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REPORT OF THE <br /> COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY <br /> AND MASS TRANSIT <br /> DATE: October 19, 2016 Re: Comm. No. 1099 <br /> PLACE: Council Chambers <br /> Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i <br /> TIME: 9:43 a.m. <br /> Council Chair and Members <br /> Hawaii County Council <br /> Hilo, Hawai`i 96720 <br /> Your Committee on Public Safety and Mass Transit, to which was referred Communication No. 1099, <br /> reports as follows: <br /> Communication No. 1099, transmitted by Mayor William P. Kenoi, dated September 29, 2016, <br /> requests review and favorable recommendation of the nomination of Mr. Claude Onizuka of <br /> Council District 7 to the County of Hawai`i Liquor Commission. <br /> There were two testifiers present that provided comment, not specific to the nominee but more <br /> the nominations in its entirety. Both testifiers requesting transparency, shared that given the <br /> circumstances of the current administration and the anticipated change of said administration in <br /> less than two months, perhaps it would be most appropriate to allow Mayor-elect Harry Kim to <br /> nominate candidates for the remaining vacant positions in our Boards and Commissions. <br /> After the close of public testimony, Deputy County Clerk, Jon Henricks, read Comm. No. 1099 <br /> into the record, preceding a motion made by Mr. Kanuha and seconded by Ms. Poindexter to <br /> approve the nomination. Executive Assistant to the Mayor, Charmaine Shigemura, via Hilo <br /> video introduced and provided background information on Nominee Onizuka, expressed the <br /> Mayor's support, and requested Council's favorable action of this appointment. <br /> Mr. Claude Onizuka is a lifelong resident of Hawai`i. In 2012, Mr. Onizuka retired from 1250 <br /> Oceanside Partners (Hokuli`a) where he was the Director of Community and Public Affairs. Mr. <br /> Onizuka is Chairman of the Astronaut Ellison Onizuka Memorial Committee, Director of the <br /> Friends of Challenger enter Hawai`i, and President of Kona Junior Golf. He states that he is not <br /> affiliated with any political party. If confirmed, he will fill a vacant term to end December 31, <br /> 2020. <br /> Mr. Onizuka appeared before Your Committee with an opening statement sharing that he has <br /> served on the Liquor Commission previously and felt that he learned a lot in that first term and <br /> now got to the point where he really knows what to ask and look for in service to minors and <br /> noise complaints. The commission itself is like the council of listening and advising. <br /> Mr. Onizuka lives to serve. He believes when one is nominated for a position such as these, if <br /> cannot commit to attend meetings, then do not accept appointment because it creates a problem <br /> when meetings are held. Mr. Onizuka urged to wholeheartedly perform to the best of his ability. <br /> PSMTC REPORT NO. 25 <br />