partner in the law firm Devens, Lo, Youth Nakano, Saito, Lee & Wong, a position he has held since 1990, and has practiced law in Hawaii since 1981 with a concentration in tax matters and real estate transactions.  Mr. Lee is also a Director of the K.B. Lee Corporation, a family holding company, and from 1997-2008, was Managing Director of Let's Eat Hawaii, a partnership which owns and operates Sam Choy's restaurants in Hawaii, Guam, and Japan.  He is a graduate of the University of Hawaii, with a Bachelors of Business Administration and a Juris Doctorate from the William S. Richardson School of Law.  Mr. Lee is a member of the Hawaii State Bar, and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant.  He is active in community organizations, including serving as Chair of the Board of Directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hawaii Foundation, as ‘Iolani School Family Fair Division Chair, and has received several awards for his philanthropic work.

     Your Committee discussed issues of concern to the University with Mr. Lee, including his suggestions for dealing with the unprecedented budget crisis.  Your Committee has also reviewed Mr. Lee'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, 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