STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1806

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: GOV. MSG. NOS. 785, 786, 787

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 785, 786, and 787, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of:

Board of Regents of the University of Hawai'i

G.M. No. 785	WILLIAM HANING III, for a term to expire 06-30-2026;
G.M. No. 786	DIANE PALOMA, for a term to expire 06-30-2026; and
G.M. No. 787	WAYNE HIGAKI, for a term to expire 06-30-2026,

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee has reviewed the resumes submitted by William Haning III, Diane Paloma, and Wayne Higaki for service on the Board of Regents of the University of Hawai‘i (Board of Regents).

WILLIAM HANING III

Your Committee Received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of William Haning III from eighteen individuals.

Upon review of the testimony and his qualifications, your Committee finds that Dr. Haning's professional experience and knowledge as a retired tenured Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM), commitment to medical education in Hawaii, and residency in the City and County of Honolulu qualify him to be appointed to the Board of Regents as a member representing the City and County of Honolulu. Dr. Haning obtained his medical license in Hawaii in 1977 and is certified in Addiction Medicine, Addiction Psychiatry, and General Psychiatry. Dr. Haning began teaching at JABSOM in 1989, was granted tenure as Professor in Psychiatry in 2009, and retired from professorship in 2017. He currently serves as a staff physician at The Queen's Medical Center and as Program Director for the Addiction Psychiatry Residency Program and Addiction Medicine Fellowship Program at Hawai‘i Residency Programs, Inc., a nonprofit corporation sponsored by JABSOM. Dr. Haning has also been serving in various branches of the armed forces and is currently an affiliate faculty and staff at Tripler Army Medical Center's Department of Psychiatry and the Professional Services Liaison officer for Hawaii with the United States Navy. Your Committee therefore recommends the appointment of Dr. Haning to the Board of Regents based on his extensive knowledge and expertise as a practicing psychiatrist, his experience as a tenured professor at JABSOM, and his commitment and dedication to medical education in Hawaii.

DIANE PALOMA

Your Committee Received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Diane Paloma from the Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO; Hawai‘i Lodging & Tourism Association; Ke One O Kākuhihewa; Office of Hawaiian Affairs; University of Hawaii Professional Assembly; one member of Hawaii's Congressional delegation; one member of the House of Representatives; and twenty-seven individuals.

Upon review of the testimony and her qualifications, your Committee finds that Dr. Paloma's professional experience and knowledge in Hawaii's health care sector, management skills, and residency in the City and County of Honolulu qualify her to be appointed to the Board of Regents as a member representing the City and County of Honolulu. Dr. Paloma is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools, and received her Doctor in Philosophy degree with specialization in Health Care Administration from Capella University School of Public Service Leadership and a Master of Business Administration degree with an emphasis in Management from the University of Hawaii College of Business Administration. As the first Chief Executive Officer of King Lunalilo Trust and Lunalilo Home, Dr. Paloma has been overseeing investments, home operations, residential and respite care, adult day care, and meals-to-go programs for Hawaii's senior citizens since 2017. Prior to her current position, Dr. Paloma held various positions in the health care sector, including as the Director of The Queen's Health Systems Native Hawaiian Health Program that she established. Your Committee notes that Dr. Paloma is also familiar with the University of Hawaii System through her previous service as the Director of Management Affairs at JABSOM's Department of Native Hawaiian Health and volunteer work as a member of the Kapiolani Community College Chancellor Search Advisory Committee and adjunct faculty at the University of Hawaii at Manoa Myron P. Thompson School of Social Work and Social Welfare. Your Committee further notes Dr. Paloma's commitment to her community, as evidenced by her service on various boards, such as the University of Hawaii Foundation and Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum Board of Directors. Your Committee believes Dr. Paloma's commitment to improve the health and well-being of the people of Hawaii, Hawaiian values cultivated at Kamehameha Schools, familiarity with the University of Hawaii System, and management skills will be valuable assets to the Board of Regents, and therefore, recommends her appointment.

WAYNE HIGAKI

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the reappointment of Wayne Higaki from five members of the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii and nine individuals.

Upon review of the testimony and his qualifications, your Committee finds that Mr. Higaki's professional expertise in the administration and business development of a hospital; financial, personnel, and quality management skills; program development skills; and residency on the Island of Hawaii qualify him to be reappointed to the Board of Regents as a member representing the County of Hawaii. Your Committee finds that Mr. Higaki received his Associate of Science degree in Radiologic Technology from Kapiolani Community College. After serving with numerous hospitals in California for over a decade, Mr. Higaki returned to Hawaii in 1996, and began serving at The Queen's Health Systems North Hawaii Community Hospital. Mr. Higaki has served at the hospital in various positions, including as Director of Project and Business Development, Vice President of Public Affairs, and Chief Development Officer. He now serves as the Assistant Administrator of Fund Development and Support Services, a position he has held since 2016. Your Committee notes Mr. Higaki's commitment to community service as evidenced by his participation on the Mayor's Health Sustainability Task Force. Your Committee also notes that Mr. Higaki has been serving on the Board of Regents since 2015. Your Committee received numerous testimonies from existing members of the Board of Regents attesting to the value Mr. Higaki brings, including diversity and depth of experience based on his private sector background as a health care administrator, understanding of the complexities associated with the diverse nature of the University's three campuses and seven community colleges, and strategic thinking. In addition to the testimonies, the members' confidence in Mr. Higaki's leadership is evidenced by their selecting him as their Vice Chair in 2018 and 2019. Mr. Higaki has also served in other leadership positions, such as the Chair and Vice Chair of multiple committees. He currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Committee on Planning and Facilities that oversees the University of Hawaii's capital improvement projects, maintenance and repair, and risk management. Based on the foregoing, your Committee recommends that Mr. Higaki be reappointed to the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education 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 Higher Education,

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DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair