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Murashige, Laura
From: Ryan Kanakaole <ryankanakaole@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday,January 24, 2017 10:47 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Testimony on CREDC-1 (Comm. 19) -Appointment of Joseph K. Kamelamela as
Corporation Counsel
Attachments: Testimony Re GREDC1-1 Communication 19.pdf
Aloha,
Please see the attachment for my testimony in support of the appointment of Joseph K. Kamelamela as
Corporation Counsel for the County of Hawaii.
COUNTY CLERK
Mahalo nui, COUNTY OF HAWAI'I
RECEIVED
Time ll:(25AM By 14)
Ryan K.P. Kanaka'ole, Esq. Date JAN. 24, 17
Comm. No. i"1. /
Ref. To: COV-
Ref. Date JaN 2 5
1
RYAN K. P. KANAKA`OLE
ATTORNEY AT LAW
HONOLULU,HI 96816
January 24, 2017
Valerie Poindexter, Chair
Hawai`i County Council
County of Hawai`i
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720.
RE: GREDC-1 (Comm. 19)—Appointment of Joseph K. Kamelamela as Corporation
Counsel
Aloha Chair Poindexter and Members of the County Council,
Please accept this letter as my testimony in support of the confirmation of Joseph Kalani
Kamelamela as Corporation Counsel for the County of Hawaii. I first met Joe almost a decade'
ago while serving the Office of the Corporation Counsel as an intern from UH-Hilo. The
summer before my final year of law school, Joe was one of my supervising attorneys during my
clerkship with the office. From 2012 through 2013, I had the pleasure of being a Deputy
Corporation Counsel; Joe, again, was one of my supervising attorneys. Since before I became an
attorney, Joe has always been there to mentor me. His passion for the law and public service is
infectious; I credit him for beingone of the reasons I chose my career path.
Given the decades-worth of institutional knowledge, legal experience, and commitment to the
County that Joe holds, appointing him as the Corporation Counsel is the only natural thing to do.
In terms of legal expertise, the County would be hard-pressed to find another attorney that stacks
up with Joe. The breadth of his knowledge of the law, particularly regarding issues that impact
• the County, is as eclectic as his musical taste (which, if you do not know, reaches far and wide).
Insofar as leadership qualities go, with Joe, feel free to take your pick of the following
complimentary descriptors: humble, hard-working, supportive, fair-minded, intelligent,
conscientious, and respectful (to name a few).
I fully believe that Joe will serve as Corporation Counsel with passion and distinction. I have no
doubts in his abilities as an administrator and attorney. The County would be remiss in denying
his services. Thank you for allowing me to submit testimony on this matter.
Mahalo nui,
/s/Ryan K. P. Kanaka`ole, Esq.