Submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Board of Certification of Operating Personnel in Wastewater Treatment Plants, Gubernatorial Nominee, KEVIN NAKAMURA, for a term to expire 06-30-2028.

2026 Regular Session

Nakamura is nominated for a fixed 2026-2028 term on Hawaii’s Board of Certification of Operating Personnel in Wastewater Treatment Plants, pending Senate confirmation.

Confirmed. Ayes, 24. Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) McKelvey).

#boardofcertificationofoperatingpersonnelinwastewatertreatmentplants

Basic Information

Jurisdiction: Hawaii

Session/Bill: GM 768, 2026

Topic: Submitting for consideration and confirmation the Governor’s nominee to the Board of Certification of Operating Personnel in Wastewater Treatment Plants

Nominee: Kevin Nakamura

Designation: Gubernatorial Nominee

Term: Expiration of June 30, 2028

Purpose of the Measure: To transmit the Governor’s nomination to the Hawaii Legislature for consideration and confirmation by the Senate.

Main Purpose and Intent

To formally nominate Kevin Nakamura to serve on the Board of Certification of Operating Personnel in Wastewater Treatment Plants and request Senate confirmation.

The appointment is for a fixed term ending June 30, 2028.

This action is part of the standard constitutional process whereby the Governor appoints board members with the advice and consent of the Senate.

Key Provisions and Changes

The bill itself conveys the nomination from the Governor to the Senate for confirmation.

It does not appear to establish new rules or modify existing statutory provisions regarding qualifications, duties, or compensation of board members within the text provided. Instead, it is a procedural vehicle to place the nominee before the Legislature for approval.

Who Would Be Affected

Kevin Nakamura would be appointed as a member of the Board of Certification of Operating Personnel in Wastewater Treatment Plants.

The board, which oversees certification of personnel operating wastewater treatment facilities in Hawaii, would have another member serving through June 30, 2028, subject to Senate confirmation.

Public stakeholders relying on certified wastewater operators may be indirectly affected by the board’s decisions and standards.

Procedural and Timeline Considerations

Submission Date: March 16, 2026 (Governor’s formal nomination letter)

Legislative Action Path: The nomination is referred to the Senate (HHS Committee, per action history) for confirmation.

Committee Actions:

The House committee history shows involvement of the Senate Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee with public hearings and deferred action in April 2026.
Timeline indicates a public hearing and potential committee vote before final chamber approval.

Expiration/Term: If confirmed, Nakamura’s term would expire on June 30, 2028, unless otherwise amended or reappointed.

Note on Context

The document is a formal executive communication rather than a substantive policy bill. It serves to initiate the confirmation process for a gubernatorial appointment to a professional regulatory board.

No substantive changes to statutes or regulations are stated within the text provided; the focus is the nomination and confirmation pathway.

If you’d like, I can add context about the Board of Certification of Operating Personnel in Wastewater Treatment Plants (e.g., its typical responsibilities, qualifications for board members, and how certification standards influence wastewater operations in Hawaii).

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