STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3433

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: GOV. MSG. NO. 504

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 504, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of:

Adjutant General of the Department of Defense

G.M. No. 504

KENNETH S. HARA, for a term to expire at noon on 12‑05‑2022,

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by Kenneth S. Hara for service as the Adjutant General.

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Brigadier General Kenneth S. Hara from the Office of the Governor; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Health; Department of Accounting and General Services; Department of Transportation; Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; Department of Budget and Finance; Department of Human Resources Development; Department of Taxation; Department of Accounting and General Services; Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; Department of Public Safety; Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Department of Agriculture; Office of Enterprise Technology Services; Hawaii Emergency Management Agency; Hawaii State Energy Office; Hawaiian Electric, Inc.; Hawaii High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas; Hawaiian Electric Industries; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; and seventeen individuals.

Brigadier General Hara has earned a Master of Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Services from Hawaii Pacific University. In addition to his Master's degree, Brigadier General Hara's military education includes a Command and General Staff Officer Course from the Command and General Staff College in Kansas, Combined Arms Service Staff School in Kansas, Combined Logistics Officer Advanced Course in Virginia, Initial Entry Rotary Wing Course in Alabama, and Infantry Officer Basic Course in Georgia.

Brigadier General Hara began his extensive military career in 1987 when he received his commission as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry through the Hawaii Military Academy, Officer Candidate School, and Hawaii Army National Guard. He served in multiple capacities in the military, serving early on as a platoon leader and progressing through the ranks to the Commanding General of the Hawaii National Guard. Some of his other leadership roles include serving as the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army National Guard in South Korea and Commander or Deputy Commander for various deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kuwait.

Brigadier General Hara has proven leadership in times of an emergency in Hawaii having served as the Assistant Operations Officer with the 2nd Battalion, 299th Infantry, following Hurricane Iniki, which devastated the island of Kaua‘i in 1992, as the Task Force KOA commander that conducted National Guard Domestic Operations following an earthquake that struck Hawaii island in 2006; and as the Dual Status Commander of Joint Task Force — 50 in support of the responses to the Kilauea volcanic eruptions and Hurricane Lane in 2018.

Most recently, Brigadier General Hara has served as the Deputy Adjutant General since January 2018 and Commander of the Hawaii Army National Guard since February 2018. Brigadier General Hara's numerous awards and decorations include the Combat Infantryman Badge, Army Aviator Badge, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster, and Army Achievement Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters.

After hearing from Brigadier General Hara and considering his resume and statement, your Committee finds that Brigadier General Hara's demonstrated high-level of understanding of the State's emergency management and homeland security needs, his extensive and decorated military service and leadership experience, and dedication to public service make him exceptionally qualified to serve as the Adjutant General.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military 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 Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

____________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair