STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1914

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: GOV. MSG. NO. 641

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor and Technology, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 641, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of:

Chief information officer, Office of Enterprise Technology Services

G.M. No. 641

CHRISTINE SAKUDA, for a term to expire 12-07-2026. (Position corrected by GM652),

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by Christine Sakuda for service as Chief Information Officer.

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Christine Sakuda from the Governor; Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; Department of Human Resources Development; Department of Education; Department of Accounting and General Services; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Health; Executive Office on Early Learning; Department of Human Services; Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Department of Transportation; Department of Agriculture; State Procurement Office; Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Department of Taxation; Office of Elections; Department of Budget and Finance; Department of Law Enforcement; Hawaii Public Housing Authority; Department of Defense; Center for Technology; Servco Pacific Inc.; Mana Up; Hope Services Hawaii; Hawaiian Telcom; Pacxa; Hawaiʻi Medical Services Association; Holomua Collaborative; Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL‑CIO; Parents and Children Together; Transform Hawaiʻi Government; Hawaii State AFL-CIO; University of Hawaii Professional Assembly; and numerous individuals.

Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Christine Sakuda's experience, background, and commitment to public service qualify her to be nominated for appointment as the Chief Information Officer. Ms. Sakuda has over twenty-five years of experience in leading digital transformation and enterprise‑level information technology (IT) and has been serving as the interim Chief Information Officer since August 2024. Prior to assuming her current position, Ms. Sakuda served as the Executive Director of Transform Hawaii Government, a nonprofit corporation that supports technology modernization initiatives within the state government, during which she demonstrated a deep commitment to the development of state leadership necessary to support an efficient and modern government through increasing the State's capacity to manage IT resources and implementing complex modernization projects. Ms. Sakuda's professional experience also includes establishing and serving as the Executive Director of Hawaii Health Information Exchange (HHIE), a nonprofit corporation dedicated to improving patient safety and quality of care by contracting with the federal government to develop a statewide clinical health information exchange network connecting major health care providers in the State. During her time at HHIE, Ms. Sakuda successfully implemented the information exchange network and transitioned the organization's operations from a federally‑funded dependency model to a fee-for-service model. Your Committee also notes Ms. Sakuda's commitment to serving the public, as evidenced in her service on various boards and commissions, including but not limited to the Hawaii Executive Collaborative Board of Directors, State Information Technology Steering Committee, State Affordable Care Act Taskforce, and Governor's Healthcare Transformation Council.

Your Committee acknowledges that as the interim Chief Information Officer, Ms. Sakuda has been prioritizing modernizing systems, enhancing cybersecurity protection, and optimizing the responsible use of data and artificial intelligence to achieve the goals of the State Strategic Information Technology Plan. Your Committee also notes numerous testimony from the heads of multiple state agencies and individuals expressing their admiration of Ms. Sakuda's work ethic and their enthusiasm to continue collaborating with the Office of Enterprise Technology Services under her leadership. Your Committee finds that Ms. Sakuda has a thorough understanding of her role and responsibilities as the Chief Information Officer. Your Committee therefore recommends that Christine Sakuda be appointed as the Chief Information Officer based on her extensive experience, knowledge, proven leadership, and commitment to public service.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor and Technology 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 Labor and Technology,

____________________________

HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair