SSCR3172

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3172

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: GOV. MSG. NOS. 398, 416

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Madam:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 398 and 416, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of:

Board of Directors of the Research Corporation of the University of Hawai`i

G.M. No. 398

MARK ITARU YAMADA,

for a term to expire 6-30-2014; and

G.M. No. 416

DONN MASAO TAKAKI,

for a term to expire 6-30-2014,

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees and finds Mark Itaru Yamada and Donn Masao Takaki to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the Board of Directors of the Research Corporation of the University of Hawai‘i (Board).

Testimony in support of the nomination of Mark Itaru Yamada was submitted by the Research Corporation of the University of Hawai‘i (RCUH), Island Insurance Companies, Hawaiian Host, Inc., the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii, First Hawaiian Bank, Grant Thornton LLP, and four individuals. Written testimony presented to your Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

Mr. Yamada has over twenty years of experience in various positions relating to accounting, finance, marketing, and administration. For the past three years, he has served as the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Hawaiian Host, Inc. From 2002 to 2007, he served as the Director of Finance and Administration with Gemini Mobile Technologies, Inc, a start-up company in the wireless internet industry. From 1996 to 2002, he worked with Vodafone Group PLC (formerly known as Airtouch Communications), in various capacities, including as the Managing Director of the Japan Finance Group, the Director of International Operations, and the Director of Accounting. From 1987 to 1996, he worked with Coopers & Lybrand LLP as an Audit Manager, first in Honolulu and later in Tokyo.

Mr. Yamada is a new appointment to the Board. Mr. Yamada intends to draw on his experiences in high tech industries, along with his finance and accounting background when making decisions as a Board member. Mr. Yamada believes that the research and development of new technologies and processes can be an engine of growth for our State's economy, and that the commercialization of successful research and development findings will create new industries or enhance existing ones.

Your Committee finds that Mr. Yamada's extensive administrative, financial, and management experience, as well as his involvement with high technology industries, will make him a valuable asset on the Board.

Testimony in support of the nomination of Mr. Donn Masao Takaki was submitted by the RCUH. Written testimony presented to your Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

Since 1996, Mr. Takaki has been the President of HawkTree International, the holding company for Island Movers and affiliated companies which perform ground transportation, logistics, and storage-related work. Additionally, from 2007 to the present, he has also been a Director of EpicRays, a digital signage software company.

Mr. Takaki is very active in the community, having served for two years as the Chairperson of the 2006 Honolulu City Charter Commission, and as a member and past Chairperson of the City & County of Honolulu Transportation Commission. Currently, he is a member of the Board of Directors of the Young Presidents' Organization and serves as a Vice Chairman of the Aloha United Way.

Mr. Takaki is a reappointment to the Board and currently serves as the Board's Chairperson. Mr. Takaki perceives the role of the Board as ensuring that the management team at the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii (RCUH) is focused on facilitating research activities in Hawaii. He believes that this requires taking care of administrative functions involved in these activities in a cost-effective manner, while balancing the interests of the RCUH with the University of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that Mr. Takaki's past service on the Board, as well as his extensive experience with other organizations and HawkTree, has provided and will continue to provide the Board with valuable knowledge and familiarity with good management practices, allowing the Board to further support research activities for the RCUH.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that are attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominees, has found the nominees to be qualified for the positions to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nominations.

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

____________________________

JILL TOKUDA, Chair