SSCR1860

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1860

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: GOV. MSG. NOS. 544, 545, 547

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 544, 545, and 547, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of:

Hawai'i Advisory Commission on Drug Abuse and Controlled Substances

G.M. No. 544

EMILY ANDRADE,

for a term to expire 06-30-2028;

G.M. No. 545

LILINOE KAUAHIKAUA,

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

G.M. No. 547

JAWANA READY,

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 Emily Andrade, Lilinoe Kauahikaua, and Jawana Ready for service on the Hawaiʻi Advisory Commission on Drug Abuse and Controlled Substances.

EMILY ANDRADE

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Emily Andrade from the Department of Health, one member of the Hawaii Advisory Commission on Drug Abuse and Controlled Substances, and six individuals.

Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Andrade's experience, background, and commitment to public service qualify her for appointment to the Hawaii Advisory Commission on Drug Abuse and Controlled Substances as a member who is a representative of the community and business affairs segment of the community. Your Committee notes that Ms. Andrade has been a licensed clinical social worker since 2007 and has progressed to become a seasoned leader in the social services field, directing and managing large-scale, complex programs designed to serve the most needy and vulnerable populations, including those experiencing homelessness, mental illness, substance abuse, and domestic violence. Since 2023, Ms. Andrade has been serving as a senior advisor for the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, the lead agency in charge of Los Angeles' response to homelessness. Previously at the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, Ms. Andrade served as the Director of Interim Housing from 2019 to 2023, directly overseeing over fifty employees, a $200 million annual budget, and two hundred grants across more than fifty nonprofit partner agencies. During the course of Ms. Andrade's career, she has gained broad experience and knowledge about building and overseeing high-performing, mission‑driven teams and developing strong community partnerships in support of the best outcomes for the populations she serves. Your Committee further notes that Ms. Andrade has been serving as an interim member of the Advisory Commission and has a thorough understanding of the roles and responsibilities of its members. Your Committee therefore recommends that Emily Andrade be appointed to the Hawaiʻi Advisory Commission on Drug Abuse and Controlled Substances based on her knowledge, experience, and commitment to public service.

LILINOE KAUAHIKAUA

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Lilinoe Kauahikaua from the Department of Health, one member of the Hawaii Advisory Commission on Drug Abuse and Controlled Substances, and seven individuals.

Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Kauahikaua's experience, background, and commitment to public service qualify her for appointment to the Hawaii Advisory Commission on Drug Abuse and Controlled Substances as a member who is a representative of the educational segment of the community. Your Committee notes that Ms. Kauahikaua has over ten years of experience serving as a Native Hawaiian population expert in the fields of behavioral health, health care, and substance misuse, serving in various roles and contributing to academia through guest lectures and publications. Ms. Kauahikaua has been serving as the Program Coordinator for Papa Ola Lokai's substance use and mental health initiatives and as the Project Manager for the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander ʻOhana Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health since 2021. During the course of Ms. Kauahikaua's career, she has gained broad experience and knowledge about addressing addiction treatment and recovery through an indigenous lens and has developed various connections with community grassroots nonprofit organizations and national organizations, including serving as the Cultural Committee Co‑chair for the Going Home Hawaiʻi Consortium and a member of the Insitute of Violence and Trauma Annual Conference's Cultural Committee, Hui Hoʻiwai Reentry Hui, Perinatal Substance Use Working Group, Kinohi Mana Nui Board, and ʻEkolu Mea Nui Board. Your Committee further notes that Ms. Kauahikaua is currently serving as co-chair of the Advisory Commission as an interim member and has a thorough understanding of the roles and responsibilities of its members. Your Committee therefore recommends that Lilinoe Kauahikaua be appointed to the Hawaiʻi Advisory Commission on Drug Abuse and Controlled Substances based on her knowledge, experience, and commitment to public service.

JAWANA READY

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Jawana Ready from the Department of Health and one individual.

Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Ready's experience, background, and commitment to public service qualify her for appointment to the Hawaii Advisory Commission on Drug Abuse and Controlled Substances as a member who is a representative of the medical segment of the community. Your Committee notes that Ms. Ready is a clinical supervisory psychologist with over twenty-five years of experience as a behavioral health professional, providing direct clinical care, supervising clinical care, and serving in various administrative, consultative, and leadership roles in the field of behavioral health. Ms. Ready has been serving as the Behavioral Health Clinical Manager of the Defense Health Network (DHA) Indo‑Pacific at Tripler Army Medical Center since 2002, serving as a subject matter expert to consult and advise DHA leadership on beneficiaries' complex or difficult behavioral health issues. During the course of Ms. Ready's career, she has gained broad experience and knowledge about the social, cultural, and systemic factors that influence behavioral health and substance use disorder outcomes. Your Committee further notes that Ms. Ready has been serving as an interim member of the Advisory Commission and has a thorough understanding of the roles and responsibilities of its members. Your Committee therefore recommends that Jawana Ready be appointed to the Hawaiʻi Advisory Commission on Drug Abuse and Controlled Substances based on her knowledge, experience, and commitment to public service.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services 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 Health and Human Services,

____________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair

GM 544

Senate Standing Committee on Health and Human Services

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