STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1553

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 745, 769

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 745 and 769, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs

 

G.M. No. 745

JOY MIYASAKI,

for a term to expire 6-30-2017; and

 

G.M. No. 769

MAEONA MENDELSON,

for a term to expire 6-30-2016,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories and statements submitted by the nominees and finds Joy Miyasaki and Maeona Mendelson to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs.

 

JOY MIYASAKI

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Joy Miyasaki from the Executive Office on Aging, Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs, Project Dana, and one individual.

 

     Ms. Miyasaki has been practicing law for over thirty years, working primarily in the estate and tax planning area.  She works with many elderly clients and observes the personal and financial issues that these individuals and their families face.  Ms. Miyasaki also teaches estate planning as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law and was selected as an Adjunct Professor of the Year in 2008.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University.

 

     Along with her many accomplishments, Ms. Miyasaki is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, a national organization of approximately 2,600 lawyers elected to membership by demonstrating the highest level of integrity, competence, and experience as trust and estate counselors.  She is an Editorial Board Member of Practical Lawyer magazine and the current President of the Hawaii Estate Planning Council.

 

     In the past, Ms. Miyasaki served as Chair of the Tax Section and Chair of the Probate and Estate Planning Section of the Hawaii State Bar Association.  She also served as President of Hawaii Women Lawyers and President of the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Women's Legal Foundation.

 

     Ms. Miyasaki indicated in her personal statement that she hopes to address some of the problems relating to aging in the areas of financial abuse and navigating the care system.

 

     Your Committee finds that Ms. Miyasaki's past experiences in practicing law and education, as well as her continuing commitment to issues relating to elders, will be great assets to the Board.

 

MAEONA MENDELSON

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Maeona Mendelson from the Executive Office on Aging, State Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias, Kapiolani Community College Kupuna Education Center, Office of the Morocco Honorary Consulate, AARP Hawaii, ASN Consulting Services, and two individuals.

 

     Dr. Mendelson is currently the Director of the Intergenerational Center at Chaminade University, whose purpose is to help create a campus where older adults are integrated into campus life as students, mentors, volunteers, and teachers.  She received a Doctorate of Philosophy in Social Welfare from the University of Hawaii, a Master of Social Work from the School of Social Work at the University of Hawaii, and a Bachelor's degree from the School of International Science at American University.  She also authored two articles in the Japanese journal, Gendai no Esupuri, and co-edited a special edition of the Journal of Intergenerational Relationships.

 

     In the past, Dr. Mendelson served as the Executive Director of the Hawaii Intergenerational Network and taught as an adjunct professor at Hawaii Pacific University and the School of Social Work at the University of Hawaii.  She also served as a Community Planner and Program Director for the Hawaii Community Services Council and President of AARP Hawaii.

 

     Dr. Mendelson indicated in her personal statement that she hopes to see a shift in mindset, moving from viewing aging as a problem to a model where older people are seen as resources and an emphasis is placed on wellness, staying active, remaining or returning to work, serving others, and making good personal choices.

 

     Your Committee finds that Dr. Mendelson's past experiences with Hawaii's aging population, as well as her continuing commitment to issues relating to elders, will be great assets to the Board.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair