Hawai‘i State Senate Approves Gubernatorial Nominees to Boards and Commissions

COVID-19 Legislature (May 11, 2020). PC: Hawai’i Senate Majority

The Hawai‘i State Senate today unanimously approved all gubernatorial nominees passed out of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, chaired by Senator Rosalyn H. Baker (D-South and West Maui).

“These boards and commissions are important,” said Senator Baker. “Many are professional and vocational licensing boards that ensure high standards and integrity of the professions and promote consumer protection by ensuring that licensed professions are adhering to the high standards set in statute for the various professions.

“Some board members are licensees or members of a regulated industry,” she said, “others represent the public and are geographically representative of Hawai‘i as a whole. These boards are an excellent example of citizen engagement in government.” 

The nominees are:

• Clyde Hayashi and Joseph O’Donnell to the Contractors License Board for terms to expire 06-30-2021,
• Eric Higashihara and Paul Alejado to the Contractors License Board for terms to expire 06-30-2023,
• Leonard Leong and Leslie Isemoto to the Contractors License Board for terms to expire 06-30-2022,
• Maurice Torigoe, Neal Arita, and Nicholas Teves, Jr. to the Contractors License Board for terms to expire 06-30-2024,
• Serafin Colmenares, Jr. as the Administrator of the State Health Planning and Development Agency for a term to expire at noon on 12-05-2022,
• Wallace Fook Chong III and Wesley Joong Jung Choy to the Board of Dentistry for terms to expire 06-30-2024,
• Phillip Lucero to the Board of Electricians and Plumbers for a term to expire 06-30-2022,
• Edward Chu, Jr. to the Board of Private Detectives and Guards for a term to expire 06-30-2024,
• Don Pedro and Sherry Sutherland-Choy to the Board of Psychology for terms to expire 06-30-2024,
• James Spira to the Board of Psychology for a term to expire 06-30-2022,
• Jill Gray to the Board of Psychology for a term to expire 06-30-2023,
• Denby Rall to the Board of Speech Pathology and Audiology for a term to expire 06-30-2022,
• Russell Wong and Wayne De Luz to the Motor Vehicle Industry Licensing Board for terms to expire 06-30-2023,
• Scott Ai to the Pest Control Board for a term to expire 06-30-2024,
• Leslie Murata to the State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology for a term to expire 06-30-2021,
• Brian Uemori to the State Board of Public Accountancy for a term to expire 06-30-2024,
• Michael Nojima to the Disability and Communication Access Board for a term to expire 06-30-2023,
• Monty Anderson-Nitahara to the Disability and Communication Access Board for a term to expire 06-30-2024,
• Greg Tjapkes to the Hawai‘i Advisory Commission on Drug Abuse and Controlled Substances for a term to expire 06-30-2021,
• Ku‘uleialohaonalani Salzer-Vitale to the Hawai‘i Advisory Commission on Drug Abuse and Controlled Substances for a term to expire 06-30-2022,
• Evelyn Kaneshiro and Roger Daniels to the Health Planning Council, Hawai‘i County Subarea, for terms to expire 06-30-2023,
• Tamia McKeague and Katherine Finn Davis to the Health Planning Council, Hawai‘i County Subarea, for terms to expire 06-30-2024,
• Tulpe Day to the Language Access Advisory Council for a term to expire 06-30-2024,
• Barbara Service, Colette Browne, Kathleen Wyatt, Marilyn Seely, and Roberta Murray to the Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs for terms to expire 06-30-2023,
• Barbara Yamashita to the Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs for a term to expire 06-30-2024,
• Beverly Gotelli to the Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs for a term to expire 06-30-2021,
• Kristen Polenz to the Radiologic Technology Board for a term to expire 06-30-2021,
• Ryan Malloy to the Radiologic Technology Board for a term to expire 06-30-2023,
• And Heidi Ilyavi to the State Council on Mental Health for a term to expire 06-30-2022.