STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1206

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: GOV. MSG. NO. 597

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 597, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of:

Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture

G.M. No. 597

GLENN K. MURANAKA, for a term to expire at noon on 12‑05‑2022,

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by Glenn K. Muranaka for service as the Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Glenn K. Muranaka from Governor David Y. Ige; Agribusiness Development Corporation; Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; Department of Transportation; Department of Health; Department of Accounting and General Services; Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; Department of Human Resources Development; Office of Enterprise Technology Services; Hawaii National Guard; City and County of Honolulu Office of the Mayor; Ponoholo Ranch Limited; Hawaii Food Industry Association; Bayer; Dave's Ice Cream; FCH Enterprises, Inc.; Joy Gold Unlimited, Inc.; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Larry Jefts Farms, LLC; Hawaii Crop Improvement Association; Hawaii Coffee Association; JB Brands, Inc.; Hawaii Critical Care Supply; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Hawaii Children's Discovery Center; Creativity!, LLC; and seventy-seven individuals. Your Committee received comments on the nomination for the appointment of Glenn K. Muranaka from Rancho Aloha and Ka Ohana O Na Pua.

Your Committee finds that Mr. Muranaka is highly versatile and an accomplished agricultural business leader in management, strategy, product development, delivery, and operations of a complex manufacturing and logistic-focused industry. Mr. Muranaka received his Associate of Arts in Accounting from the University of Hawaii, Kapiolani Community College. Mr. Muranaka served as the President and General Manager of Meadow Gold Dairies in Honolulu from 1996 until his retirement in 2017. Prior to being the President and General Manager, Mr. Muranaka was the Executive Vice President and Assistant General Manager of Meadow Gold Dairies and served in other capacities for this company. Mr. Muranaka has shown strong leadership skills by leading Meadow Gold Dairies' personnel and managing the accounting, sales and marketing, and neighbor island divisions.

Mr. Muranaka has received many recognitions and awards. Mr. Muranaka was inducted into the Hawaii Food Industry Association's Hall of Fame and McKinley High School Hall of Honor. In 2018, Mr. Muranaka received the Ka Lei Hano Heritage Award. Additionally, Mr. Muranaka has received multiple proclamations and certificates of recognition from State and county agencies throughout the years.

As a high-profile executive, Mr. Muranaka has been successful at leveraging career experience to enhance organizational productivity and efficiency by effectively directing and supporting operations, services, and solutions. Mr. Muranaka has led diversity initiatives and created a climate for creativity and increased innovation at Meadow Gold Dairies. He has also been an active community partner and was one of the founders of the Hawaii Seal of Quality and "Grown in Hawaii/Buy Hawaii" marketing campaign. Mr. Muranaka's commitment to the agricultural industry and the State of Hawaii make him well-qualified to serve as the Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment 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 Agriculture and Environment,

____________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair