Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Third Special Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 27, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of:

begs leave to report as follows:

Upon review of the testimony and statements submitted by the nominee, your Committee finds that the nominee has the necessary character, experience, and qualifications to serve as Administrator of the State Procurement Office.

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nominee from the Assistant Administrator and several staff members from the State Procurement Office, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Accounting and General Services, the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, the Office of Community Services, the Governor's Liaison Office in Kauai, the Chief Administrative Officer of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, the Department of Budget and Fiscal Services of the City and County of Honolulu, the Hawaii County Finance Department, the Pacific Resource Partnership, the Bishop Museum, the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, Family Intervention Services, the Hawaii County Economic Opportunity Council, Hale'opio Kaua'i, Inc., Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc., Ka Lima O Maui, the National Association of Social Workers, the Center on the Family at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, the Hawaii Justice Foundation, Catholic Charities Elderly Services, the Waikiki Health Center, Ori Anuenue Hale, Inc., Verizon Hawaii, Inc., Mental Health Kokua, and two concerned citizens.

Aaron S. Fujioka currently serves as Assistant Administrator of the State Procurement Office. For the last four years Mr. Fujioka has also served as Procurement Manager for health and human services procurement projects.

Prior to signing on with the Procurement Office, Mr. Fujioka served for over eight years as a Planner with the Office of Community Services. Your Committee finds that the nominee has a long history of dedicated public service.

Your Committee further finds that the nominee has ambitious goals for the State Procurement Office, to continue to build public confidence in the openness and professionalism of the procurement process, to further streamline the process, and to improve and refine the provisions of the Hawaii Revised Statutes relating to procurement.

Your Committee finds that the nominee will work with dedication and compassion to administer all functions related to the procurement process. Your Committee further finds that the nominee has been appointed based upon his credentials, integrity, and a desire to make Hawaii better through his continued service with the State Procurement Office.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, character, 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.