SSCR3851

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3851

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: GOV. MSG. NOS. 616, 617

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 616 and 617, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of:

Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors and Landscape Architects

G.M. No. 616

ALAN INABA,

for a term to expire 06-30-2028; and

G.M. No. 617

JOEL KUROKAWA,

for a term to expire 06-30-2028,

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by Alan Inaba and Joel Kurokawa for service on the Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors and Landscape Architects.

ALAN INABA

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Alan Inaba from the Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors and Landscape Architects and two individuals.

Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Inaba's background, experience, and dedication to serving his community qualify him for appointment to the Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors and Landscape Architects as a professional surveyor member from the County of Hawaii. Your Committee notes that Mr. Inaba has been a licensed professional land surveyor since 1984 and a licensed land court surveyor since 1993. Mr. Inaba is the principal land surveyor at Inaba Engineering, Inc., a local business based in Hilo, Hawaii, that provides engineering and surveying services. Mr. Inaba also serves as an advisor to Hawaii Community College's Career and Technical Education Program Advisory Council. Your Committee further notes that Mr. Inaba has served two pervious terms on the Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors and Landscape Architects from 2015 to 2023 and his professional expertise and ability to represent the unique perspectives of Hawaii County as a surveyor will continue to enhance the effectiveness of the Board. Your Committee therefore recommends that Alan Inaba be appointed to the Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors and Landscape Architects based on his background, knowledge, and dedication to serving the community.

JOEL KUROKAWA

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the reappointment of Joel Kurokawa from the Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors and Landscape Architects.

Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Kurokawa's experience, knowledge, and commitment to public service qualify him for reappointment to the Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors and Landscape Architects as a landscape architect member from the City and County of Honolulu. Your Committee notes that Mr. Kurokawa has been licensed as a professional landscape architect since 2002 and is a founding Partner and Principal Landscape Architect at Ki Concepts LLC, a local business based in Honolulu that provides landscape architecture and planning services. Your Committee further notes that in addition to his two prior terms where he served from 2013 to 2020, Mr. Kurokawa has served on the Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors and Landscape Architects since 2021, and recently led the Board's efforts to refresh the Landscape Architecture State examination as it transitioned to computer-based testing. Mr. Kurokawa's knowledge of local, national, and international landscape architecture, and forty years of professional experience, will continue to enhance the effectiveness of the Board. Your Committee therefore recommends that Joel Kurokawa be reappointed to the Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors and Landscape Architects based on his experience, knowledge, and commitment to serving the community.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection 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 Commerce and Consumer Protection,

____________________________

JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair