STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3359

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 543

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 543, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of: 

Board of Directors of the Hawai'i Health Systems Corporation

G.M. No. 543

ABELINA SHAW, for a term to expire 6-30-2013,

begs leave to report as follows:

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by the nominee and finds Abelina Shaw to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Abelina Shaw from the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation; Filipino Community Council; United Filipino Council of Hawaii; Nursing Advocates & Mentors, Inc.; Filipino American Citizens League; Filipino Coalition for Solidarity; AIM Healthcare Institute; Hawaii Filipino Lawyers Association; The Filipino Community Center, Inc.; Hawaii Friends of Civil Rights; Ilocos Surian Association of Hawaii; Filipinos For Affirmative Action; National Federation of Filipino American Associations; and four individuals.

     Ms. Shaw has decades of experience in public service, including positions in law, public policy, public health, and government.  Over her extensive career, Ms. Shaw has served as the Deputy Director of Health for state hospitals, Chief of Staff under Mayor Jeremy Harris, Deputy Attorney General, and as an attorney in private practice.  Ms. Shaw has also served on twenty-seven boards or organizations over the course of her career.

     Ms. Shaw has been challenged to address the needs of the poor, elderly, disenfranchised, and at-risk youth; to address such problems as health services, homelessness, and jobs; and to consider the ways that the government may address these issues.  Ms. Shaw's experiences – both personal and professional - have led her to appreciate the importance of a system of government that cares about the health and welfare of its people and works hard to support public health and welfare with appropriate resources in the context of competing demands.  Ms. Shaw is knowledgeable of the limitations, challenges, and possibilities of what the government and private sector can do to aid the people of the State and will continue to provide critical insight to support the goals of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health 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 Health,

____________________________

JOSH GREEN, M.D., Chair