Lingle nominates 4 people
to fill vacancies on state
boards
After the Senate extended the deadline to nominate people for key state boards, Gov. Linda Lingle sent four names to the Legislature to fill vacancies on the University of Hawaii Board of Regents, the Hawaii Tourism Authority and the Hawaii Community Development Authority.
CORRECTION
Wednesday, April 28, 2003>> Andres Albano Jr., named to the University of Hawaii Board of Regents, is a director and vice president at CB Richard Ellis Hawaii. A story on Page A3 Saturday incorrectly identified the company as Coldwell Banker Richard Ellis Hawaii.
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at fbridgewater@starbulletin.com.Kumu hula Frank Kawaikapuokalani Hewitt and Gail Haraguchi, vice president of corporate development at the engineering firm GKO & Associates, were nominated to the tourism authority. Hewitt, who is also director of Hawaiian culture and events for Royal Lahaina Resort, was named to fill a term expiring June 30, 2006, said Russell Pang, a spokesman for the governor. If confirmed, Haraguchi's term will end in 2008.
Andres Albano Jr., a director and vice president at Coldwell Banker Richard Ellis Hawaii, was named to a four-year term on the Board of Regents. Albano has an engineering degree and master's in business administration from UH-Manoa.
If confirmed, Albano will replace Walter Nunokawa, whose term expires in June.
Lingle will name interim regents to fill three other terms on the board, which oversees the University of Hawaii system. The interim nominees can serve only until the end of next year's Legislature unless they are confirmed by the Senate.
Lingle also nominated Warren Wegesend Jr., general manager of the Villages of Kapolei Association, to the Hawaii Community Development Authority. Wegesend's term would expire in 2007.
All four nominees must be confirmed by the Senate. Hearings are scheduled next week in committees.
Senate President Robert Bunda extended the deadline from Wednesday until yesterday to submit names to the Senate for confirmation before the end of this session.
Bunda suggested that naming interim appointees circumvents the Legislature and "precludes us from fulfilling our constitutionally mandated duty."
Lingle complained that she was having trouble finding people to serve after the Senate rejected two regent nominees last year and chief negotiator Ted Hong for a Hilo Circuit Court judgeship this year.
