UH regent field is cut to 22 people

Lingle must now pick 12 nominees to fill out a board of 15 members

Business and community leaders, coffee and flower farmers and a rancher are among 22 people whose names have been submitted to the governor to be considered for the University of Hawaii Board of Regents.

Current regents Kitty Lagareta, Andres Albano Jr. and Michael Dahilig, whose terms are expiring, also were among the names submitted by the Regents Advisory Council for at-large seats. However, because there are only two positions, at least one of them will not be nominated by the governor.

Current Kauai regent Ramon S. de la Pena was one of two nominees for a Kauai seat.

Regents Jane Tatibouet, Marlete Hapai and Byron Bender were not on the list, and their terms will expire.

The seven-member council held meetings on each island and solicited nominations and applications. Chairman Roy Takeyama said 137 people were nominated but only 86 people completed applications.

The council could have submitted more names to the governor -- up to four per position. But, he said, the 22 selected were the top candidates.

"I'm very happy with the quality of candidates that the governor has to pick from," Takeyama said.

Other names on the list include businessman and former legislator Harvey Tajiri, AIG Hawaii President and Chief Executive Officer Robin Campaniano, former UH-Manoa associate athletic director Jim Donovan, Servco Pacific Inc. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mark Fukunaga, Travel Industry Management School Dean Emeritus Chuck Gee and retired First Hawaiian Bank Executive Vice President and former UH Foundation Chairman Howard Karr.

The governor must choose 12 nominees for the 15-member board. The nominees must be confirmed by the state Senate during the current legislative session. Three regents' terms do not expire this year.

The Regents Advisory Council was created because of a constitutional amendment passed during the 2006 election which also expanded the size of the board to 15 from 12. The seven-member commission screens and solicits candidates for the governing board of the 10-campus UH system.

Board of regents nominees

Names submitted to Gov. Linda Lingle to be on the University of Hawaii Board of Regents:
At-Large Student
» Grant Teichman
» Joshua J. Wingstrom
At Large (2 seats)
» Andres Albano Jr.
» Michael A. Dahilig
» Kitty Lagareta
» Terri Ann M.K. Motosue
» Teena M. Rasmussen
Big Island (2 seats)
» Harvey S. Tajiri (East Hawaii)
» Ronald Terry (East Hawaii)
» Carl A. Carlson Jr. (West Hawaii)
» Sandra Wood Scarr (West Hawaii)
Honolulu (5 seats)
» Robin K. Campaniano
» James J. Donovan III
» Mark Fukunaga
» Chuck Gee
» Dennis Isao Hirota
» Howard H. Karr
» Eric K. Martinson
Kauai (1 seat)
» Thomas M. Cooper
» Ramon S. de la Pena
Maui (1 seat)
» Artemio C. Baxa
» Paul L. Horikawa