STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3509

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 614, 615, 616, 617, 618, 619, 620, 621

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 614, 615, 616, 617, 618, 619, 620, and 621, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Hawaii Technology Development Corporation

 

G.M. No. 614

CRAIG NAKANISHI,

for a term to expire 06-30-2022;

 

G.M. No. 615

CRAIG NAKANISHI,

for a term to expire 06-30-2026;

 

G.M. No. 616

SANDRA FUJIYAMA,

for a term to expire 06-30-2023;

 

G.M. No. 617

EDWARD BARNABAS,

for a term to expire 06-30-2022;

 

G.M. No. 618

EDWARD BARNABAS,

for a term to expire 06-30-2026;

 

G.M. No. 619

BERNICE GLENN,

for a term to expire 06-30-2023;

 


 

G.M. No. 620

VINCENT KIMURA,

for a term to expire 06-30-2024; and

 

G.M. No. 621

RICK VOLNER JR.,

for a term to expire 06-30-2024,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by Craig Nakanishi, Sandra Fujiyama, Edward Barnabas, Bernice Glenn, Vincent Kimura, and Rick Volner Jr. for service on the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation.

 

CRAIG NAKANISHI

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nominations for the appointment and reappointment of Craig Nakanishi from the Rotary Club of Honolulu and four individuals.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Nakanishi's experience, knowledge, and dedication in serving on the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation qualify him for appointment and reappointment to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation as a member nominated by the President of the Senate, pursuant to section 206M-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes.  Your Committee finds that Mr. Nakanishi has practiced law in Hawaii for over thirty years, focusing on energy, public utilities, and business and real property transactions.  Your Committee notes that Mr. Nakanishi has been a partner at Cades Schutte LLP since 2015, where he currently chairs both the Energy and Public Utilities practice group and the Digital Media, Internet and Information Technology practice group.  Your Committee further finds that Mr. Nakanishi is a current member of the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation and served on the Board of Directors of the High Technology Development Corporation from 2008 to 2015 and on the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Strategic Development Corporation from 2016 to 2019.  His experience and knowledge will continue to be assets to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Craig Nakanishi be appointed and reappointed to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation based on his experience, knowledge, and commitment to public service.

 


SANDRA FUJIYAMA

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Sandra Fujiyama from four individuals. 

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Fujiyama's experience, knowledge, and willingness to serve qualify her for appointment to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation as a member nominated by the President of the Senate, pursuant to section 206M-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes.  Your Committee finds that Ms. Fujiyama has been the Executive Director of the Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Hawaii at Manoa's Shidler College of Business since October 2021.  Prior being named the Executive Director of the Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship late last year, Ms. Fujiyama was appointed as the Innovation and Business Development Officer of the University of Hawaii at Manoa's Office of Innovation and Commercialization in 2018.  Your Committee notes that Ms. Fujiyama graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from the University of California, Los Angeles and a Juris Doctorate from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law.  She practiced as an attorney in California and Hawaii for over fifteen years, focusing on the areas of intellectual property, patent, trademark, technology, and biotechnology.  Your Committee further finds that Ms. Fujiyama is a member and the secretary on the Board of Directors for the Entrepreneurs Foundation of Hawaii, a nonprofit organization that helps local startup companies create community impact that scales with their business.  She has a thorough understanding of the role and responsibilities of board members and her experience and knowledge in innovation and intellectual property will be assets to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Sandra Fujiyama be appointed to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation based on her experience, knowledge, and desire to serve the public.

 

EDWARD BARNABAS

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nominations for the appointment and reappointment of Edward Barnabas from ten individuals.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Barnabas's experience, knowledge, and willingness to serve qualify him for appointment and reappointment to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation as a member nominated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, pursuant to section 206M-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes.  Your Committee finds that Mr. Barnabas is currently a Principal/Director of Booz Allen Hamilton's Indo-Pacific Strategic Innovation Group.  He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Maryland at College Park and a Master's in Business Administration from the University of Maryland, Robert H. Smith School of Business.  Your Committee notes that Mr. Barnabas has over twenty years of experience of project management in the technology sector with a focus on capacity building, client delivery, and business development.  According to testimony received by your Committee, Mr. Barnabas is actively involved with a wide range of local organizations, institutions, and companies, including but not limited to CyberHawaii, Hawaii Defense Alliance, and Hawaii Executive Collaborative.  Your Committee further finds that Mr. Barnabas has an understanding of the role and responsibilities of board members and that his experience and knowledge will be assets to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Edward Barnabas be appointed and reappointed to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation based on his experience, knowledge, and commitment to public service.

 

BERNICE GLENN

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Bernice Glenn from six individuals. 

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Glenn's experience, knowledge, and willingness to serve qualify her for appointment to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation as a member nominated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, pursuant to section 206M-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes.  Your Committee finds that prior to becoming a senior advisor for Pacific Strategy, Ms. Glenn was a managing member of Inovi Group LLC, which provided management, scientific, and technical consulting services.  Your Committee notes that Ms. Glenn graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in East Asian Studies from Princeton University and has over thirty years of experience as a senior manager in areas, including defense technology acquisition and strategic human resource development.  Your Committee further finds that Ms. Glenn was appointed to the Board of Directors of the High Technology Development Corporation in 2012.  She has an understanding of the role and responsibilities of board members and her illustrious background, particularly with the military, will be assets to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Bernice Glenn be appointed to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation based on her experience, knowledge, and desire to serve the public.

 

VINCENT KIMURA

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Vincent Kimura from seven individuals. 

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Kimura's experience, knowledge, and willingness to serve qualify him for appointment to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation as a member nominated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, pursuant to section 206M-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes.  Your Committee finds that, in addition to being the Director of Programs and Partnerships of the University of Hawaii at Manoa's Office of Innovation and Commercialization, Mr. Kimura is the former Chief Executive Officer and lead founder of Smart Yields, Inc., an agricultural technology cooperative that provides a data analytics platform that offers crop protection alerts and real-time monitoring, especially for small- to medium-sized independent farms.  Your Committee notes that Mr. Kimura graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Oregon State University and a Master of Business Administration in Global Management from Arizona State University's Thunderbird School of Global Management.  He has twenty-five years of leadership experience in national and international complex, data-driven projects and is active in a number of community organizations, including Hawaii Farmers Union United, Purple Maia, and the Urban Land Institute.  Your Committee further finds that Mr. Kimura has an understanding of the role and responsibilities of board members and that his experience and knowledge, especially in marketing and fund development, will be assets to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Vincent Kimura be appointed to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation based on his experience, knowledge, and desire to serve the public.

 


RICK VOLNER JR.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Rick Volner Jr. from one individual. 

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Volner's experience, knowledge, and willingness to serve qualify him for appointment to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation as a member from the economic development board of Maui County, pursuant to section 206M-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes.  Your Committee finds that Mr. Volner is the Vice President of Maui Operations & Environmental, Health, & Safety of HC&D, LLC, a local manufacturer of ready-mix concrete, sized basaltic aggregates, and precast concrete products.  Your Committee notes that he has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and over twenty years of experience in agricultural operations and management.  Your Committee further finds that Mr. Volner actively serves in a wide range of local organizations, including as a board member for the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, Hawaii Foundation for Agricultural Research, Maui Chamber of Commerce, Maui Economic Development Board, and Boys and Girls Clubs of Maui.  Your Committee further notes that he has a thorough understanding of the role and responsibilities of board members and his experience and knowledge will be assets to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation, especially regarding its value-added agriculture manufacturing programs.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Rick Volner Jr. be appointed to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation based on his experience, knowledge, and desire to serve the public.

 

     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