Governor Linda Lingle has released the names of her newly-formed Kauai Advisory Committee. Lingle said the formation of the committee is a symbol of her commitment to give the Neighbor Islands a stronger voice in state government. The chairman of
Governor Linda Lingle has released the names of her newly-formed Kauai Advisory Committee.
Lingle said the formation of the committee is a symbol of her commitment to give the Neighbor Islands a stronger voice in state government.
The chairman of the Governor’s Kauai Advisory Committee is James Anakalea of Princeville. Anakalea is a Native Hawaiian who works for Verizon. The committee includes Westside resident Linda Fay Collins of Kikiaola Land Co.; Laura L. Cushnie of Goodfellow Brothers, Inc., who resides on the South Shore; the Rev. Villamor Galiza, pastor of the Aloha Church in Lihue; Jerry L. Ornellas, University of Hawaii Agriculture Extension Program, and East Kauai Water Users Cooperative boardmember; Barbara C. Smith from Hanalei, a retired educator, member of the Princeville Library Board, and a paddler with the Namolokama O Hanalei Canoe Club; Matt H. Takata of Title Guaranty in Lihue; Dr. Leo L. Trinidad, M.D., a retired physician; and Kelly Banks Hoen, general manager of the Princeville Hotel.
Laurie Yoshida, the governor’s Kauai Liaison, is serving on the committee as a non-voting, ex-officio member. The governor’s office staff based in the State Building in Lihue will assist the committee.
“The first responsibility of the committee is to listen to the community, and I am confident James and the other members will ensure Kauai’s concerns are heard and brought to my administration’s attention,” the governor said in a prepared statement.
Hoen said she is honored to be the visitor industry representative on the committee.
“My goal is to be the voice of the visitor industry, to ensure that what we do as an industry is part of the community as well,” Hoen said.
The advisory committee is scheduled to hold monthly public meetings to seek community input and advise Lingle on important issues, budget priorities and recommendations for state boards and commissions.
The first meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 10, 2003 in rooms 2A and 2B, in the County of Kauai’s Lihue Civic Center’s Moikeha Building.
Earlier this year, the governor invited members of the community interested in serving on the advisory committee to submit their resumes.
“I promised to establish advisory committees to give the neighbor islands a stronger voice and to help restore trust and integrity to government by opening up the process,” she said.
Lingle has strong ties to the neighbor islands as a former resident of Molokai and Maui, and a former councilmember and mayor of Maui County.
She said: “I know first-hand the challenges of having your concerns heard and addressed by decision-makers who live on another island. These committees will provide an opportunity for people to be heard and to tell government what is important to them. They are a direct link to my administration and it will help government better serve the public.”
In addition to Kauai, advisory committees are being established for Maui, East Hawaii, West Hawaii, Molokai, and Lanai.
