STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1911

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 595, 596, 597, 598, 599, 600, 666, 667, 668

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Human Services and Public Housing, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 595, 596, 597, 598, 599, 600, 666, 667, and 668, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Commission on Fatherhood

 

G.M. No. 595

BARRETT KEOKI AWAI,

for a term to expire 6-30-2007;

 

G.M. No. 596

BERNARD P. CARVALHO, JR.,

for a term to expire 6-30-2009;

 

G.M. No. 597

MICHAEL R. DIAS,

for a term to expire 6-30-2007;

 

G.M. No. 598

MYRNA B. MURDOCH,

for a term to expire 6-30-2007;

 

G.M. No. 599

MARIKA RIPKE, Ph.D.,

for a term to expire 6-30-2009;

 

G.M. No. 600

SYLVIA H.L. YUEN, Ph.D.,

for a term to expire 6-30-2009;

 

G.M. No. 666

BARRETT KEOKI AWAI,

for a term to expire 6-30-2009;

 


 

G.M. No. 667

MICHAEL R. DIAS,

for a term to expire 6-30-2009; and

 

G.M. No. 668

MYRNA B. MURDOCH,

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 Barrett Keoki Awai; Bernard P. Carvalho, Jr.; Myrna B. Murdoch; Marika Ripke, Ph.D.; Sylvia H.L. Yuen, Ph.D.; and Michael R. Dias to have the necessary qualifications to be nominated to the Commission on Fatherhood.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Mr. Barrett Keoki Awai's nomination from the State Commission on Fatherhood.  Mr. Awai earned a Bachelor of Arts in Science from Brigham Young University, an Associate of Arts from Arizona Western College and a High School Diploma from Kamehameha Schools.  He is the Youth and Young Adult Director of Kawaiahao Church and the owner and president of I Mua Canoe Club.  Mr. Awai was formerly employed by the Big Island Steakhouse.  His community service experience includes volunteering for the Special Olympics and various beach and shoreline cleanups.

 

     Mr. Awai has served on the Commission since May 2, 2006.  Based on his experience and training, your Committee finds Mr. Awai to be qualified to serve on the Commission on Fatherhood representing Oahu and recommends confirmation for his current term to expire on June 30, 2007, and an additional term to expire in 2009.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Mr. Bernard P. Carvalho, Jr.'s nomination from the State Commission on Fatherhood.  Mr. Carvalho's professional experience includes serving as the Recreation Program Development Coordinator, Director of Recreation, and Recreation Leader II for the County of Kauai Parks and Recreation and a substitute teacher for the Department of Education.  He earned a Bachelor of Science in Communication and Public Relations from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa and a High School Diploma from Kapaa High School.

 

     Mr. Carvalho has served on several community boards and committees, including Kamehameha Schools Parent Association of Kauai, of which he was president; Kawaihau District Leadership Coalition; Hale Ho‘omalu; Work Force Investment Youth Council; Hawaii Recreation Parks Association; KaAnuenue Connection/Coalition for a Drug Free Hawaii; Kapaa High School Foundation; and St. Catherine's Church Pastoral Council.  Mr. Carvalho received the E Ola Pono Award for Community Service in 2002.

 

     Based on his experience and training, your Committee finds Mr. Carvalho, Jr. to be qualified to serve on the Commission on Fatherhood representing Kauai and recommends confirmation for a term to expire in 2009.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Miss Myrna B. Murdoch's nomination from the State Commission on Fatherhood.  Miss Murdoch earned a Master of European Language with honors from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a Bachelor of Arts with honors from the University of Victoria in Canada.  She has been employed as a Legislative Assistant for Senator Suzanne Chun-Oakland, English Tutor for Hawaii Pacific University, Associate Vice President of Dean Witter Morgan Stanley, CEO and Founder of Folies Beargeres, stock broker for E.F. Hutton, and a teacher's assistant.  Miss Murdoch has been a presenter on Ho‘oponopono and is a published author.

 

     Miss Murdoch community service experience includes serving as president and founder of Children's Rights Council of Hawaii and a trustee of the Honolulu Theater for Youth.  She is a board member of the YMCA of Honolulu, State of Hawaii Civil Defense Board, and the Children's Rights Council National Board.  Miss Murdoch is also a member of the Child and Family Service Board Guild, Junior League of Honolulu, Punahou School Room Parent and Luke Community Service, Association of Family and Conciliatory Courts, Association of Conflict Resolution, National Association for the Council of Children, and Family Mediation Canada. 

 

     Miss Murdoch began her service on the Commission on May 2, 2006.  Based on her experience and training, your Committee finds Miss Murdoch to be qualified to serve on the Commission on Fatherhood representing Oahu and recommends confirmation for her current term to expire on June 30, 2007, and an additional term to expire in 2009.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Ms. Marika Ripke's nomination from the State Commission on Fatherhood.  Ms. Ripke earned a Doctorate in Human Development and Family Studies and a Master of Arts in Child Development and Family Relationships from the University of Texas at Austin.  She earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Texas A & M University, graduating Magna Cum Laude.

 

     Ms. Ripke is the Project Director of Kids Count Hawaii at the University of Hawaii Center on the Family (the Center).  Prior to her current position, Ms. Ripke was a Co-Project Coordinator and the Center.  She has published and presented numerous pieces relating to child psychology and development.  She has received numerous awards and grants for her scholarly work.  Some of her community service experiences include serving as a researcher and grant writer for The Father's Connection, a child mentor and tutor for Austin Independent School District, a humanitarian aid delegate to Cuba through MADRE International, and a fundraising volunteer for Pathways Community Counseling.

 

     Ms. Ripke served as secretary of the Commission on Fatherhood from 2004-2007.  Based on her experience and training, your Committee finds Ms. Ripke to be qualified to serve on the Commission on Fatherhood as a House of Representatives nominee representing Oahu and recommends confirmation for a term to expire in 2009.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Dr. Sylvia H.L. Yuen's nomination from the State Commission on Fatherhood.  Dr. Yuen is the Director of the Center on the Family at the University of Hawaii.  She earned a Doctorate in Psychology and a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics Education from the University of Hawaii and a Master of Science in Child Development from the University of Illinois.  She has published, edited, and reviewed numerous writings on subjects relating to gerontology, psychology, and child development. 

 

     Dr. Yuen has received numerous honors, awards, and grants for her scholarly work and community service.  Among the most prestigious awards are several Excellence in Teaching Awards, a 1996 commendation for noteworthy achievements from the Hawaii House of Representatives, her 1995 Presidential Selection and a 1981 Gubernatorial appointment to serve on the White House Conference on Aging, the 1983 Robert W. Clopton Award for distinguished community service, and serving on the Advisory Board to assist the United Nations plan for the 1982 World Assembly on Aging.

 

     Based on her experience and training, your Committee finds Dr. Yuen to be qualified to serve on the Commission on Fatherhood and recommends confirmation for her current term to expire on June 30, 2007, and an additional term to expire in 2009.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Mr. Michael R. Dias nomination from the State Commission on Fatherhood and the Lili‘uokalani Trust of the Queen Lili‘uokalani Children's Center.

 

     Mr. Dias is an Employment Specialist at ALU LIKE, Inc., Hawai‘i Island Center and a part-time instructor for the Na Pua No‘eau-Ho‘omalamālama Program at the University of Hawaii at Hilo.  His prior work experience includes serving as the Father Involvement Specialist at ALU LIKE, Inc., Ho‘okahua Early Childhood Development in Honolulu and the Hawai‘i Island Representative for ALU LIKE, Inc., in Hilo.

 

     Mr. Dias earned a Bachelor of Science in Social Science and English with a Minor in Hawaiian Studies from the University of Hawaii at Hilo.  He is a member of the Hawai‘i Coalition for Dads, of which he has served as Co-Chair.

 

     Mr. Dias began his service on the Commission on May 2, 2006.  Based on his experience and training, your Committee finds Mr. Dias to be qualified to serve on the Commission on Fatherhood representing the island of Hawaii and recommends confirmation for his current term to expire on June 30, 2007, and an additional term to expire in 2009.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services and Public Housing 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 Human Services and Public Housing,

 

 

 

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair