STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3142

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 412, 413

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 412 and 413, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

Early Learning Council

G.M. No. 412	CHARLES E. LARSON, for a term to expire 6-30-2012; and
G.M. No. 413	CRYSTAL RAY K. NAONE, for a term to expire 6-30-2012,

begs leave to report as follows:

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees, and finds that Charles E. Larson and Crystal Ray K. Naone have the necessary qualifications to be appointed to the Early Learning Council.

CHARLES E. LARSON

     Testimony in support of Mr. Larson was submitted by the Good Beginnings Alliance.

     Charles E. Larson obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Education followed by a Master of Arts degree in Education.  Mr. Larson worked from 1970-1971 as a teacher at Family Services Center in Kalihi, then went on to become a Trainer Consultant for the Kauai Head Start Program.  Since 1972, Mr. Larson has been the Executive Director of Seagull Schools, Inc., a private, non-profit educational facility that has grown from one school in 1971 to several locations across Oahu.

     In 2006 Mr. Larson was awarded the KOA Award for Entrepreneur of the Year, and Mr. Larson has been a member of the Childcare Business Coalition, the Kokua Council, and President of the Hawaii Intergenerational Network.

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Larson currently serves as a member of the Early Learning Council and has extensive experience in education that enables him to continue to make significant contributions to the development and administration of early learning opportunities for Hawaii's keiki.

CRYSTAL RAE K. NAONE

     Testimony in support of Ms. Naone was submitted by the Good Beginnings Alliance.

     Crystal Ray K. Naone earned a Doctorate of Philosophy in Political Science/Indigenous Politics and a Master of Arts degree in Political Science/Indigenous Politics from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where she was named the Homecoming Scholar.  She had previously earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where she was awarded the Richard Kosaki Excellence in Research Award. 

     Ms. Naone is currently the Chief Executive Officer for the Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture, a position she has held since 2007.  Her previous positions include the Community Relations and Development Director of Keiko o Ka Aina Family Learning Centers, Hawaiian Immersion Teacher at Waimea and Waiau Elementary Schools, and Executive Director of The Pa Lehua Project.  Ms. Naone also previously ran all business operations for Productions K2 Culture Seminars and owned and operated American Bulldogs of Hawaii.

     Ms. Naone is affiliated with or a volunteer of numerous organizations, including the Kamehameha Publishing Board; Act 529 Early Childhood Legislative Taskforce; Na Lau Lama Planning Committee; Grant Field Researcher for the United States Administration for Native Americans; United Nations, Hawaii Chapter; Grant Field Researcher for the United States Department of Education; Aha Hui Olelo Hawaii; Toastmasters International; and other groups.  She is also the winner of the 1993 Miss Hawaii Scholarship Pageant.

     Your Committee is confident that Ms. Naone's wealth of knowledge and experience in business operations and strong skills in leadership, communication, and Hawaiian language and culture will continue to be valuable assets to the Early Learning Council.

     Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services 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 Human Services,

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair