The Senate Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts took a single committee vote to advise and consent to eight gubernatorial nominees for state boards and commissions, adopting the recommendation to confirm the nominees.

The measures voted on in a single roll included GM506, GM507, GM508, GM556, GM654, GM740, GM742 and GM743. The committee’s recommendation was to advise and consent to the nominees; committee leadership noted four members present for the vote and no recorded no votes or reservations.

Several nominees and organizational supporters offered testimony during the committee meeting. Notable appearances and testimony included:

- GM506 (King Kamehameha Celebration Commission): A nominee identified herself as Lena Ala Lopez and said she was born and raised on Molokai and had served the last two years on the commission, seeking reappointment for a term to expire June 30, 2028. Amy Hammond of the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission submitted support in writing for multiple nominees.

- GM507 and GM508 (King Kamehameha Celebration Commission): Support was submitted for those nominees; Beverly Lee appeared for GM508 and said she has been involved with the commission since 2010 and has served as chair, overseeing care of horses and related responsibilities. She was nominated for a term to expire June 30, 2028.

- GM556 (King Kamehameha Celebration Commission): Testimony in support came from the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission; that nominee was not present online.

- GM654 (Medical Advisory Board): The Department of Transportation submitted testimony in support; the nominee (Judy Koval) was not present for the hearing.

- GM740 (State Foundation on Culture and the Arts): Karen Ewald, executive director of the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, and others submitted testimony in strong support. Janet Sato appeared as the nominee and described completing a partial term and seeking a full term to continue work on arts education outreach and to preserve program continuity; her term listed to expire June 30, 2028.

- GM742 (State Foundation on Culture and the Arts): The nominee (identified in the record as Marcia) described a long career as an artist, educator and arts writer, referenced Hawaii’s early enactment of a 1% for art policy and urged looking to private philanthropy and broader revenue options if federal funding tightens. Support for this nominee was recorded from three individuals and two organizations.

- GM743 (State Foundation on Culture and the Arts): Randall Francisco appeared and spoke about neighbor-island perspectives and broad community access to arts programming; testimony in support included the Kauai Office of Economic Development, Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami, Waimea High School and Ink Spot Printing Corp.

After discussion, chair leadership moved to take one combined vote on all eight governor’s messages. With committee members present, the committee adopted the recommendation to advise and consent to the nominees; the clerk recorded the recommendations as adopted and the meeting adjourned.

The committee record does not show any recorded no votes, abstentions or formal amendments to the recommendations; next steps for confirmed nominees are not captured in this transcript.