Senate Standing Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs

Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to the Senate Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs. It's 1500 advise and consent agenda. Today is March 5th, 2025, and we're in Conference Room 225. This hearing is also being streamed on the Hawaii State Senate's YouTube channel. Just a few housekeeping announcements.

In the unlikely case of technical failures, this meeting will reconvene here in Conference Room 225 on March 7th, 2025, at 3:00 PM. For all testifiers, including those on Zoom, we ask that you stand on your written testimony. If your oral testimony is different from your written testimony, the time limit for each testifier will be one minute.

The content, including the hearing notice, copies of the governor's message, and testimony can be found on the Legislature's website. And if time permits, decision making will occur after we hear from those offering testimony. First up on our list is GM 644.

This is submitting in consideration and confirmation to the Department of Defense Gubernatorial nominee Stephen Logan for a term to expire on December 7th, 2026. Position was corrected by GM648. First up is Director John Alamodin.

Good afternoon, Chair Committee Members. John Alamodin., Office of Veterans Services. I stand and Testimony support.

Okay, testimony support. Thank you. Deputy Director William Kutzman, in support. Thank you, Administrator James Burrows, in support. Comptroller Keith  Regan.

Chair Members of the Committee. Keith Regan, Comptroller for the State of Hawaii Department of Accounting and General Services. Stand on my written testimony and support. I did also want to just add a couple of things to my testimony, and that is that Stephen Logan. General Logan is truly a dedicated public servant.

I've had the opportunity and the honor to work with him for the past few years now. And I found him to be extremely responsive, responsible and reliable. He is truly someone that cares deeply about his community and those under his command.

And for those reasons, and including my written testimony, I ask for your support of his advice and consent.

Thank you, Mr. Regan. Don Chang, Chair of LENR, Okay, in support. Thank you, Dr. Kenneth Fink.

Aloha, Kenneth Fink with the Department of Health. I strongly support the confirmation of the Major General. We recently worked very closely to arrange for the transfer of the six critical patients from the tragic fireworks incident. And he was clear, concise, decisive, and a tremendous help in ensuring that mission got executed.

As a fairly recent retiree from the Hawaii Air National Guard, I have experience and strongly support him as a leader of the Hawaii National Guard, believing and having confidence he will do an outstanding job. Mahalo.

Thank you, Director Fink. Louis Salivero, Budget and finance in support. Tommy Johnson, DCR. Good afternoon, Director. Congratulations to your eagles.

Thank you. We'll be back next year. I just wanted to add a couple words to my testimony and strong support. Previous to this current role. General Logan served as the Deputy Adjutant General under General Harrod during the pandemic.

And I can tell you that, that leadership team helped save the state and save hundreds, if not thousands of lives. We had the lowest mortality rate in the entire country because of their leadership, because they acted decisively to get us the equipment we needed, the PPE, and we went through tons of PPE.

And because of the policy procedures and the operational veracity of General Logan, I believe the state came out of the pandemic much better than it could have been. It could have been much, much worse. So thank you.

Thank you, Director. Director Ryan Yamanye from Department of Human Services on zoom.

Not available online. Chair.

Okay, thank you. Attorney General Ann Lopez. Okay. Director Yamani and Attorney General Lopez all in support. I do see Will Kane from Office of the Governor. Do you want to share a few remarks.

Well, Chair, Vice Chair, Will Kane, senior advisor for Governor.

I just want to reiterate what the folks have already come up and said, and from my own personal experience, I wasn't here during the COVID time as far as working in the Administration, but my time working since General Logan has become the acting Adjutant General has just been tremendous.

And the things that he's been trying to implement and kind of refine has made real impacts already in just a short amount of time. So, you know, we hope that you consider his appointment. And we appreciate the consideration. Thank you, Mr. Kane.

Brigadier General Mallory.

Good afternoon, Chair, Committee Members. Brigadier General Mallory. In strong support.

Okay. In support, thank you. Deputy Director Mike Lambert, in support. Sharon Hurd, Chairperson of the Department of Agriculture, in support. Director Tokioka.

Good afternoon. Chair and Vice Chair and Members of the Committee. It's already been said what I was going to say, but if I don't come up and say it, then General Logan is going to think I was more fond of General Hara. And he has big shoes to fill.

He has big shoes to fill, and I know he has bigger shoes. So it's very, very strong support and I appreciate the opportunity to stand in support of a good friend. Thank you.

Thank you, Director. We have Executive Director Hakim Ouansafi, Hawaiʻi Public Housing Authority; Brennan Hashimoto-De Heerd, in support; Nadine Ando, Director of DCCA, in support; Director Gary Suganuma, Department of Taxation, in support; we also have Brigadier General Walter  Ross in support; Gary Kappa Kong, in support; Mayor Bissen in support.

Prosecuting Attorney Alm, in support. Chief Arthur Logan from the Honolulu Police Department, in support. William Anonsen from The Maritime Group, in support. Jason Chung, Vice President of the Hawaii Military Affairs Council, in support. Gary Yabuta, Executive Director for the Hawaii High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, in support. And we had 50 other individuals in support.

That completes our list of registered testifiers. Anyone else that wishes to testify on GM644. Okay. If not the nominee. Major General Logan. Aloha and welcome and congratulations on your nomination. Aloha. Sure. Thank you very much.

Chair Elefante and Members of the Senate Committee on Public Safety. Aloha and good afternoon. I'd like to thank you all for considering my nomination for the position of Adjutant General of the State of Hawaii Department of Defense. Our mission is always ready.

The State of Hawaii Department of Defense enables a safe, secure and thriving nation and state. We accomplish this through a network of partnerships to anticipate needs and rapidly respond when necessary.

As an example, this morning I attended the Pacific Executive Leadership Program or PELP State of Hawaii Homeland Defense Workshop and provided initial guidance to the federal, military, state, county and private sector critical infrastructure stakeholders to work collaboratively and inform our Hawaii Homeland Defense plan.

I'm both honored and humbled to be considered and would like to articulate some of my military and civilian experience that I feel prepare me for the role of Adjutant General and then answer any questions you may have. I'll paraphrase that I have been in the military for over 44 years.

The last five years as the Deputy Adjutant General, 15 months of that as the Acting Adjutant General through the COVID period. And I completed 22 years in the Honolulu Police Department and retired as a Metropolitan Police Lieutenant. I think that provides me some background basis and some experience in order to effectively work in this program.

So I thank you all again and please, I can answer any questions that you might have.

Thank you. Members, questions for the nominee. I just have one question for you, General Logan. I know in the Governor's Budget this year the office of the Fire Marshal will be under the Department of Defense. How do you see that office playing a role in terms of its relationship with, you know, the admin.

Your role as well as the community, first responders and county as we develop to basically build up the office of the Fire Marshal.

Yeah, thank you, Senator. Thanks for that question. So one of my corner points or my foundations is what we call Unity of effort.

I talked about it earlier this morning and what I'd like to be able to do is it would be an attachment agency currently within the legislation that's going through to the Department of Defense, much like the Office of Veterans Services is.

In that way, the Department of Defense would be able to handle the administrative and fiscal aspects to include the contracting aspects of operationalizing the office as quickly as we can so we can capitalize on the lessons learned from the study that was recently done.

And in order to do that, it would still be the position would be selected by the State Fire Council and the State Fire Council would be able to then work closely with the fire marshal in preparation.

I've met with almost all of the county fire chiefs with the exception of Kauai because I haven't been able to get to that island yet.

And I've kind of laid it out, this unity of effort process by which they would have a big say on being able to look at what they've all the experience that they have, 20 plus years of fighting fires at the county level, what the greatest deeds are and applying that towards the top 10 priorities for the report that was then provided.

I can be a conduit to be able to get to the governor's office so that we can establish the priority within the Executive branch.

And then having them work closely with me and the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency enables them to get after some of the homeland protection or homeland or mitigation grant processes so we can be more upfront and apply through FEMA or other areas to try to get the federal funding in here to try to apply some of those fixes.

So I believe that if that legislation is subsequently approved during this session, we could more quickly operationalize the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

Thank you. Members, any other questions for Major General Logan? Okay, if not, thank you.

Thank you.

Next up on our agenda is GM 621. This is submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Correctional Industries Advisory Committee, gubernatorial nominally Leash Onsato, for a term to expire on June 30th 2028. First is Director Johnson.

Good afternoon, Chair Elefante, Vice Chair Wakai, and Members of the Committee. My name is Shanti Asuda. I'm the Administrator of Hawaii Correctional Industries.

We stand on our written testimony in support, but would like to add how grateful we are for these members willing to serve on our CIA Advisory Committee because they do not receive compensation for their service.

And it's going to be—they're going to be playing a critical role in advising DCR the feasibility of joint ventures with private sector businesses to employ incarcerated individuals. Thank you.

Okay, thank you. That's our only registered testifier for this item. Is there anyone else that wishes to testify on GM 621? Okay. If not, it's my understanding that the nominee is currently not on Zoom. So, Members, what I like to do is when the nominee does come back, we will bring him on, so.

If we can, if there's no objections, I'll defer, I'll defer this to the end of the calendar of this agenda. We'll move on to our next Item, which is GM 623. This is submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Correctional Industries Advisory Committee gubernatorial nominee, Carla Kobashigawa, for a term to expire on June 30, 2028.

First up is Director Johnson—or Shanti. Hello, welcome back.

Again, we just would like to express our gratitude for Carla being willing to serve on our board. Our board hasn't been active for many years, so we are really excited to get this started and especially to start partnering with private sector businesses to have them employed prior to reentering society. Thank you.

Thank you. We have the following individuals, all in support of GM 623, is Josan Jenks, Bronson K. Silva, Nicole Anderson, Arma Oana, Christopher Lumley, and Kamana Seymour, all in support. Anyone else wishes to testify in GM 623? If not, is the nominee here? There she is. Aloha, welcome.

Hi.

Please forgive me. I'm very nervous. But I am truly humbled for this opportunity.

If you can just identify yourself for the record.

My name is Carla Kobashigawa, and I am a nominee for Hawaii Correctional Advisory—Hawaii Industries Advisory Committee. I did have an opportunity to submit answers for a questionnaire, but I am open to any additional questions regarding this nomination.

Okay, Members, questions for the nominee? The Chair has one question. Would this be your first time serving on this or is this a reappointment?

This is my first time.

And what do you hope to accomplish with being on this?

I do have lofty goals. I will say that. I am also on a city board. I'm on a board for my son's school, a board for a Native Hawaiian Benevolent Society.

And I think one of the overarching themes is how the criminal justice system integrates with our life and the perception of what that is and who the individuals that are affected. When I think of my goal for this specific Committee, I'd like to see outcomes through public private partnerships.

I do operate a training center in Iaea that does vocational rehabilitation, and I'd like those opportunities to become more pronounced or more known to offenders, especially as they reintegrate into society.

Thank you, Members. Any other questions? If not, thank you so much. Thank you. Our next item on Our agenda is GM 568. This is submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Advisory Board of Veterans Services gubernatorial nominee Aris Banaag for term to expire on June 30, 2028.

On our list of testifiers, we have Chelsea Fernandez from Maui County Veterans Council in support, Sharon Banaag in support. And that's all the list of testifiers for GM 568. Anyone else in the- oh, yep. Comptroller Regan. Anyone else after Comptroller Regan?

Hello. Welcome.

Chair, vice chair, members of the committee, Keith Regan, Comptroller for the Department of Accounting and General Services. I'd like to offer testimony, personal testimony on this nomination. I have had the distinct pleasure of knowing Mr. Banaag for more than 10 plus years from my time on Maui.

I've known him as a very community minded individual, someone who is very committed to his family. He has truly what I would define as a servant's heart. He cares about the people that he serves and the people that he interacts with. He's selfless, he's humble, he's a great listener.

Every time that I've had that chance and opportunity to interact with him or watch him engage the community, I pick up on that. I can see that he truly cares about the people that he's serving. He's empathetic and he's also very caring.

So for those reasons, I would humbly ask for your support of Aris'- Aris Banaag's nomination for this position. Thank you very much.

Thank you so much, Mr. Regan. Anyone else on GM 568, if not Major Banaag, welcome.

Good afternoon, chair, vice chair, committee. Thank you so much for allowing me to be here today.

Yes, please proceed if you can identify yourself and share why you want to serve.

Yes, sir. My name is Major Aris Banaag. I'm currently serving as a Director of operations for 292nd Combat Communications Squadron here on Maui, Hawaii.

The reasons why I want to serve is that I've been serving for over 30 plus years. I have a strong affinity for working with veterans itself. Prior to being in this position, I worked at University of Hawaii Maui College as a mental health therapist and also the Veterans Resource Coordinator.

I created the first Veterans Service Center for Maui College and I had that running for years, servicing veterans that were going into the post secondary education, working with them directly, counseling them, helping them navigate through that process.

So along with that I've been, I also sit now on the board the Maui County Veterans Council as their current Vice President there. So I keep, I- My goal is to continue to be that- that- that middle point where we can continue to support our veterans. I'll be out of the military soon, sooner, sooner or later.

And I would love to see our service continue to improve across the board for all our veterans.

Okay, thank you members. Questions for Major Banaag? Yes, Vice Chair Wakai.

Thank you. Mr. Banaag, thank you for stepping forward to help veterans. But so much has changed, particularly on the federal level. Trump just announced his plans to cut 80,000 employees from the VA. Considering all that's going on in D.C. how do you see that changing the importance and the role of Hawaii's advisory board for Veterans Affairs Veterans Services?

I think we play a very critical and crucial role now that they're doing what they can to streamline costs and efficiency and whatnot. So our role now becomes that much more larger and scale.

We need to be the one to step forward and make drastic and address the things that maybe they're trying to stop or they're trying to curtail. We need to be able to step up and be that voice for our veterans now more so than ever. We're not on their payroll.

So we're here to speak strictly for our veterans in the community. So we are- we need to be able to speak up very loudly and clearly on behalf of veterans. So we definitely play a very strong critical role, knowing now that there's going to be setbacks or cutbacks in the administration as far as the federal level.

Okay, so you're not going to be following suit and similarly advocating for a reduction in veterans employees as well as benefits. Correct. You're going. You have a very opposite mindset than the feds do at the moment. Correct.

Speaking from a veteran standpoint, I will not be here as a federal employee. As myself, I'll be looking to advocate for what's in the best interest of our veterans.

Thank you, members. Any other questions for Major Banaag? The chair has one question is, you know, oftentimes I see this happen and I know that you're in this field is when service men and women are at the verge of retirement. It's kind of post military. Some of them know and have a plan and many don't.

So how do you see your role for those that sort of don't have maybe an option as to what they're going to do for post military civilian life?

That's something that I've done quite often working at the university and also currently in my position now, I speak with our current soldiers and airmen regarding not their career span in the military and being very clear when it gets closer to the time where they're deciding to end their services to be able to be understanding of the next processes and steps, whether it's beginning for your disability benefits or your retirement and putting away money for retirement.

Those are things that are very critical in my processes for myself that I've been pushing off now to my fellow soldiers and airmen for a long time now.

So that's something that I've been constantly been addressing with them and with my veterans that were in the college, those that are already out, some of them didn't apply those principles or topics or issues. So I'm trying to help.

I help them throughout that process with getting their disability benefits and reconnecting them with VA services that they were disconnected from for quite a while.

So, yes, that's a very important, critical role that I think it plays as far as what I have done and I will continue to do moving forward with all my airmen or soldiers that I come across with.

Okay, thank you, Major. Members, any other questions for Major Banaag? Okay. If not, thank you so much.

Thank you, sir.

Members, we do have Lee Shinsato that is available on Zoom.

I know I mentioned earlier we're going to defer him to the end of the calendar, but I'd like to take them up now and go out of order, if that's okay with you. So seeing no objections, Chef Lee, welcome. And if you want to just share why you want to serve and a little bit about yourself.

Basically, I've been kind of involved in the population throughout my work career. Previous to my position right now at KCC, I was at Windward Community College and I was teaching at risk youth and so forth. So my- my spiel is I've always wanted to help.

You know, I don't want to say underprivileged, but, you know, I wanted to help people who really need the help. You know, my theory has always been the good people will always succeed. I like the population that I teach now. I believe that we can do a lot for them.

And based on my experience in the private sector and teaching at KCC and at Windward Community College and also at Honolulu Community College, I feel like I can bring in some ideas, maybe from the. From a different point of view, so to speak. So I've been doing that for probably about 20 years or so.

And if you can just identify yourself for the record, please.

I'm sorry. Lee Shinsato, chef instructor at Kapiolani Community College.

Okay, thank you.

Members, any questions for Mr. Shinsato? Vice Chair Wakai.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Shinsato, for being willing to step forward. I'm looking at the responses to your questionnaire, and when asked what you would bring to this body, you say, quote, thinking outside of the box with new ideas will bring excitement and attention to the current CI programs.

But I look through the rest of your questionnaire and you have not cited any of those ideas. Can you share with the committee, what are some of your out of the box ideas that you'd like to bring to enhance the opportunities with the CI program.

I guess I was on the previous advisory board. This is probably maybe about 56 years ago or so. And you know, they had a lot of ideas, but I think, you know, we just, I don't know what exactly happened, but you know, the majority of them just never came to fruition.

My ideas are basically, you know, thinking out of the box on one hand, but on the other hand, just thinking through common sense. You know, being from a culinary world, everything we do, you know, has to be like in a certain order and has to make sense.

I believe there's some things, you know, simple things, because I work closely with the prisoners also or inmates. You know, we can do things, I guess maybe not necessarily as a money making scheme, so to speak, but you know, something that could bring in some kind of a income and rewards to the inmates at the same time.

There's- There's projects that I've done. What I mean by thinking out of the box is like, like simple crafts. I mean, I know previously they used to have a HCI office at, near the Dole cannery where they build office equipment or something like that, or clocks and things like that.

I believe they're doing from the big island, simple things. Because I'm in a food industry. You know, we could, we could do like lunch wagons at the sites with the Women's Community, Women's Correctional Center.

They have a, they have a great place where we could do both things where we could bring, you know, inmates from the inside, have them, you know, run a business, run a lunch wagon.

And of course, I don't know exactly what the rules and regulations are, but I know for us at KCC, you know, we're not supposed to compete directly with the private industry. So we're not necessarily trying to take away from them.

But on the same token, you know, we can give these inmates real life skills and how things are really actually done. I don't know if any of you have restaurant experience, but there's things that you're taught in school and there's things that, how you actually do things, you know, so lunch wagons were one, charity benefits.

I think, you know, we could do a lot because a lot of these inmates, they're really hungry to give back. You know, they know that they've done wrong and they really want to give back to the, to society. And you know, what better way than food? I mean, you know, this is Hawaii. We all love food.

So, you know, doing, doing homeless shelters, you know, things of that sort. And that's just along the food lines. On the side note, you know, I've used, I used to do, when I was at HCC teaching there, you know, I got involved with the carpenters.

So my thought even, and this is kind of like really thinking outside the box, but you know, we could actually start making ukuleles because I make ukuleles on the side. And these are fabulous things where, you know, some of the colleges would be able to help the prison systems.

And I talked to some of the carpentry instructors at HCC and they said yeah, they'd be willing to come into the, the prisons and to help help develop a program, something like that. So just- just things, you know, just things to throw out that maybe we can attach it somehow to something else.

Okay, thank you, Mr. Shinsato. I mean, when you're going to be put onto the board, it's. I would hope that you would come up with clear ideas as to what you're going to do to help create workforce ready skills for these individuals.

And I think you need to think through some of your ideas a little bit more and should have been prepared to present some of those ideas with us because it seems like you're just kind of off the cuff thinking as I posed the question to you. But I mean, this is not on the job training.

You should come in here to offer something to the group rather than just wait for someone to tell you what the next steps are. But I appreciate the fact that you're willing to step forward. Thank you.

Well, yeah, I, to be honest, I had no idea what this meeting was for. I didn't even really know it was a meeting. I thought it was like an introductory thing.

But you know, like I said the last time we had the advisory board or CI, I don't know the grand scope of it, we didn't really do a whole lot, but it seems that we created some businesses before we had the customer, you know, so. So things just didn't kind of pan out.

So I, I'm not even sure what this board really wants to do and what their goals are. So I can't really, you know.

Thank you.

Members, any other questions

Chair?

Yep.

I just have a comment.

You know, thank you very much for your transparency, Mr. Shinsato. And we kind of heard a little bit of a similar hesitation in the last confirmation hearing with a different candidate.

So I just have really strong reservations about the makeup of this advisory board and if there is actually clear instruction on how these candidates will be serving, what is the expectation? What is the. I don't know what is the expectation?

So, yeah, it doesn't sound like there is a very strong desire to serve on this advisory board or even to know what this advisory board is about. So I just. It's just a general comment. Nothing to you, Mr. Shinsato. I'm just wondering if the candidates that are selected are very passionate about this position.

And so I just wanted to make that comment, but thank you, chair.

Thank you. Any other questions for Chef Lee? Chef, I have one. One question for you is. So you did mention that you were previously on Hawaii Correctional Industries before, Is that correct?

Yes, yes.

And so how would you build relationships with the current administration in terms of sort of looking at plans to develop sort of a workforce for inmates who would be, you know, futurely those that will be released and, you know, really having them integrate?

Like, how do you see yourself in that role to the relationship with the Administration at the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation?

When you say administration, who exactly are you talking about? You're talking about the warden or up to.

Yes, yeah, yeah. And the wardens or whatever facilities you would be working at. Sorry, if I wasn't clear.

How would I develop relationships?

You're saying? Yeah. Do you have those relationships now? And if you have, how would you build upon that?

Right now I have working relationships. Where? With I don't know anybody at O triple C, but over at Way Alba.

You know, with Warden Ornellis and the staff there.

Yeah, with Sean. Huh. And also at the. At women's. So with women's, I've been there for, like, about 12 years or so. And of course, they changed wardens, you know, maybe like three times in that span. But I won't say I have a close relationship.

Relationship with them, but close enough where I could walk in and we could sit down and be frank about our conversations of what- what their direction is. Because each. Every warden has a different direction. You know, their goal is supposed to be the same, you know, the inmate and their welfare of their facility.

But yeah, they all operate differently and they think differently. But, yeah, for those two, I have a close relationship. And for the others, I mean, I've also been, you know, in the sales and account manager side. So being able to. To just pound the pavement and get in there, I mean, I have no.

I have no qualms with that. My only concern with the advisory board or CI is like, pretty much what I said earlier. It's like, what do you want? You know, we cannot be sent out there and says, okay, this is the board. Make it work. What do you want. What do you mean by make it work?

You know, that's, that's where I think with the fallback with the other advisory board possibly was, where, you know, if you don't, if you don't know where you're going, you don't know where you're going to end up.

Okay, thank you. Members, any other questions? If not, if you don't mind, I'd like to ask Director Johnson, if you don't mind, if you can kind of share to the committee and the public specifically what the Hawaii Correctional Industries does do and have they been meeting and sort of what is their role?

Well, the Hawaii Correction Industries is a division within our department. The advisory board we just reconstituted recently to get the advisory board going again.

The previous administrator for the ATI kind of dragged his feet on getting the advisory board up and going and did not have any real business plans on how to provide meaningful work skills to inmates. So I did not renew that person's contract. We brought the new administrator here on board. We started constituting the commission again.

And I apologize because the applicants should have been better prepared for this. So I'll have to take the hit for that. But their main role is to look at the business plans provided by HCI to make sure they're viable based on their experience in the private sector, to make sure that the investment on the money.

When are we going to get the investment back? If it's a viable investment, we. When do we get our return on investment back and is it sustainable and at the same time, does it provide a marketable skill to that inmate when he or she transitions out so they can transition into the workforce?

That is the primary role of the advisory board.

Members, questions? Yep. Senator Wakai, followed by Senator DeCorte.

So, Director Johnson, I respect the fact that you didn't vet these candidates very well, but for them to not really understand, like what their role is, that's your responsibility, to tell them what the expectations are?

That is correct. They've had one initial meeting where I provided some brief comments on some things. Once we had them seated, we were going to have a quarterly meetings with them to discuss ATI, the direction, what I see as the vision for ATI and what our expectations of those board members are.

So if you know that they are not fluent in what the expectations are, how can you have submitted testimony supporting their nominations?

I supported the nominations based on their experience. And to be perfectly frank, I thought that ATI had been in touch with the candidates before this to really go down and talk to them about the nuts and bolts. Again, I take the hit for that because I should have made sure that those things were done.

So I apologize to the committee and I apologize to the, to the- to the potential board members, because it's not their fault.

Senator DeCorte.

Thank you. Director, I really have to echo the vice chair's comments because, I mean, there is maybe a lack of knowledge, but then there's a lack of passion. And I see that on both ends. I see that they really haven't had any direction. But also, I really don't think that they care if they

are serving on this board or not. And I want to be cautious about when we are coming before the senate to make sure that not only are they prepared, but they actually display a level of interest. And I think that that's lacking. We saw that in a candidate that we heard at the last hearing.

We're seeing it here similarly. And so what I don't want to have happen is perpetuate a culture of just filling seats just for the sake of filling seats, because if they're not passionate or have interest in serving on the board, then they're not going to make it to the board.

Then we're not going to have quorum, and we're going to fall into the same complacency that we have had on previous boards with previous committees. So I- I- I- I'm- I'm frustrated that we're at this place and this is being exposed in front of the senate.

I feel like this could have been caught earlier and we could have been better prepared when we do come in front of the senate to be able to have respectable candidates that are passionate and they want to.

They might not know exactly what the vision is or what to expect, but there's kind of a sound of interest that we can hear from candidates that we can tell whether they want to be here or not.

And so, please, if you wouldn't mind, just with respect to the time of the committee and also the governor's nomination, too, if you can just please do a better job in vetting these candidates, but also just really seeking out the best, because I do believe in the intent of the advisory board, and we do need it.

And I do believe that there are qualified candidates out there that are not only interested, but are passionate. So I'm hoping that you can find those individuals, bring them in front of the senate, have them be prepared with plans in place.

So this way they are, you know, not put on the hot seat and not even knowing what they're walking into. So if you wouldn't mind taking those comments and coming back better prepared.

Well, and I appreciate the committee's time and honesty and I apologize if you believe you wasted your time. But I also do believe that in the case of the current applicant here via Zoom, he's volunteered with the department for over 12 years.

He's put a lot of people through the culinary arts program who are now via who are now in the- in the private sector working as chefs and working in restaurants. And so again, I apologize for him not being prepared for this, but I do think he has the wherewithal to be a contributing member to the board, to the commission.

And I would ask for you to advise and consent and I'd ask you to believe in my leadership for this particular candidate. Thank you very much.

Members, any other questions for Director Johnson or Chef Lee? If not chef, we appreciate your willingness to serve. Thank you very much. Thank you, Director. Next up on our agenda is GM 569.

This is submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Advisory Board of Veterans Services gubernatorial nominee Blair Suzuki for term to expire on June 302028. For GM 569, we have Tuli Tafa - did I say that correctly? - in support. That's the only registered testifier on GM 569.

Anyone else that wishes to testify in GM 569? If not, is the nominee with us? Yes. Aloha and welcome. If you can identify yourself and share why you want to serve.

Yeah. Thank you. Aloha Chair. Aloha Senators, Appreciate your time this afternoon. My name is Blair Suzuki. I am a current active serving member on the State Advisory Board of Veterans Services. I currently serve as the Vice Chair as well as the Chair of the board's Legislative Committee.

So I served my first term, I guess if this one expires in 2028 I expired in 2024 and have been, I've been on since 2020, since the COVID kind of time period. And this would be my second term. Prior to that, I served in the U.S. Navy as a surface warfare officer for seven years...

...and have been back in the public sector since 2015 and just have always been a strong veterans advocate within the veteran community and look to continue the good work that the Office of Veterans Services has been doing and that I've witnessed on my time with the board.

To kind of piggyback on what Senator Wakai was alluding to in a previous colleague for the board. I think this is going to be a very, you know, uncertain time with what we're seeing with, with veteran services and what that's going to look like.

And, and I think it's very important that the State Advisory Board is, is understanding of what the state's priorities are, where the state can step up and fill any sort of gap.

Because the, yeah, it's going to be, it's going to be kind of tough times and the biggest thing we want to ensure is that it doesn't affect our veterans and especially those veterans that are in, you know, the margins and the most vulnerable in our society. Those struggling with workforce housing, those, those struggling with, you know, job placement, those struggling with PTSD.

You know, where can the state step up and provide those wraparound services or how do we as the advisory board get, make sure that those services are clear to veterans to make sure there's no big lapse in services and support to our veteran community?

I'll stop there. And I submitted my questionnaire. If anyone has any questions, I'm happy to answer them. Thank you.

Thank you Mr. Suzuki. Members, questions? The only question that I have is similar question I asked Major Banaag is for those that are going from a post military life to civilian life, what do you see your role in helping veterans in that capacity?

Thank you Senator. You know that's one of the areas in veterans advocacy that I'm most passionate about. I myself had to do the transition. Even though it's been over 10 years now, I had to navigate that transition in Hawaii.

And I'll be honest, Hawaii is pretty far behind where I think other communities that have large populations of military personnel serving are. And so I know in my, in my personal capacity as a private business leader, I'm a key advocate of veteran, veteran hiring programs, skillbridge programs.

It's one of the things I continue to advocate for and look for ways that you know, the state and these various veterans organization can, can help provide and even help facilitate those kind of connections and introductions because that is one of the areas where a veteran is most at risk, like I said, into falling into one of those marginalized categories of post integration stress and PTSD, not being able to find affordable housing, not being able to navigate the benefits system to provide services.

So I think, you know, at an ad hoc level the board does a very good job keeping their ear to the ground across the various different community organizations and finding some of those people and bringing their stories to the front line and helping them navigate the system.

But I think we could do better as a state in really formalizing ways that state organizations or even how state organizations or state companies can directly interact with U.S. labor vets, Office of Veteran Services, VA Benefits Pacific and all those organizations.

Thank you, Mr. Suzuki. Members, any other questions for Mr. Suzuki? If not, thank you so much.

All right, thank you.

Okay, our next item on our agenda is GM 570. This is submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Advisory Board of Veterans Services gubernatorial nominee, Mary Kay Hertog, for term to expire on June 30th, 2028. We only had one individual in support, Stephanie Sakamoto. Anyone else that wishes to testify for GM 570? Okay. If not, Major General Hertog.

Aloha and welcome.

Aloha. Good afternoon, everyone, Senator. I'm Mary Kay Hertog from the island of Kauai. I retired from the Air force after almost 34 years and moved here to Kauai, which I've never regretted. I am currently serving as a Member on the Governor's Board for Advisory Services for Veterans, and this would be my second term.

I see my responsibility is to get out as much information as I can to our veterans here in Kauai of what they're entitled to. And not just the veteran, but their family members too. We have many veterans and I'm amazed at this.

Our older veterans that don't know what they are entitled to after so many years of being in the service, or in some cases, some of these are our Vietnam veterans who are slowly passing away and they have no idea what they have earned as benefits. Since 2022, when President Biden signed the PACT Act into law, we now have a million plus more veterans that are eligible.

So, I think it's very important that we get our current veterans out, they're older ones, to understand what they have entitled, what they've been entitled to.

And I'm a big advocate for women veterans, having come up in a male dominated career field in the Air Force, Military, Police, or Security Forces as we call it, because women veterans are the fastest growing segment of veteran population and it's only been in the last couple years that their special issues have been addressed by the VA and we need to continue to do that.

I consider myself very lucky to live here because we have Senator Kouchi who's from Kauai, as well as Speaker Nakamura. We have access to them. I've been here long enough, almost 13 years retired, that I'm comfortable in front of the county council as well as the mayor and espousing what our veterans need.

And they come to me and ask, what can we do for you? Any questions?

Okay. Thank you so much. Major General Hertog. Members, questions? The only question that I have is I know you're very actively involved and so are you able to continue to commit the time to serving on this board?

I am. I think it's really important. Not only am I a veteran, my husband's a veteran, and I think our veterans on our outer islands have some special problems, in terms of gaining access to timely health care.

We don't have the specialists over here that we do over on Oahu and many of our veterans are very fragile, in terms of being able to get there to Oahu for an appointment.

So, I really want to be the advocate for bringing some of that specialty care here, advocating for legislation that's pending, and just making life better for veterans in general.

And then, the last question I have for you is a similar question I've asked the previous two nominees in terms of the transition to a post military life, to civilian life. Where do you see, you've been on this board, what has the board been doing and where do you see your role playing in that part?

Well, I think our board needs to take a more active role in doing that, in seeking out those organizations where we know veterans are going to be transitioning to civilian life and getting them educated on it.

Because quite frankly, when somebody's retiring from the military or getting out after four to six years, they want to go if they've got other plans and they're not interested in sitting down to a transition program, retirement briefing, or whatever the case may be. And I think we have to do that.

We have to stress for them if you miss this opportunity, especially to sign up for your benefits at that point in time, it's all the more difficult. When you are then finally out of the military, may not have access to the folks that you would have immediately had access to.

Thank you. Members, any other questions for Major General hertog? Vice Chair Wakai.

General Hertog, I love your exuberance. You can feel it over the, the screen. And I was reading your responses and kudos to you about what you did on Kauai for the disabled veterans for their property tax exemption. Is that something you're going to be pursuing for other veterans on the other islands?

Absolutely. You know, I have to give credit to the Chair of our County Council. He is an Air Force veteran and he and a couple other Council Members asked me to come in when they came up with this idea and present testimony at the County Council, which I was happy to do so.

And then, he asked me to come back in and say, what else can we do for our veterans? And he and I sat down for over an hour, and we sent—he drafted basically a resolution and set it up to Senator Kouchi. And that was just last week.

So, yeah, we'd like to see a lot more benefits coming the way of our veterans, especially our disabled veterans that are quite elderly. And we will continue to do that. And if our board now is looking at that as well, we are all in lockstep and trying to get this legislation passed.

So, you know, we'll be coming to many of you to get your, your advocacy to support all of this.

Thank you. Thank you for your past service and your future service.

Any more questions, Members? Okay. If not, thank you so much, Major General.

You're welcome.

Thank you.

Our next item on agenda is GM 619. This is submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Hawaii Paroling Authority gubernatorial nominee, Jennifer Merkhold, for term to expire on June 30, 2028. First up on our list, Director Johnson, followed by, in support, Interim Chair for the Hawaii Par rolling Authority, Mr. DeMello. Okay. In support, thank you. Corey Renke. Okay.

In support from the Administrator for the Hawaii Paroling Authority. We also have Alan Urasaki in support. Alfonso Valdez in support. Thomas Brady, in support, from the Prosecuting Attorney's Office. Fred Huon. Let's see, him here. Estella Dare and Linda Rich, all in support. Is there anyone else that wishes to testify on GM 619? Okay. If not, the nominee.

Aloha and welcome and thank you so much for being with us today.

Thank you for having me.

Yes, please proceed.

My name is Jennifer Merkle, and I'm here today because I applied for the position of the Hawaii Paroling Authority after it was brought to my attention by a dear friend who I've worked with for many years.

Prior to that, it really wasn't on my radar, but when I read the position description and I looked into what the Hawaii Polling Authority's objectives were, both in the description of the duties that you'd be responsible for and also reading the enacting statutes, I thought, wow, my whole career, 30 years, has prepared me for this.

As an undergraduate student, I actually did research in the Florida prison industry system. I then went to law school and obtained a position with Federal Prison Industries. And I worked there 30 hours a week every year until I graduated from law school.

I was accepted into the honors program and was sent directly to the US Penitentiary in Atlanta, Georgia, where I started my federal law enforcement career. And I worked with them for over 25 years I was a prosecutor.

Prior to that I have now since I retired several years ago, I've engaged as a consultant as well as assisted defendants in representation and sentencing as well as in terms of advocacy against the prisons. I also was partner in a business that I'm now shutting down. I have two other partners, but it's gotten complex.

But for three years we have gone in and we've evaluated correctional industries, correctional programs, offered ideas for money saving and program enhancement. So I am also a Professor. I have taught for over 20 years at various institutions. The last three I have been full time with Hawaii Pacific University.

And in that capacity I think I have also demonstrated my commitment to criminal justice. I've done some programs. I don't know if Senator Rhodes knows, but I did a program every, about every two years we're able to do the public side of it. It takes about two years to ramp up.

But we did a fairly large seven roundtable event with the city and county as well as state authorities and representatives, including Tom Brady on crime in the Chinatown downtown neighborhood.

And it ended up being a symposium really on mental health and homelessness and how to address the underlying problems that then contribute to crime and the experiences of the public. And as a part of that we ended up working with the city and county on the mobile needle distribution.

Actually being a little more mobile because it had actually kind of become stationary and it was a burdening certain aspect of the community. There were other benefits too. We were able to heal and repair some relationships.

And so just from my perspective, I would say to you that when I applied for this it was because of all those things. It was because of that commitment. Having now done it for eight months, actually I believe that my calling still exists, but for very different reasons.

Reasons and to go to Senator Delcote's concerns, that inspired me to write a nine page single space letter to my chair and my fellow board Members expressing recommendations and concerns that I have and pathways forward in the chance that you don't confirm me here today. So I am passionate about this work. I'm well versed.

I've seen all sides of it. I understand and as a law enforcement officer I'm very much aware of the need for public safety. But I think the evidence bears out.

The public is most safe when we provide meaningful connections as early as possible, whether it's at youthful offenders or at the level of parole, that enable and support these individuals to make appropriate decisions and when they don't prevent them from spiraling out and guide them in making decisions that will lead them to live less criminal lives if not non criminal lives.

And so for those reasons I am here today. Sorry if I went on too long.

Thank you so much, Ms. Merkle. Members, questions for Ms. Merkle.

No questions. Yep. Thank you.

Okay, last item on our agenda is GM 694, which is submitting for consideration and confirmation as the Compact Administrator of the State Council for Interstate Adult Offender Supervision gubernatorial nominee Saifoloi Aganon for a term to expire on June 30, 2029.

For the list of registered testifiers, a Deputy Chief Court Administrator Dwight Sakai.

Good afternoon, Chair Elefante. Vice Members of the Committee...[INAUDIBLE]...strongly stands on its written testimony in support of Mr. Aganon.

Okay, thank you so much. Stacey Luke, Interim Commissioner for the Hawaii Interstate Compact Office.

Good afternoon, Chair. Vice Chair. Representatives. I stand in strong support of Saifoloi Aganon for Compact Administrator. I do want to propose an amendment to the term...

Okay, thank you. Okay. In support with a comment. Thank you. And then we also have William Kahakule Lehua in support and 11 other individuals in support for GM694. Is there anyone in the audience that wishes to testify on GM694. If not the nominee. Mr. Aganan, congratulations and welcome.

Senator, Chair, Vice Chair in the Committee. My name is Saifullah Adnan, newly hired probation administrator. Three days in. So I'm very humbled for the nomination for the compact administrator. I hope to serve and continue ensure community and victim safety and offender accountability.

I would like some of the goals that I have is to continue to review and revise some of the terms and the rules that applies to adult offender movement throughout the state. Due to just nomenclature language updating those types of things, I think we're moving away from the offender to client and all of those things.

So I think the rules should reflect the more client centered focus of the population that we serve. Thank you.

Okay, Members, any questions for the nominee. The only question that I have is can you kind of for the Committee of the Public, explain your role and describe about supervision of those that are unsupervised, like how does that work in our state and what does your role play for that.

Sure as the compact administrator, I will be responsible for both probation and parolees that are seeking to move across state lines.

All 50 states, including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, is a part of this compact throughout the United States to ensure the safety primarily of victims and then also the accountability and watchful movement and supervision and the procurement of services for these individuals that travel through state.

So we will get people from out of state that we supervise and ensuring that they get the services needed in order for their rehabilitation.

And also if clients are referred out to another state for any other reason, depending on if they have more support in another state or if they're from that state, then we ensure that the movement of the these individuals are closely monitored so that we don't have offenders showing up.

I mean this, this compact was formed because a woman died because an offender was in a state that that was not known. So this created this whole movement of offender accountability and prostitutes. I hope that answers your question. It does.

Okay, thank you for explaining that. Any follow up questions to that, Members. Yeah, Senator Wakai.

Sorry, forgive. I'm not really familiar with this compact. Can you just give me an idea, like what's the net number of people that go abroad to the mainland or elsewhere and how many do we get from wherever they come from.

Currently, glad you asked. I just printed out the numbers today, but it's almost even. So we have a total of 333 individuals. About approximately 148 are across in various states. And then we have about 125 right now. I'm not sure of the math that will add up to that.

But we also have probation and parolees, so two different systems. Right. So people on and then people on parole. So coming out of prison or coming out of the county jails.

And then when people are coming into Hawaii, do you find that we have the services that. That they need here and vice versa, do the other states offer the similar services that we have, are we deficient or exceeding other states in terms of services provided.

So there's caveats in different jurisdictions, they have different rules and regulations on supervision or their requirements.

So I don't know the full specifics, but what my experience has been is that sometimes we cannot fulfill some of the terms and conditions of ascending state and neither other states can fulfill some of the terms and conditions that the region has or parole has.

So we'll come up with innovative ways to address those things like adding maybe mental health services or other things like that and to supplement their rehabilitation or even substance abuse treatment.

Thanks. Any other questions, Members. Okay, if not, and I just want to say thank you so much on short notice for completing the list of questions the Committee had for you. He had less time than the other nominees to complete it. Because we just got in. We're able to put your nomination on this agenda.

So, thank you for your flexibility. Thank you. Okay, with that, members, I'm ready to roll into decision-making. Okay, first up on our agenda is GM644. This is submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Department of Defense, gubernatorial nominee Stephen Logan for term to expire on December seventh, 2026. This position was corrected by GM648.

Recommendation of the chairs to advise and consent any further discussion. If not, Senator Wakai, Chair votes aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Senator DeCorte.

Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

Senator Rhoads.

Aye.

I vote yes, Senator Fukunaga.

Thank you so much, congratulations. Okay, next up is GM621. This is submitting for consideration and confirmation. Correctional Industries Advisory Committee, gubernatorial nominee Lee Shinsato for term to expire on June 30, 2028. And members, for clarification, we did inform all the nominees of the process and explain to them.

So I do appreciate Director Johnson's comments that he did make to the committee. Chair's gonna recommend advise and consent on this nomination. Any further discussion? If not, Senator Wakai.

I vote with reservations. Senator Fukunaga.

Chair Elefante.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Senator DeCorte.

No.

Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

Senator Rhoads.

Okay, thank you. Congratulations, Chef Lee. We'll move on to GM623, which is submitting and for consideration and confirmation to the Correctional Industries Advisory Committee, gubernatorial nominee Carla Kobashigawa for a term to expire on June 30, 2028. Chair's recommendation is to advise and consent. Any further discussion? If not, Senator Wakai. Chair votes aye.

Aye.

Senator DeCourte.

I vote yes, Senator Fukunaga.

Aye.

Senator Rhoads.

Aye.

Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

Congratulations. Next up is GM568. This is submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Advisory Board on Veteran Services, gubernatorial nominee Aris Banag for term to expire on June 30, 2028. Recommendation is to advise and consent. Any discussion? If not, Senator Wakai. Chair votes aye.

I vote yes. Senator Fukunaga.

Senator Rhoads.

And congratulations to Major Vanok.

Aye.

Senator DeCorte.

Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

Aye.

Aye.

Next up is GM569. This is submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Advisory Board on Veteran Services, gubernatorial nominee Blair Suzuki for term to expire on June 30, 2028. Recommendation is to advise and consent. Any discussion? If not, Vice Chair will call for the vote. Chair votes aye.

Senator DeCorte.

Senator Rhoads.

Aye.

I vote yes. Senator Fukunaga.

Aye.

Aye.

And congratulations.

Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

Next up is GM570. This is submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Advisory Board on Veteran Services, gubernatorial nominee Mary Kay Hertog for term to expire on June 30, 2028. Chair's recommendation is to advise and consent. Any discussion? If not, Vice Chair. Chair votes aye.

Aye.

Senator Rhoads.

Aye.

And congratulations, Major General.

Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

Senator DeCorte.

Aye.

I vote yes. Senator Fukunaga.

Next up is GM619. This is submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Hawaii Paroling Authority, gubernatorial nominee Jennifer Merkle, for term to expire on June 30, 2028. Recommendation is to advise and consent. Any discussion? If not, Senator Wakai. Chair votes aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Senator DeCorte.

Aye.

Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

Senator Rhoads.

I vote yes. Senator Fukunaga.

Thank you so much, congratulations. And last on our agenda is GM694. This is submitting for consideration and confirmation as the Compact Administrator of the State Council for Interstate Adult Offender Supervision. Gubernatorial nominee Sofolo Aganan for a term to expire on June 30, 2029. Just one comment on that comment that was made.

We'll check with the governor's office in terms of the term of expiration on that and work through that. With that being said, a chair's recommendation is to advise and consent. Any further discussion? If not, Senator Wakai. Chair votes aye.

I vote yes. Senator Fukunaga.

Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

Aye.

Aye.

Senator Rhoads.

Aye.

Senator DeCorte.

Thank you so much, congratulations. This concludes our business for today. We're adjourned.