SSCR630

STAND. COM. REP. NO 630

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: GOV. MSG. NO. 509

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

Your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 509, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of:

Chairperson of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands

G.M. No. 509

JOBIE MASAGATANI,

for a term to expire 12-31-2018,

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee has reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by the nominee and finds Jobie Masagatani to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated as the Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission.

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Ms. Masagatani from the Governor; Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Transportation; Department of Budget and Finance; Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation; University of Hawaii System; Aha Moku Advisory Committee; Ko‘olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club; Queen Lili‘uokalani Children's Center; Building Industry Association of Hawaii; City Square Management Services, Inc.; Waiohuli Hawaiian Homesteaders Association, Inc.; ValueRock Realty Partners; Democratic Party of Hawaii, Hawaiian Affairs Caucus; Hawaii Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust; Ashford & Wriston, A Limited Liability Law Partnership LLP; United Public Workers, AFSCME Local 646 AFL-CIO; Ho‘omana Pono, LLC; Chun Kerr LLP; Kapolei Community Development Corporation; Colliers International; Anahola Farmers and Ranchers Association; Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters; Pelatron; General Growth Properties/Prince Kuhio Plaza LLC; Ko‘olau Foundation; King Kamehameha Hawaiian Civic Club; Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce; PBR Hawaii & Associates, Inc.; Special Olympics Hawaii; Operating Engineers Local Union No. 3; Auamo I Na Alaka‘i; Pana‘ewa Hawaiian Home Lands Community Association; DeBartolo Development LLC; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; Princess Kaiulani Hawaiian Civic Club; Kanu o ka ‘Aina Learning ‘Ohana; Pearl Harbor Hawaiian Civic Club; Honua Consulting; and fifty-one individuals. Your Committee also received a petition in support signed by twenty-four individuals and a petition in support signed by one hundred twenty-two individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to the nomination of Ms. Masagatani from the Sovereign Councils of Hawaiian Homelands Assembly; Hawaiian Community Assets; Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement; and five individuals. Your Committee received comments regarding Ms. Masagatani's nomination from one individual.

Ms. Masagatani is a graduate of the Kamehameha Schools, Kapalama campus. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Northwestern University. She received her Master's Degree in Public Affairs/Urban and Regional Planning from Princeton University, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.

From 2012 to present, Ms. Masagatani has served as Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission. Immediately prior to that, she served as the Special Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer and also the Public Policy Program Manager at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. In 2005, Ms. Masagatani founded Clarity Organizational Services. Prior to that, she served as Assistant to the President and Chief Executive Officer at The Queen's Health Systems. From 1995-2002, Ms. Masagatani served as the Deputy to the Chairman of the Hawaiian Homes Commission. Ms. Masagatani has also served as a Project Manager for the Hawaii Real Estate Research and Education Center – Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii, as a Land Investment Analyst with the Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate, and a Budget Examiner at the Office of Management and Budget, Executive Office of the President, United States Government.

Ms. Masagatani is affiliated with numerous community organizations, including the Hui Hanai Board, Queen Liliuokalani Trust, Native Hawaiian Educational Council, Kamehameha Schools Board of Advisors, University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine Department of Native Hawaiian Health Community Advisory Board, United States Census Advisory Committee on Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders Population, and Affordable Housing Advisory Council Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle.

Testimony in support of the nominee indicated that Ms. Masagatani has a history of serving the native Hawaiian community and specifically the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Ms. Masagatani expressed her recognition that, in this time of budgetary constraints, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands must generate income through its commercial properties so that it can ultimately serve its beneficiaries on homestead lands and on the waiting list to receive homestead lands. Upon questioning, Ms. Masagatani explained that the issue of people being on the wait list is a multi-faceted problem. While the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is continuing to make lots available, many beneficiaries are unable to afford the cost. To address this situation, the Department is developing various programs to ultimately get beneficiaries onto homestead lands. Your Committee notes that testimony was received complaining that Ms. Masagatani had not reached out to all groups of beneficiaries. Your Committee further notes that Ms. Masagatani herself identified communication as an area where she could improve and that she was not objectionable to meeting with any beneficiaries if they requested.

Your Committee finds that Ms. Masagatani is qualified to serve as the Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission and is optimistic that she will serve the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and its beneficiaries well.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominee, has found the nominee to be qualified for the position to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nomination.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

MAILE S.L. SHIMABUKURO, Chair