STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 16, 17, 18, 19

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Second Special Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Economic Development and Taxation, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 16, 17, 18, and 19, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Board of Directors of the Hawaii Strategic Development Corporation

 

G.M. No. 16

BLENN AKIRA FUJIMOTO,

for a term to expire 6-30-2008;

 

G.M. No. 17

BLENN AKIRA FUJIMOTO,

for a term to expire 6-30-2012;

 

G.M. No. 18

DARREN T. KIMURA,

for a term to expire 6-30-2010; and

 

G.M. No. 19

DANTON S. WONG,

for a term to expire 6-30-2009,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees, and finds Blenn Akira Fujimoto, Darren T. Kimura, and Danton S. Wong to have the necessary qualifications to be nominated to serve as members on the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Strategic Development Corporation.  Your Committee recognizes and notes that these nominees were selected and named after the Hawaii Strategic Development Corporation's (HSDC) Hydrogen Fund manager; and will bring a fresh business perspective to fulfill HSDC's purpose of providing investment capital to businesses in order to stimulate economic growth, employment, and economic diversification.

 

     Testimony in support of Blenn Akira Fujimoto's nomination was submitted by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, the Hawaii Strategic Development Corporation, the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce, and three individuals.

 

     Mr. Fujimoto received his Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and he is also a graduate of the Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington.  He currently serves as the Vice Chairman of Central Pacific Bank and as the Chief Executive Officer of Central Pacific HomeLoans, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Central Pacific Bank.  At Central Pacific Bank, Mr. Fujimoto oversees the entire Hawaii market, including thirty-eight branches of Central Pacific Bank and five full-service mortgage offices of Central Pacific HomeLoans statewide.  He is responsible for increasing the Bank's market penetration and providing sales and service programs that will create solid banking experiences for bank customers.  Prior to joining Central Pacific Bank in 2000, Mr. Fujimoto served for twenty years with Bank of Hawaii, most recently as Vice President and District Manager of the Ala Moana District where he oversaw six traditional branches and a supermarket branch.

 

     Mr. Fujimoto is affiliated with and has served on several professional and community organizations, including as a board member for the Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii, Enterprise Honolulu, Manoa Valley Theatre, the Pacific and Asian Affairs Council, the Aloha United Way, and the Pacific Coast Banking School.

 

     Mr. Fujimoto's responses during his confirmation hearings demonstrate that he will be a tremendous resource to the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Strategic Development Corporation.  He has the education, experience, and commitment to assist the Board in encouraging economic development and diversification in Hawaii through innovative actions in cooperation with private enterprises, and establishing programs to stimulate private capital investment in Hawaii toward investments that promote the welfare of citizens, economic growth, employment, and economic diversification.  Mr. Fujimoto's demonstrated commitment to and professional experience in banking and finance will prove to be valuable assets for the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Strategic Development Corporation.

 

     Testimony in support of Darren T. Kimura's nomination was submitted by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and the Hawaii Strategic Development Corporation.

 

     Mr. Kimura received his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and attended Portland State University where he studied Electrical engineering.  He is a Certified Energy Manager, Certified Demand Side Manager, Certified Distributed Energy Professional and Certified Sustainable Development Professional.  Mr. Kimura is a serial energy entrepreneur who is currently the Chief Executive Officer and President of Sopogy, Inc., which specializes in the development, design, manufacturing, and distribution of solar power technology.  Furthermore, he is the Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson of Energy Industries, which is a Hawaii-based energy services company with branches in Oregon, Washington, California, Texas, Illinois, and the Philippines.  Over his career, he created several companies, which he led to multimillion dollar success and liquidity.  Mr. Kimura founded Energy Industries in 1994 and Energy Laboratories in 2000.  He is experienced in acquisitions, having led the purchase of the Quantum companies.

 

     His entrepreneurship accolades include the Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year 2000, the Inaugural Top 40 under Forty 2000, the SBA Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2002 for California, Hawaii and Arizona, the Hawaiian Electric Trade Ally of the Year 2006, the Technology Leader of the Year 2006, and the Green Entrepreneur of the Year 2007.

 

     Mr. Kimura's written remarks assure that he will provide invaluable entrepreneurial experience to the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Strategic Development Corporation.  He has the education, experience, and commitment to assist the Board in encouraging economic development and diversification in Hawaii through innovative actions in cooperation with private enterprises, and establishing programs to stimulate private capital investment in Hawaii toward investments that promote the welfare of citizens, economic growth, employment, and economic diversification.  Mr. Kimura's demonstrated commitment to and professional experience in acquisitions, venture financing, and entrepreneurship are important assets for the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Strategic Development Corporation.

 

     Testimony in support of Danton S. Wong's nomination was submitted by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, the Hawaii Strategic Development Corporation, and six individuals.

 

     Mr. Wong received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Stanford University and his Doctor of Jurisprudence from Hastings College of Law, University of California.  Prior to attending college, he attended two years at the United States Coast Guard Academy.  Mr. Wong is currently a Partner with Chun, Kerr, Dodd, Beaman & Wong, A Limited Liability Law Partnership.  Prior to joining his current law firm, he was an Associate and then Partner at Case & Lynch.

 

     Mr. Wong's practice has been concentrated in the areas of real estate acquisitions, sales, financing and development; commercial lending (primarily asset-based lending); commercial leasing; business consultation; and related areas.  He has participated in transactions involving the acquisition, financing, development, operation, and sale of resort hotels, golf courses, commercial office buildings, shopping centers, residential condominium projects, vacant land, and on-going business concerns.

 

     Mr. Wong has received an "AV" rating in the Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory and is listed in the Hawaii section of The Best Lawyers in America and in Honolulu Magazine, July 2003 issue, as one of the Best Lawyers in Hawaii 2003.  He is a past director of the Real Property and Financial Services Section of the Hawaii State Bar Association, was a contributing editor to the Hawaii Conveyancing Manual III (1992), published by the Hawaii Institute for Continuing Legal Education, and has participated as a panelist in numerous seminars on real estate.  Mr. Wong has served as a member of the Chinatown Review Committee of the City and County of Honolulu, and the Chinese Bicentennial Celebration Committee for the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, and currently is a director of the Hawaii Heritage Center, Friends of Iolani Palace, and legal advisor to Kalanianaole Athletic Club.

 

     Mr. Wong's comments reflects his desire to apply the benefits of his prior business and legal experience to assisting the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Strategic Development Corporation in supporting industry sectors that advance technological innovation.  He has the education, experience, and commitment to assist the Board in encouraging economic development and diversification in Hawaii through innovative actions in cooperation with private enterprises, and establishing programs to stimulate private capital investment in Hawaii toward investments that promote the welfare of citizens, economic growth, employment, and economic diversification.  Mr. Wong's demonstrated commitment to and professional experience in the areas of acquisitions, finance, and law will prove to be valuable assets for the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Strategic Development Corporation.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development and Taxation 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 Economic Development and Taxation,

 

 

 

____________________________

CAROL FUKUNAGA, Chair