STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1995

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                   

 

RE:     GOV. MSG. NOS. 579, 669

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 579 and 669, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Hawai'i Community Development Authority (Heeia District)

 

G.M. No. 579

JO-ANN LEONG,

for a term to expire 06-30-2026; and

 

G.M. No. 669

KAIWIPUNI LIPE,

for a term to expire 06-30-2027,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by Jo-Ann Leong and Kaiwipuni Lipe for service on the Hawaii Community Development Authority.

 

JO-ANN LEONG

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Jo-Ann Leong from the Hawaii Community Development Authority, Hawaii State Aha Moku, Koolaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club, and two individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to the nomination for the appointment of Jo-Ann Leong from one individual.  Your Committee notes that the testimony submitted in opposition to this nominee contained no substantive information or commentary relating to her appointment.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Dr. Leong's experience, background, and proven leadership on the Hawaii Community Development Authority Board qualify her for appointment to the Board as a community member representing a non-profit organization in the Heeia District.  Dr. Leong earned her Doctorate in Microbiology from the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine and served for nearly forty years as a professor, researcher, and distinguished leader in academics.  For fourteen years, Dr. Leong served as the former Director Emeritus of the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology and a Professor in the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  Dr. Leong also previously served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Center of Tropical and Subtropical Aquaculture in Hawaii and as President of the National Association of Marine Laboratories.  Your Committee further notes that Dr. Leong is a dedicated public servant and currently serves as a board member for Paepae O Heeia and Kako o Oiwi and is a contributing member of the Koolapoko Hawaiian Civic Club.  Dr. Leong also previously served a four-year term on the Hawaii Community Development Authority representing the Heeia District and remains eager to serve, as Dr. Leong acknowledges the Heeia District is facing a critical period in its development.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Jo-Ann Leong be appointed to the Hawaii Community Development Authority based on her extensive experience and continuing commitment to her community.

 

KAIWIPUNI LIPE

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Kaiwipuni Lipe from the Hawaii Community Development Authority, Hawaii State Aha Moku, and Koolau Foundation.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to the nomination for the appointment of Kaiwipuni Lipe from one individual.  Your Committee notes that the testimony submitted in opposition to this nominee contained no substantive information or commentary relating to her appointment.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Dr. Lipe's experience, background, and commitment to public service qualify her for appointment to the Hawaii Community Development Authority as a member representing the Heeia District.  Dr. Lipe holds a Doctorate in Education Administration (Higher Education) from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, a Master's of Science in Counseling Psychology from Chaminade University of Honolulu, and a Bachelor of Arts in Hawaiian Studies from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  Dr. Lipe currently serves the University of Hawaii at Manoa as a Native Hawaiian Affairs Program Officer; Interim Director for the Institute of Hawaiian Language Research and Translation; and Director of the Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Campus Center.  Dr. Lipe is also a prolific Hawaiian language educator, having taught at Ke Lei Papahi o Kākuhihewa, Kamehameha Schools, and the University of Hawaii at Manoa as a graduate research assistant.  Your Committee notes that Dr. Lipe is an active member of the community and currently serves as Vice President of Hawaii Women in Filmmaking, and previously served as a member of the Commission on the Status of Women.  Dr. Lipe indicated in her personal statement that she believes her experience as a trained Racial Healing Circle Facilitator and counselor demonstrates her ability to connect people and enable open discussion, which will benefit the Hawaii Community Development Authority to ensure that diverse communities can be heard and understood to keep the Authority's work relevant and in service of local communities.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Kaiwipuni Lipe be appointed to the Hawaii Community Development Authority based on her experience in education and dedicated commitment to public service.

 

     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,

 

 

 

____________________________

LYNN DECOITE, Chair