STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3495

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: GOV. MSG. NOS. 163, 164, 409

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Tourism, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 163, 164, and 409, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of:

Board of Directors of the Hawai`i Tourism Authority

G.M. No. 163

VERNON F.L. CHAR,

for a term to expire 06-30-06;

G.M. No. 164

JOHN J. TONER,

for a term to expire 06-30-06; and

G.M. No. 409

KYOKO Y. KIMURA,

for a term to expire 06-30-08,

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories, résumés, and statements submitted by the nominees, and finds the nominees to have the necessary qualifications to be appointed to the position of nomination.

Testimony in support of VERNON F.L. CHAR was received from the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, Hawaii Tourism Authority, City Bank, and fifteen individuals. Mr. Char has practiced law in Hawaii for forty-five years, including the representation of an airline, several hotels, tour companies, and restaurants. A graduate of Harvard Law School, he has served as President of the Hawaii State Bar Association and as a board member of the American Bar Association. Locally, he has served as a state Deputy Attorney General, Chair of the State Ethics Commission, and Chair of the Hawaii Bicentennial Commission of the U.S. Constitution.

Testimony in support of JOHN J. TONER was received from the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Hawai`i Hotel and Lodging Association, and twenty-seven individuals. With thirty-two years of experience in the tourism industry, Mr. Toner currently serves as the Executive Vice President of Ko Olina Resort. He attended the Xavier University School of Marketing, followed by two years in the United States Army. Mr. Toner is active in various community and professional organizations.

Testimony in support of KYOKO Y. KIMURA was received from the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Hawaii Employers Council, Hawai`i Hotel and Lodging Association, Maui Hotel Association, and nine individuals. Ms. Kimura is the President and General Manager of Diamond Resort Hawaii where she is responsible for its overall management including sales and marketing, human resource administration, financial administration, and service quality control. Her educational background includes studying at Cornell University, Kobe Jogakuin University, and University of British Columbia. She is involved with numerous community organizations such as the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii, Hawaii Employers Council, Maui Arts and Cultural Center, and Hawaii Hotel and Lodging Association.

Your Committee members diligently questioned the nominees, each of whom currently serve on the Board of Directors as interim appointments, regarding their vision and priorities for the Hawaii Tourism Authority. The nominees demonstrated a commitment to proactively protect the interest of the State and improve the performance of the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Your Committee believes that the nominees adequately responded to the Committee's inquiries.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Tourism that is 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 Tourism,

____________________________

DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair