GOVERNOR LINGLE NAMES COUNCILS OF NEIGHBOR ISLAND ADVISORS
For Immediate Release: September 10, 2009
HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle has appointed 38 volunteers to serve on six councils of neighbor island advisors that will help the Lingle-Aiona Administration continue to identify issues of importance to the residents of each island, as well as recommend ways to improve state government, encourage public discussion and participation in key initiatives, and foster innovative ideas. The councils will also identify potential nominees from the neighbor islands to serve on state boards and commissions. The councils will hold public meetings and seek comments from residents. The list of members is attached.
“Public involvement is critical to ensure state government is responsive to the specific needs of each island and I appreciate the time and dedication these volunteer members are giving to help improve their communities and our entire state,” said Governor Lingle. “Through the neighbor island advisory councils, my Administration has gained valuable input, innovative ideas and fresh perspectives on issues that are important to residents of each island. The role of the new Council of Neighbor Island Advisors is even more crucial as we must all pull together to find solutions to the current economic challenges, while ensuring that we continue to plan for the future.”
The Councils of Neighbor Island Advisors for East Hawai‘i, West Hawai‘i, Maui and Kaua‘i each consist of seven members, while the Moloka‘i and Lāna‘i councils each have five members. The members have diverse backgrounds and expertise in business, agriculture, education, native Hawaiian issues, social services, healthcare, arts and culture, energy, and the environment.
The members will serve as volunteers and will receive no compensation, but like other boards and commissions, they will be entitled to reimbursements for related expenses while attending meetings and carrying out the council’s responsibilities. The Governor’s neighbor island liaison will assist each council in carrying out their functions. The councils will be terminated on November 30, 2010.
The Governor’s councils of neighbor island advisors follow similar temporary councils established by Governor Lingle in 2003, 2005 and 2007.
For more information about the Governor’s Council of Neighbor Island Advisors, please visit the Governor’s Web site at www.hawaii.gov/gov, or contact the appropriate liaison office.
EAST HAWAI‘I – HILO
Liaison: Marc Miranda
75 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720
Phone: (808) 974-6262
Fax: (808) 974-6263
E-mail – hilogov@hawaii.gov
WEST HAWAI‘I – KONA
Liaison: Andy Smith
75-5722 Kuakini Highway
Kuakini Tower, Suite 215
Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i 96740
Phone: (808) 327-4953
Fax: (808) 327-4952
E-mail – konagov@hawaii.gov
MAUI
Liaison: George N. Kaya
2264 Aupuni Street, #1
Wailuku, Hawai‘i 96793
Phone: (808) 243-5796
Fax: (808) 243-5049
E-mail – mauigov@hawaii.gov
KAUA‘I
Liaison: Laurie L. K. Yoshida
3060 Eiwa Street, #106
Līhu‘e, Hawai‘i 96766
Phone: (808) 274-3100
Fax: (808) 274-3103
E-mail – kauaigov@hawaii.gov
MOLOKA‘I AND LĀNA‘I
Office of the Governor – Liaison Office
Hawai‘i State Capitol, Executive Chambers
Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96813
Phone: (808) 586-0034
Fax: (808) 586-0019
E-mail – Charen.Ching@hawaii.gov
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For more information, contact:
Lenny Klompus
Senior Advisor – Communications
Phone: (808) 586-7708
Russell Pang
Chief of Media Relations
Phone: (808) 586-0043
Governor’s Council of Neighbor Island Advisors
Council of Neighbor Island Advisors – East Hawai‘i
Scott Enright – Former project manager of ITC Water Management, Inc. and former cultivation and irrigation superintendent at Hamakua Sugar Company.
Julie Hugo – Managing broker, Aiona Island Realty. Past experience: advisor to majority senate floor leader, Hawai‘i State Legislature; Hawai‘i Island Chamber of Commerce; administrator, OrthoCare, Inc.; principal, Hugo Wong-Wilson (business consulting); director of community relations, Waikoloa Land Company; assistant vice president and corporate secretary, Kaluakoi Corp.
Al Nakaji – Owner and operator of Nakaji Orchid.
Alton Okinaka – Associate professor of sociology, chair, Education Department, University of Hawai‘i –Hilo and director of Social Sciences Training and Research Laboratory, UH-Hilo. Past experience: chair, Social Sciences Division, UH-Hilo; chair, Department of Sociology, UH-Hilo.
Norman Stahl – Director, career services, University of Hawai‘i – Hilo. Past experience: counselor supervisor, University of California, Los Angeles; U.S. Marine Corps.
Carol VanCamp (chair) – Associate in brokerage services for CB Richard Ellis. Past experience: commercial leasing and sales, Ala Kai Realty, Inc.; general manager, Prince Kūhiō Plaza Shopping Center.
Jennifer Zelko – Associate, Carlsmith Ball, LLP.
Council of Neighbor Island Advisors – West Hawai‘i
Jon Adams – Realtor; owner Mothers Antiques and Fine Cigars; founder, North Kohala Merchants Association; member, Lions Club of Kohala and Aloha Temple Shriners.
Glennon Gingo – Realtor, commercial sales; chairman – West Hawai‘i Fisheries Council. Past experience: aquatics consultant, executive director, Kona Family YMCA; senior program director, YMCA of San Francisco; associate director of health enhancements and aquatics, YMCA of Santa Clara.
Estela Halverson – President, Kona Outdoor Circle Education Center. Past experience: high school principal, teacher, Los Angeles Unified School District; president, Kona Outdoor Circle; president, Kona Adult Day Center.
Rodney Ito – General manager Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa; member Big Island Visitors Bureau, Kona Kohala Resort Association, Habitat for Humanity.
Gunner Mentch – Owner, Harbor Gallery; Kawaihae; vice chair South Kohala Traffic Safety Committee; Kawaihae Local Resource Council. Past experience: Superferry Advisory Board.
Rick Vidgen (chair) – CEO, Big Island Carbon, agribusiness consultant. Past experience: realtor; president, MacFarms of Hawai‘i; sales and marketing consultant, RAM Group; business management, Colonial Sugar Refining (Australia and New Zealand).
Elaine Watai – Outreach coordinator, Salvation Army Family Intervention Services; community coordinator, Kealakehe Community Association; founder of Kealakehe Neighborhood Watch. Past experience: supervisor Alu Like Youth Programs; Keauhou Beach Hotel, Polynesian Adventure Tours.
Council of Neighbor Island Advisors – Kaua‘i
Stewart Burley – Consultant, Strategic Theories Unlimited. Past experience: Hawai‘i region director, Envisioneering, Inc.; marketing director, supervisory program analyst, Pacific Missile Range Facility; U.S. Navy.
Linda Collins – Retired: President and CEO, Kikiaola Land Company, Ltd., Waimea Plantation Cottages, Waimea Plantation Community Development, Lodge and Koke‘e Concession. Past experience: business owner, Floral One Interiorscape; assistant editor, Aloha Magazine; educator, St. Andrew’s Priory.
James Itamura (chair) – Attorney. Past experience: Public Defender’s Office, County Council Services.
Barbara Makaala Kaaumoana – Executive director, Hanalei Watershed Hui. Past experience: program coordinator, Hanalei Heritage River Program; vice chair, Hui Ho‘omalu I Ka ‘Aina; retired special education teacher, Novato Unified School District, California.
Solette Harvest Perry – Hawai‘i Health Systems Personnel.
Barbara Smith – Retired teacher, Hanalei Elementary School.
Matt Takata – Senior vice president, Title Guaranty Escrow Services.
Council of Neighbor Island Advisors – Maui
Kay Ghean – Retired, IBM Corporation.
John Henry – Photographer, John Henry Photography, Inc.
Carl Lindquist – Owner, Hana Coast Realty, Inc.; founding partner, Hana Coast Gallery. Past experience: vice president and general manager, Hotel Hana-Maui; president, Trade Publishing Company; U.S. Air Force.
Lorraine Sablas – Director of Po‘okela, Ka‘anapali Beach Hotel. Past experience: director of leisure sales, Stouffer Wailea Beach Resort; managing director, Ka‘anapali Beach Operators Association.
Madge Schaefer (chair) – Retired. Past experience: member and chair, Ventura County (California) Board of Supervisors; mayor and councilmember, City of Thousand Oaks, California; editorial columnist, Scripps Newspapers.
Gail Takeuchi – Counselor, Lahainaluna High School.
Leona Rocha Wilson – Retired. Past experience: national spokesperson for Vogue/Butterick New York, Simplicity New York; business owner, Fashionetic, Inc. New York; patent holder, “Fashion Ruler;” national president, American Home Sewing Association; national television host, “The Sewing Show.”
Council of Neighbor Island Advisors – Lāna‘i
Christine Costales – Lāna‘i endangered species field technician, Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit, Research Center for the University of Hawai‘i. Past experience: conservation program coordinator, Castle & Cooke Resorts, LLC; executive director, The Lāna‘i Youth Center; administrative assistant, Hale Makua Skilled Nursing Facility; patient financial assistant, Maui Memorial Hospital.
Darlene Endrina – President and manager, L.D. Productions; owner, instructor, Personal Development Seminars. Past experience: president, general manager, and travel consultant, Travel by Darlene, Inc.; general manager and travel consultant, Travel Bookings/Davis Travel Tours.
Robin Kaye – Retired. Past experience: consultant, and director of art services for Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts; director of state and local interagency arts programs for California Arts Council; consultant for Lāna‘i Photographic Documentary Project on the lifestyle of the Pineapple Island.
Matthew Mano (chair) – Wastewater treatment plant worker, County of Maui.
Douglas Rolefson – Supervisor, Department of Homeland Security Transportation Security Administration, Lāna‘i Airport; owner, Bridgeport Benefits of Hawai‘i, Inc. Past experience: vice president, First Health Strategies.
Council of Neighbor Island Advisors – Moloka‘i
Robert Granger – Retired. Past experience: location manager, director of research, Cargill Seeds.
Janice Kalanihuia (chair) – President, Moloka‘i General Hospital. Past experience: director, Moloka‘i General Hospital Women’s Health Center; nurse, case manager and health educator, Moloka‘i Family Health Center.
James Feeter – Retired. Past experience: veterinarian, director of veterinary technician program, Foothill Community College.
Jersula Manaba – Vice president, Manaba Enterprises, Inc.; housing manager, Hale Mahaolu. Past experience: owner, D&J Commercial Fishing; front-end relief manager, Star Markets, Ltd.
Marlene Purdy – Program director, Moloka‘i Community Services Council / Hale Ho‘omalu, owner, Purdy’s Natural Macadamia Nut Farm. Past experience: administrator, Moloka‘i Livestock Cooperative; owner of Hui ‘Ohana o Moloka‘i Inc.; executive director, Moloka‘i Visitors Association.
