STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3847

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 746, 747, 748, 749, 751, 752

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 746, 747, 748, 749, 751, and 752, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Board of Directors of the Hawai'i Tourism Authority

 

G.M. No. 746

MICAH ALAMEDA,

for a term to expire 06-30-2022;

 

G.M. No. 747

DAVID ARAKAWA,

for a term to expire 06-30-2020;

 

G.M. No. 748

BENJAMIN RAFTER,

for a term to expire 06-30-2022;

 

G.M. No. 749

FRED ATKINS,

for a term to expire 06-30-2022;

 

G.M. No. 751

RODNEY KAM,

for a term to expire 06-30-2022; and

 

G.M. No. 752

KYOKO KIMURA,

for a term to expire 06-30-2022,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by Micah Alameda, David Arakawa, Benjamin Rafter, Fred Atkins, Rodney Kam, and Kyoko Kimura for service on the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

 

MICAH ALAMEDA

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Micah Alameda from the Hawaii Tourism Authority, GVS Accelerator, Young Democrats of Hawaii, and four individuals.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Alameda's experience in government affairs and marketing and his dedication to the community qualify him for appointment to the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Tourism Authority.  Mr. Alameda has gained years of experience working in the government, having served as a Legislative Aide for the late Senator Gilbert Kahele and as the Committee Clerk for the Senate Committee on Tourism from 2012 to 2014.  Mr. Alameda then moved back to the island of Hawaii where he gained more experience in government working as a Legislative Assistant for then-Councilmember Dennis Onishi.

 

     Mr. Alameda now serves as the Marketing Manager for Na Leo TV, where he is responsible for developing, implementing, and executing the strategic marketing plan for Na Leo TV.  Your Committee finds that Mr. Alameda's experience in marketing management and government affairs will make him a great asset for the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

 

DAVID ARAKAWA

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of David Arakawa from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Hawaii Tourism Authority; Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation; Maui County Farm Bureau; Hawaii Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust; Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii; Ponoholo Ranch Limited; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Historic Hawaii Foundation; General Contractors Association of Hawaii; Kyoya Management Company, Ltd.; Pacific Resource Partnership; and ten individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to the nomination for the appointment of David Arakawa from one individual.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Arakawa's extensive legal background, experience in land use planning, and dedication to serving the community qualify him for appointment to the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Tourism Authority.  Mr. Arakawa is the Executive Director of the Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, where he has been instrumental in conducting research to provide information to decision-makers that deal with government policy, legislation, and rules and regulations relating to affordable housing, agriculture, development impact fees, and other important subject matters.

 

     Mr. Arakawa has served on numerous advisory committees and task force such as the Managing Capacity Work Group for the Hawaii Tourism Strategic Plan 2015-2020, State Land Use Task Force, and the Governor's Affordable Housing Barriers Task Force.  Your Committee finds that Mr. Arakawa will bring to the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Tourism Authority an extensive legal background and experience serving on a variety of advisory committees and task forces.

 

BENJAMIN RAFTER

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Benjamin Rafter from the Hawaii Tourism Authority and Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Rafter's experience in hospitality and as an executive in hotel management qualify him for appointment to the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Tourism Authority.  Mr. Rafter has years of experience working in hotel management, specifically as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Aqua Hospitality.  Under his leadership, Aqua Hospitality grew to twenty-nine properties, creating one of the largest success stories of hotel management in Hawaii, then merged with Aston Hotels and Resorts' parent company.  During that time, Mr. Rafter assumed the dual role of President of Aston Hotels and Resorts and President and Chief Executive Officer of Aqua Hospitality and was responsible for thousands of employees and over $400,000,000 of room revenues.  Your Committee finds that with Mr. Rafter's proven leadership in an executive position in the hotel industry will make him a great asset to the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

 


FRED ATKINS

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the reappointment of Fred Atkins from the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Atkins's proven experience serving on the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Tourism Authority and his dedication to the community qualify him to be reappointed to the Board.  Mr. Atkins is a General Partner in Kauai Kilohana Partners, which renovated and manages the Kilohana Plantation Estate.  He is the former President of Hale Kea Ranch, Ltd., a company created to develop the Rockefeller Estate at Hale Kea.  Mr. Atkins is currently on the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, where he used his knowledge of Kauai to efficiently address community needs after the flooding in April of 2018.  He has also served as a board member of Kauai Hoe Waa, the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, and the Kauai Visitors Bureau and currently serves on the YMCA Board of Directors.  Your Committee finds that Mr. Atkins will continue to be instrumental to the Board due to his proven experience on the Board and his insights into the needs of Kauai communities.

 

RODNEY KAM

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the reappointment of Rodney Kam from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and Hawaii Tourism Authority.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Kam's experience in working closely with visitors and residents and proven experience on the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Tourism Authority qualify him for reappointment to the Board.  Mr. Kam was the Ambassador of Aloha for Quiksilver, Inc.  Mr. Kam's knowledge of retail business has allowed him to serve as the Vice President of Operations for Quiksilver Retail Americas and as Vice President of Business Development Hawaii for Quiksilver, Inc.

 

     Mr. Kam is currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, and also on the Waikiki Business Improvement District Association, and Waikiki Business Special Improvement District Association.  During his tenure on the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, Mr. Kam made significant contributions to the Legislative and Government Affairs Investigative Committees to develop and streamline Hawaii's brand as represented by its people, place, and culture.  Your Committee finds that Mr. Kam's dedication to supporting businesses in Hawaii and tourism will continue to make him a great asset for the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

 

KYOKO KIMURA

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Kyoko Kimura from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Hawaii Tourism Authority; Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association; and three individuals.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Kimura's experience as an international liaison with Hawaii's largest tourism partner and in hotel management qualify her for appointment to the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Tourism Authority.  Ms. Kimura is the Director of Owner Relations at Aqua-Aston Hospitality, LLC, and has experience working in executive positions in the hotel industry such as the former President and General Manager of the Diamond Resort Hawaii Corporation from 1992 to 2008 and as the current Managing Director of Beach Club Consulting Company, LLC.

 

     Ms. Kimura previously served on the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Tourism Authority from 2003 to 2011 and currently serves as a member on the Small Business Regulatory Review Board, Strategic Committee of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, and as the Chair of the Airlift Committee of the Japan Hawaii Tourism Council.  Your Committee finds that Ms. Kimura's years of experience in the hotel industry and dedication to the community will make her a great asset for the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

GLENN WAKAI, Chair