Senate

Education:

2003: John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University

• Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government. As the devolution of the Federal Government continues, senior officials at the state and local levels are under more pressure than ever. They are taking on increasingly complex challenges with fewer resources, under a greater degree of scrutiny.
• The Senior Executives in State and Local Government program provides training that helps officials assess the tasks they face in managing today's results-driven government agencies. In particular, the program provides an opportunity for them to:
  • Develop new conceptual frameworks for addressing policy issues
  • Explore the relationship between citizens and government
  • Examine the ethical and professional responsibilities of leadership
  • Exchange ideas with experienced faculty and participants from diverse backgrounds
  The program has been designed to challenge assumptions and broaden perspectives.

2003: Flemming Leadership Retreat I and II, Washington, DC

The Flemming Fellows Institute represents the cornerstone of the CPA's efforts to identify and nurture leaders who can move ideas to action. It is founded on CPA's belief that government must be a dynamic, active partner with the private and nonprofit sectors to achieve real progress. The program focuses on three core areas: moving ideas to action, a focus on values and promoting teambuilding and consensus.

2003: Council of State Governments Henry Toll Fellowship Program

The Henry Toll Fellowship holds the national reputation of being the most prestigious leadership development program for state government officials. CSG's mission for the Toll Fellows Program is to equip talented state policymakers with the skills and strategies to meet the leadership challenges these turbulent, dynamic times demand. Participants have two things in common; an intense desire to improve state government and their effectiveness as public servants. The Toll program brings the states' best and brightest emerging leaders to Kentucky for an intensive five-day "intellectual boot camp" to develop the next generation of leaders from the three branches of state government.

2000: Leadership Academy for Asian Pacific American Elected Officials Program

This non-partisan program, co-sponsored by the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) and the UCLS Asian American Studies Center is open to officials of all political views, and is designed to develop the skills Asian Pacific American elected officials need to advance in their careers.

1999 - 2000: Pacific Century Fellows Program

Class of 2000 - Intensive training program to develop leaders with a greater awareness and sensitivity of the people and institutions of Hawaii, and is based on the White House Fellows Program. The program encourages the development of long term relationships between leaders young and old. The program is a nine-month program beginning in September.

1996: Maui Community College

Paralegal Certification Course

1995: University of Hawai'i

Masters of Arts in Pacific Islands Studies

1989 - 1991: East-West Center

Certificate from the Institute of Culture and Communications

1987 - 1989: Hawai'i Loa College

Bachelor of Arts in Pacific Islands Studies

1988: National Chengchi University

Certificate from the Center for Public and Business Administration Education (Taiwan)

1984: The Kamehameha Schools

High School Diploma

Work Experience:

1997 - 2000: Councilmember - Maui County Council, County of Maui

Responsible for the enactment of laws for the islands of Maui, Moloka'i, Lana'i and Kaho'olawe

1995 - 1997: National Tropical Botanical Gardens

Adviser, Political and developmental affairs for gardens based in Hawai'i and Florida

1995 - 1996: Chief of Staff - Office of Hawai'i State Senator Avery B. Chumbley

Responsible for supervision of office staff (6), committee operations and all aspects of Senator's legislative initiatives.

1993 - 1996: Permanent Mission of the Federated States of Micronesia to the U.N.

Adviser, 49th and 50th U.N. General Assembly and specialized conferences

1994 - 1995: Na Po'e Hawai'i Magazine

Associate Editor

1994: Samoa News

U.N. Correspondent

1993 - 1994: Visitor Industry Training and Education Center (VITEC)

Lecturer - Workshops and Courses on Hawai'i

1991 - 1994: Lecturer - Maui Community College (Hawaiian History, Policies and Culture)

Proposed and developed course offerings. Taught in rural districts (Hana and Lana'i)

1992 - 1994: Case Manager - Hui No Ke Ola Pono (Native Hawaiian Health Center)

Responsible for administration. Hired and managed staff of 6 with a client base of 800 people, established food distribution system for Hawaiian Families in rural districts, trained staff in health field, established other health programs.

1991 - 1992: Administrative Aide - Office of Hawaiian Affairs/State of Hawai'i

Responsible for political analysis, background research, community strategies and recommendations to trustees.

Professional:

International

• 1999: Head of Delegation to Rapa Nui
  Represented the County of Maui in finalizing the sister-city relationship agreement with the Government and People of Rapa Nui. This signing of this agreement took place during the arrival of the Hokule'a at Rapa Nui in October.
• 1999: Member, International Pushkin Bicentennial Committee
  An International Commemoration of the 200th Anniversary of Alexander Pushkin, African-Russian Poet and Father of Russian Literature. June 1 - 9, 1999. Coinciding with official observances of the 200th Anniversary of Alexander Pushkin (1799 - 1837) by Russia and UNESCO, the Pushkin Bicentennial Symposium and Study Tour brings together an international array of writers, intellectuals, artists, elected officials, and interested parties to commemorate the legacy of Alexander Sergeevitch Pushkin.
• 1999: Advisor, U.S. Permanent Mission to the United Nations
  Appointed by the United States Department of State, served as an Advisor on the U.S. delegation to the Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly for the Review and Appraisal of the Implementation of the Program of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States in New York during September 1999.
• 1995: Pacific Region Educational Laboratory (PREL) Regional Conference, Republic of Palau
• 1994: U.N. Global Conference of the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Barbados
• 1994: U.N. Conference of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, New York
• 1993: International, Cross-Cultural Black Women's Conference, Caracas, Venezuela (Resource Person/Presenter)
• 1993: U.N. Commission on Human Rights, Geneva, Switzerland (48th Session)
• 1992: U.N. Conference on Environment and Development (Earth Summit), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

National

• 2000 - Present: Appointed to the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC)
• Representing Region IX, LGAC, assisting the Environmental Agency in meeting Executive Order (EO) 13132, "Federalism", which was issued by President William J. Clinton on August 4, 1999. The EO emphasizes the need for the Federal government to consult with State and local governments and to enhance its sensitivity to State and local government concerns. It also establishes specific requirements that agencies must follow as they develop and implement actions that affect State and local governments.
• 2003: National Council of State Legislators (NCSL) Energy Institute, Denver Colorado
• 1994: 13th Annual Pacific Islands Conference, Maui, Hawai'i
• 1993: National Land Trust Rally, Big Sky, Montana
• 1993: National Conference: U.S. Territorial Relations, Washington, D.C.
• 1993: Pacific Telecommunications Conference, Honolulu, Hawai'i
• 1990: Pacific History Conference, Guam

Board Memberships:

• Present: Maui Chamber of Commerce, Board Member
• Present: Honolulu Media Council, Board Member
• 1999 - 2000: Maui Visitor's Bureau, Executive Committee and Board Member
• 1998 - 2000: Council On Aging - County of Maui, Council Member
• 1996 - Present: Hawaii Cultural Foundation, New York City, Board Member
• 1997 - 1999: Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB), Board Member
• 1997: Maui County "PEG" Cable TV Public Access Consortium, Consortium Member
• 1993 - Present: Maui Arts and Culture Center, Board Member
• 1992 - 1997: Maui County Cultural Resources Commission, Chairman, Vice Chairman
• 1991 - 1997: Hui 'Aina O Hana - A Native Hawaiian Land Conservation Organization, Vice President, Founding President

Publications:

• 2000: Aloha As A Pathway To Our Future, In the Book, "21st Century Hawai'i 210 Great Ways To Get There" Compiled by the Pacific Century Fellows, Page 73-74
• 1996: Creating Sacred Sites For Today, Newspaper Article, (first in a series), Lahaina News, Vol. 17, No. 30 Aug. 16-22.
• 1996: My Home Is Built On A Firm Foundation, Newspaper Article (second in a series), Lahaina News, Vol. 17, No. 31 Aug. 15-22.
• 1996: Culture: A Roaring River, Not A Stagnant Pond, Newspaper Article, (third in a series), Lahaina News, Vol. 17, No. 32 Aug. 22-29.
• 1996: Who Are We, Newspaper Article, (fourth in a series), Lahaina News, Vol. 17, No. 33 Aug. 29-Sept. 5.
• 1996: Hawai'i Before Us, Newspaper Article, (fifth in a series), Lahaina News, Vol. 17, No. 32 Sept. 5-12.
• 1995: Language At The Edges Of Culture, Magazine Article, Na Po'e Hawai'i
• 1995: Hana's Ancient Districts, Magazine Article, Na Po'e Hawai'i
• 1994: Land And The Sacredness Of Place: The Hawaiian Experience, Magazine Article, Na Po'e hawai'i
• 1994: Haloa, Kalo and Mankind: All One Family, Article, Hana News, Vol. 3, #10, March
• 1994: On The Birth Of Islands: A Hawaiian Comparison, Magazine Article, Na Po'e Hawai'i
• 1994: Maui At The Crossroads, Article, May 6 Special to the Barbados Advocate
• 1993: Flawed Democracy: Unrepresented Nations And Communities In The U.S., Working Paper, Medgar Evers College
• 1990: Book Review: Before The Horror, Pacific Studies Journal, Vol. 1 No. 13, p. 279-283

Member of the Democratic party.

Member of the following committees:

TIA - Transportation and International Affairs (Chair)
SHF - Joint Task Force to Conduct a Review of the State Highway Fund (Co-Chair)
AHW - Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs (Vice-Chair)
EDT - Economic Development and Taxation
WAM - Ways and Means