The Hawaii State Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection met April 11 in Conference Room 229 and, after receiving testimony from nominees and supporters, recommended advice-and-consent for 17 gubernatorial nominees to state boards and commissions in a series of omnibus motions.

The committee moved the nominations in grouped votes. The chair announced a single omnibus recommendation to advise and consent to the nominees on the first 09:30AM agenda, which included multiple nominations to the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund board, the Board of Chiropractic, the Board of Nursing and other bodies. Senator Awa asked to be recorded as voting no on Governor's Message (GM) 729, the nomination of Terence Aratani to the Board of Nursing; the chair noted that request and the recommendation was adopted with the objection recorded.

Nominees included:
- GM555: Michael Nonaka — Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund board of directors (term to expire 06/30/2028) — advised and consented.
- GM593: Marie White — Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund board of directors (06/30/2028) — advised and consented.
- GM594: Reina Miyamoto — Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund board of directors (06/30/2028) — advised and consented.
- GM595: Leslie Doerr — Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund board of directors (06/30/2028) — advised and consented.
- GM597: Edward Hike — Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund board of directors (06/30/2028) — advised and consented.
- GM782: Gwen McDonald — Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund board of directors (06/30/2028) — advised and consented.
- GM517: Teresa Hernandez — Hawaii Board of Chiropractic (06/30/2028) — advised and consented.
- GM729: Terence Aratani — Board of Nursing (06/30/2028) — advised and consented; Senator Awa recorded a no vote on this nomination.
- GM730: Cheryl Shields Hansen — Board of Nursing (06/30/2028) — advised and consented.
- GM731: Darren Dunbar — Board of Nursing (06/30/2029) — advised and consented.
- GM732: Maryann Timmerman — Board of Dentistry (06/30/2029) — advised and consented.
- GM733: Eiichi Jumuan — State Boxing Commission (06/30/2029) — advised and consented.

The committee recessed and later reconvened to consider additional nominations. It advised and consented to:
- GM747: Zachary Johnson — Board of Public Accountancy (06/30/2029) — advised and consented (roll call recorded as ayes from the chair, vice chair and other members present).

On the final 09:30AM agenda the committee also advised and consented to:
- GM561: Tiffany Lynn Hummel — Hawaii Board of Veterinary Medicine — advised and consented.
- GM563: Gabriel Ase — Hawaii Board of Veterinary Medicine — advised and consented.
- GM658: Brooke Forman — Board of Acupuncture — advised and consented.
- GM706: Brian Chen — Board of Speech Pathology and Audiology — advised and consented.

A committee member noted concerns about a hospital employee fundraising campaign and earlier public controversy related to one nominee; those concerns were recorded in committee discussion but did not change the committee's recommendation. The committee adjourned after the decision-making votes.

Votes at a glance (recorded details in transcript):
- Omnibus motion (first slate): Chair — aye; Vice chair — aye; Senator Awa — no on GM729 (recorded); all other nominations in the slate were recorded as adopted.
- GM747 (Zachary Johnson): Chair — aye; Vice chair — aye; Senator Richards — aye; Senator Awa — aye (roll call noted in transcript).
- Final slate (GM561, GM563, GM658, GM706): chair and vice chair recorded ayes; recommendation adopted.

The committee did not make any final policy changes in the session; its formal actions were advice-and-consent recommendations to the full Senate.