STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2414

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: GOV. MSG. NO. 507

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 507, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of:

Deputy to the Chairperson of the Hawaiian homes Commission, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands

G.M. No. 507

TYLER I. GOMES, for a term to expire at noon on 12-05-2022 (title amended to Deputy to the Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands by GM511),

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by Tyler I. Gomes for service on the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Tyler I. Gomes from the Office of the Governor; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Accounting and General Services; Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; Department of Transportation; Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Department of Public Safety; Department of Human Resources Development; Department of Budget and Finance; Department of Health; Department of Taxation; Department of Agriculture; Office of Enterprise Technology Services; Hawaii State Energy Office; one member of the Honolulu City Council; Ka Ohana O Kahikinui; Portuguese Chamber of Commerce; Honolulu Habitat for Humanity; Oahu Economic Development Board; Maui Humane Society; PBR Hawaii & Associates, Inc.; and seventy individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to the nomination for the appointment of Tyler I. Gomes from Keaukaha Community Association; Ho‘omana Pono, LLC; and fifteen individuals.

Your Committee finds that Mr. Gomes is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools, attended Tufts University, received a bachelor's degree in Olelo Hawaii from the University of Hawaii, and graduated with a juris doctorate and received a certificate in native Hawaiian law from the William S. Richardson School of Law. In 2013, Mr. Gomes spent over four years as an attorney for the Office of the Public Defender where he was required to be committed to protecting the constitutional rights of Hawaii's most in-need populations, at times, in the face of egregious facts and building a strong emotional and mental back bone in the face of oversights by the courts and judges.

In 2018, Mr. Gomes was a partnerships manager at Elemental Excelerator, a partnership network of local business, nonprofit organizations, education and philanthropic institutions including Kamehameha Schools. While with Elemental Excelerator, Mr. Gomes was exposed to the concept of the innovation economy and the vast market for innovative technologies. Mr. Gomes was also provided with the opportunity to network with members of the Hawaii business roundtable as a member of the task force responsible for shaping its message. The relationships he made at Elemental Excelerator are crucial to the Department of Home Lands' efforts to develop partnerships across agencies and organizations to continue its mission.

Your Committee finds that Mr. Gomes is a strong communicator, problem solver, and is willing to listen to others. He is deeply committed to public service and has numerous plans to improve the goals of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. One of his plans is to improve staff morale and he has made it a priority to better engage with all staff members and take their suggestions to heart, fill key agencies, upgrade positions and restructure divisions, and include staff in more opportunities to understand department-wide decisions and operations. Mr. Gomes is also committed to acting in the best interest of the Hawaiian homes trust beneficiaries. Therefore, your Committee recommends that Mr. Gomes be appointed as Deputy to the Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands based on his experience, passion, and commitment.

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

____________________________

MAILE S.L. SHIMABUKURO, Chair