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Honolulu committee reports three commission appointments to council
Summary
The Committee on Public Safety and Economy on May 19 recommended three commission appointment resolutions for council adoption, moving forward the appointment of Kalani Ka'ana'ana to the Economic Revitalization Commission and reappointments of Jasper Wong and Josh Tangan to the Commission on Culture and the Arts after brief remarks and questions; no public testimony was recorded.
The Committee on Public Safety and Economy on May 19 recommended three commission appointment resolutions be reported to the full City Council for adoption.
The committee considered Resolution 26‑89 to confirm Kalani Ka'ana'ana to the Economic Revitalization Commission, a reappointment Resolution 26‑91 for Jasper Wong to the Commission on Culture and the Arts, and Resolution 26‑101 to reappoint Josh Tangan to that same commission. Each resolution was presented, the nominees made brief remarks, and the chair reported the items out for adoption after hearing no objections.
Kalani Ka'ana'ana, the nominee for the Economic Revitalization Commission, told the committee, “It is a privilege to serve the people of the great City and County of Honolulu,” and said he would bring his experience to the commission’s work. When asked about the commission's role if the Office of Economic Revitalization were streamlined, Ka'ana'ana said the group of nonprofit and private‑sector leaders could still contribute to improving quality of life and pledged to help complete an Oahu tourism strategic plan. “I spent the last 10 years at the Hawaii Tourism Authority,” he said, adding he would support work that ensures tourism is “respectful to our [islands] and then by extension generating the TAT that then the council can spend.”
Committee questions focused on how commissions can retain meaningful oversight and contribution amid proposed staffing changes in the Office of Economic Revitalization and on ensuring sustainability goals are localized for Oahu. A committee member asked whether the Oahu tourism strategic plan can be completed given that an RFP is already out; Ka'ana'ana said a vendor and staff remain to complete the work and committed personal support.
Jasper Wong, introduced by the chair for Resolution 26‑91, told the panel he has served with the commission for about a year and said commissioners have been working throughout the community to support artists and design projects. Josh Tangan, introduced for Resolution 26‑101, said he has served on the commission for two years and expressed support for the newly installed executive director, Jennifer Santos.
No in‑person or remote public testimony was recorded for these items. For each resolution the chair recommended the measure be reported out for adoption and, after hearing no objections or reservations, ordered them reported.
The actions now move to the full City Council for consideration and formal adoption at a later date.
