STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2155

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 752, 753, 754, 755, 756, 757, 758

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 752, 753, 754, 755, 756, 757, and 758, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Hawai'i Community Development Authority

 

G.M. No. 752

JOHN WHALEN,

for a term to expire 06-30-2023;

 

G.M. No. 753

CHASON ISHII,

for a term to expire 06-30-2023;

 

G.M. No. 754

KEVIN SAKODA,

for a term to expire 06-30-2023;

 

G.M. No. 755

AMY LUERSEN,

for a term to expire 06-30-2023;

 

G.M. No. 756

DONNA CAMVEL,

for a term to expire 06-30-2022;

 

G.M. No. 757

SHIRLEY SWINNEY,

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

 

G.M. No. 758

MITCHELL TYNANES,

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 John Whalen, Chason Ishii, Kevin Sakoda, Amy Luersen, Donna Camvel, Shirley Swinney, and Mitchell Tynanes for service on the Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA).

 

JOHN WHALEN

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the reappointment of John Whalen from the Department of Transportation, Hawaii Community Development Authority, Oahu County Committee Oahu County Democrats, and two individuals.

 

     Mr. Whalen is an urban and regional planner whose professional career spans more than four decades and includes substantial administrative roles in government and private practice.  Prior to forming his consulting firm, he served as Director of Land Utilization for the City and County of Honolulu.  One of Mr. Whalen's higher profile public projects was the revision of the Kakaako Mauka Area Plan for HCDA in 2006.  He holds a Master of Arts in Public Law and Government and Master of Science in Urban Planning from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Pre-Architecture from Rutgers University.

 

     Mr. Whalen indicated in his personal statement that he hopes to bring his years of experience in community planning to HCDA to meet the need for affordable housing, suitable industrial and commercial facilities for rent, sufficient and attractive parks and open space, preservation of historic and cultural features, and an active, mixed use community for local residents.

 

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Whalen's past experiences with community planning, as well as his continuing commitment to issues relating to urban planning and community needs, will be great assets to HCDA.

 

CHASON ISHII

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Chason Ishii from the Department of Transportation; Bank of Hawaii; Zippy's Restaurants; MW Group, Ltd.; and six individuals.

 

     Mr. Ishii is currently the President of Atlas Insurance Agency, a position that he has held since June 2016.  He previously served as President of Koa Capital LLC; President of HHL Holdings, Inc.; President, Executive Vice President, and Senior Vice President of Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties; and Group Vice President of Servco Pacific Inc.  He holds an Executive Education degree from Harvard Graduate School of Business and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  Mr. Ishii also currently serves as a board member for the Young Presidents Organization and The Deputies (Honolulu Police Department and Honolulu Fire Department).

 

     Mr. Ishii indicated in his personal statement that he hopes to contribute and provide added value in making the best decisions to explore, coordinate, and execute on successful public and private sector community development opportunities.

 

Your Committee finds that Mr. Ishii's extensive professional experience as a business executive in the private sector and his involvement in the community will make him an effective member of HCDA.

 

KEVIN SAKODA

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Kevin Sakoda from the Department of Transportation and one individual.

 

     Mr. Sakoda has over twenty years of experience in financial markets, working as the Managing Director for UBS Securities in Tokyo, Director of the Hedge Fund Sales Group for Barclays Capital in Tokyo, Senior Trader and Chief Representative for NationsBank in Chicago and Tokyo, and Senior Trader, Analyst, and Manager for Chicago Research and Trading Group in Chicago and Tokyo.  He has a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Northwestern University.

 

     Mr. Sakoda indicated in his personal statement that he hopes to strengthen our community by moving forward with socially, environmentally, and financially sustainable strategies.

 

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Sakoda understands how market influences and availability of capital affect affordable housing development in Hawaii and that his extensive professional experience and expertise in the financial sector will help him contribute to and be an effective member of HCDA.

 

AMY LUERSEN

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the reappointment of Amy Luersen from the Department of Transportation; Hawaii Community Development Authority; Koolaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club; Oahu County Committee, Oahu County Democrats; Koolau Foundation; and one individual.

 

     Ms. Luersen is currently the Vice President of Community Collaboration at the Hawaii Community Foundation.  In the past, Ms. Luersen was a community planning consultant, providing services for various community development organizations.  She holds a Masters of Regional Planning from Cornell University and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Urban Studies from Denison University.

 

     Ms. Luersen indicated in her personal statement that she supports the development of a Heeia district master plan and rules and hopes to contribute to community resilience through sustainable management of the Heeia community development district.

 

     Your Committee finds that Ms. Luersen's past experiences with city and regional planning, as well as her continuing commitment to the mission of the Heeia community development district to facilitate culturally appropriate agriculture, education, and natural resource restoration and management of the Heeia wetlands, will be great assets to HCDA.

 

DONNA CAMVEL

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the reappointment of Donna Camvel from the Department of Transportation, Hawaii Community Development Authority, Koolaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club, Koolau Foundation, and one individual.

 

     Ms. Camvel is currently a doctoral candidate in the Political Science Department at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, specializing in Indigenous Politics.  She has also traveled to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York as a student representative for the University of Hawaii to talk about Native Hawaiian and indigenous issues.  She received a Master's degree in Hawaiian Studies and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Women's Studies and Hawaiian Studies from the University of Hawaii.

 

     Ms. Camvel indicated in her personal statement that she can provide HCDA with valuable cultural expertise and community knowledge of the Heeia ahupuaa.

 

     Your Committee finds that Ms. Camvel's past experiences with indigenous issues, as well as her continuing commitment to natural resource management, will be great assets to HCDA.

 

SHIRLEY SWINNEY

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the reappointment of Shirley Swinney from the Department of Transportation, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Aha Moku Advisory Committee and Moku O Kakuhihewa, Hawaii Community Development Authority, Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, and three individuals.

 

     Ms. Swinney is currently the President and founder of Kapolei Community Development Corporation, which plans, designs, and implements initiatives by and for the Kapolei homestead beneficiaries.  Previously, she was a Circuit Court Clerk II at the Hawaii State Judiciary, coordinating facilities and personnel for court proceedings, among other duties.  Ms. Swinney is also highly involved in several organizations throughout the community, such as the Malama Learning Center, Special Olympics Hawaii, and Hoopili Task Force.  She holds an Associate of Arts Degree from Leeward Community College and a Business Certificate from Honolulu Business College.

 

     Ms. Swinney indicated in her personal statement that she recognizes how the community is vital in developing Kalaeloa's cultural, economic, and social resources for a sustainable future.

 

     Your Committee finds that Ms. Swinney's past experiences with homestead initiatives, as well as her continuing commitment to the community of Kalaeloa, will be great assets to HCDA.

 


MITCHELL TYNANES

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Mitchell Tynanes from the Department of Transportation and two individuals.

 

     Mr. Tynanes has twenty-nine years of experience in the construction industry.   He is a Field Representative for the Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters and the Owner and Operator of Boars No More, LLC, a small business specializing in invasive species removal, environmental quality management, and wildlife damage management.  Mr. Tynanes previously served as a Generator Technician for Generators Hawaii Corporation.  Mr. Tynanes is also an active member in the community by serving on the Ewa Beach Neighborhood Board and as a member of the JCHS Alumni Foundation, Ewa Weed and Seed Steering Committee, Homeowners Association at Terrazza Cortabella Las Bresis Tiburon, and Ewa Beach Lions Club.  Mr. Tynanes is also currently serving as the President of the Oahu Pig Hunters Association.

 

     Mr. Tynanes indicated in his personal statement that he hopes to facilitate the identification and execution of development plans and programs best suited to accomplish community specific growth-related goals while maintaining historical integrity.

 

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Tynanes' past construction experience and continuing dedication to the community will be great assets to HCDA.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

GLENN WAKAI, Chair