STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1602

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 539, 540, 541

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on International Affairs and the Arts, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 539, 540, and 541, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

Hawai'i Sister State Committee

G.M. No. 539	DEBRA NAKAMA, for a term to expire 06-30-2019;
G.M. No. 540	KAHO'OKELEHOLU HANNAHS, for a term to expire 06-30-2017; and
G.M. No. 541	KAHO'OKELEHOLU HANNAHS, for a term to expire 06-30-2021,

begs leave to report as follows:

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees and finds Ms. Debra Nakama and Mr. Kaho'okeleholu Hannahs to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the Hawai'i Sister State Committee.

DEBRA NAKAMA

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Ms. Nakama from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

     Ms. Nakama is currently the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs at the University of Hawaii Maui College.  She received a Doctorate of Philosophy in Education and a Master's degree in Educational Administration from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  Prior to serving as Vice Chancellor, Ms. Nakama was a Principal Investigator under the National Science Foundation Scholarship for Service Capacity Building Grant working to address the need for women and minorities in the field of cyber security.  Ms. Nakama has extensive international experience including as a visiting professor at Mariano Marcos State University in the Philippines.  She received the prestigious Doctoral Fellowship to the Community College Leadership Development Initiatives at Claremont Graduate University and received the Twenty Outstanding Filipinos Abroad Award in 2008.  Your Committee finds that Ms. Nakama's background, knowledge, commitment, and leadership in education and international relations will be assets to the Hawai'i Sister State Committee.

KAHO'OKELEHOLU HANNAHS

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment and reappointment of Mr. Hannahs from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; and two individuals.

     Mr. Hannahs is currently the Papakilo Database and Hale Noelo Project Manager at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.  Prior to his service at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Mr. Hannahs was a Project Coordinator at the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement.  He has a Bachelor of Arts in Hawaiian Studies with a concentration in history from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  Mr. Hannahs has also been an international ambassador of Hawaiian culture and history through his travels around the world as a professional musician.  He has also served the music industry as the Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Hawai'i Academy of Recording Arts and as the current Hawaii representative on the Western Arts Alliance's Indigenous Performance Steering Committee.  Your Committee finds that Mr. Hannahs' professional experience, cultural and historical knowledge, managerial skills, and exquisite talent in music will be assets to the Hawai'i Sister State Committee.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on International Affairs and the Arts 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 International Affairs and the Arts,

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair