STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3472

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 811, 812, 815, 816

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 811, 812, 815, and 816, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Board of Regents of the University of Hawai'i

 

G.M. No. 811

JEFFREY ACIDO,

for a term to expire 6-30-2014;

 

G.M. No. 812

CARL CARLSON, JR.,

for a term to expire 6-30-2016;

 

G.M. No. 815

BARRY MIZUNO,

for a term to expire 6-30-2013; and

 

G.M. No. 816

TOM SHIGEMOTO,

for a term to expire 6-30-2017,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees and finds Jeffrey Acido; Carl Carlson, Jr.; Barry Mizuno; and Tom Shigemoto to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the University of Hawaii Board of Regents.

 

JEFFREY ACIDO

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Jeffrey Acido from the Governor, UNITE HERE Local 5, and seventeen individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to the nomination of Jeffrey Acido from one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that Jeffrey Acido is the nominee for the student representative on the Board of Regents.  Mr. Acido attended Honolulu Community College and later transferred to the University of Hawaii at Manoa where he received a Bachelor's degree in Religion.  Mr. Acido earned a Master's degree in Theology while studying at a seminary in Berkley, California.  Mr. Acido is currently a graduate student at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and is working toward a Master's degree in Asian Studies focusing on the Philippines. 

 

Mr. Acido is a lecturer at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where he teaches Philippine Popular Culture for the Ilokano Program.  Mr. Acido testified that he receives graduate school credits in exchange for teaching.  Mr. Acido is also an assistant researcher with the Asian American Network for Cancer Awareness, Research, and Training at the University of Hawaii.

 

     Mr. Acido is active in the community.  He has served as the program director of Nakem Youth, an organization that promotes social justice, faith, and community.  Mr. Acido has also served as a board member of Hawaii Peace and Justice.  He has also spent many hours volunteering at his alma mater, Farrington High School, teaching students about the history of Pearl Harbor, as well as about sustainable energy and food production.  While he has not been a formal member of the University of Hawaii's Graduate Student Organization, Mr. Acido testified that he has participated with the organization in an informal capacity.

 

Mr. Acido testified that he will seek advice and counsel to ensure that there is no conflict of interest with his position as a lecturer in his role as the Board of Regent's student representative.

 

     Mr. Acido's educational and personal experiences have given him a deep appreciation for Hawaii's university system and an understanding of the challenges and obstacles it faces.  The Board of Regents will benefit from Mr. Acido's service as the Board of Regent's student representative.

 


CARL CARLSON, JR.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Carl Carlson, Jr., from the Governor, County of Hawaii, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, and twenty individuals. 

 

     Your Committee finds that Carl Carlson, Jr., received a Bachelor's degree from California State Polytech University, San Luis Obispo. 

 

Mr. Carlson is the founder of Huehue Ventures, a firm that provides real estate consulting and agricultural property management services.  After serving Huehue Ventures for twenty years, Mr. Carlson served as a trustee of the Parker Ranch Foundation Trust.  He has also served as a board member of Waimea Wastewater, Inc.; Hawaii Meat Company, Inc.; Kahua Beef Sales, Ltd.; and Island Commodities Corporation.

 

Mr. Carlson is active in community and governmental affairs.  Mr. Carlson has served as the Chair of the County of Hawaii Board of Ethics and as a member of the Board of Agriculture, Historic Hawaii Foundation, and The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii.

 

     Mr. Carlson testified that one of his short-term goals as a member of the Board of Regents is to see an increase in graduation rates within the University of Hawaii System.  Mr. Carlson further testified that as a member of the Board of Regents, he would continue to assist the University of Hawaii System in meeting the goals laid out in the System's strategic plan.  Mr. Carlson also expressed his interest in seeing the University of Hawaii System grow as an economic engine for the State.

 

     Your Committee believes that Mr. Carlson's outstanding leadership and business acumen will continue to serve him well as a member of the Board of Regents.

 

BARRY MIZUNO

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Barry Mizuno from the Governor; County of Hawaii; ILWU Local 142, Hawaii Division; Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce; Hawaii Leeward Planning Conference; Hawaii Island Economic Development Board; and fourteen individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that Barry Mizuno received a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Central Washington University. 

 

     Mr. Mizuno is a licensed certified public accountant.  He is also the founder of BTM, LLC, an energy management consulting firm.  Prior to forming BTM, LLC, Mr. Mizuno was the Financial Manager of Puna Geothermal Venture.  He continues to serve as a consultant to Puna Geothermal Venture's successor Ormant Technologies.  Mr. Mizuno also served as the Managing Director and the Finance Director of the County of Hawaii. 

 

     Mr. Mizuno is an active member of the Hawaii Island community.  He volunteers his time raising money for Hospice of Hilo and has helped to manage a $16,000,000 grant awarded to Hawaii Island Beacon Community, which uses information technology to improve health care.  Mr. Mizuno is also a member of the Hawaii Island United Way, Hawaii Leeward Planning Conference, and Hawaii Island Economic Development Board.

 

     Mr. Mizuno testified that the economic viability of the University of Hawaii System is vital to the economic growth of the State.  His insight, creativity, and skills in the area of finance and strategic planning will serve as important assets in the growth and development of the University of Hawaii System.

 

     Mr. Mizuno has served as a member of the Board of Regents in an interim capacity since August 2011 and your Committee believes that the Board of Regents will benefit from Mr. Mizuno's continued service.

 

TOM SHIGEMOTO

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Tom Shigemoto from the Governor; Mayor of the County of Kauai; Kauai Economic Development Board, Inc.; Local School Board of Kawaikini New Century Public Charter School; General Contractors Association of Hawaii; and fifty-six individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that Tom Shigemoto received a Bachelor's degree in Urban and Regional Design from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. 

 

     Mr. Shigemoto has extensive experience in land use and planning.  He served as a Staff Planner, Deputy Planning Director, and Planning Director for the Kauai County Planning Department.  He has also served as a Planning Director for the Princeville Corporation and as the Vice President of Planning for Alexander and Baldwin Properties, Inc.  Mr. Shigemoto has worked for Alexander and Baldwin Properties, Inc., for over twenty years.

 

     Mr. Shigemoto is also an active member of many non-profit community organizations, including the Kauai United Way, Boy Scouts of America, Kauai Chamber of Commerce, and American Red Cross.

 

     Mr. Shigemoto testified that his short-term goal as a member of the Board of Regents is to enhance the distance learning capabilities of the University of Hawaii System for the benefit of the neighbor islands.  Mr. Shigemoto also testified that he believes it is incumbent upon the Board of Regents to promote and support innovative ways for all of the campuses within the University of Hawaii System to enhance their revenue base, encourage more research grant applications, invest in physical improvements, and support multicultural programs.

 

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Shigemoto's unique background in the private and public sector make him an excellent addition to the Board of Regents. 

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Education 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 Education,

 

 

 

____________________________

JILL TOKUDA, Chair