Submitting for consideration and confirmation to the School Facilities Authority, Gubernatorial Nominee, M. KIMO UNTEN, for a term to expire 06-30-2028.

2025 Regular Session

Governor withdrew the nomination of M. Kimo Unten to the Hawaii School Facilities Authority, leaving the seat vacant unless a new nomination is submitted and confirmed.

Nominee(s) M. Kimo Unten withdrawn by Governor. (Gov. Msg. No. 719)

#schoolfacilitiesauthority

GM625 – Comprehensive Summary

What this bill is

GM625 is a Governor’s Message proposing the confirmation of a gubernatorial nominee to the Hawaii School Facilities Authority (SFA). The nominee was M. Kimo Unten, for a term expiring June 30, 2028.

Classification: proclamation. The action is procedural, enabling the Senate to consider and confirm the governor’s appointment to the SFA.

Purpose and Intent

The core purpose is to place a gubernatorial appointee on the School Facilities Authority board for a fixed term. This is part of the routine process of appointing members to the SFA to govern and oversee public school facility planning, construction, and related activities, per the governor’s constitutional appointment power.

Key Provisions and Changes

Nomination: M. Kimo Unten nominated to serve on the School Facilities Authority.

Term: Expiration date of June 30, 2028 if confirmed.

Confirmation process: Senate consideration and confirmation would be required under Hawaii law.

Constitutional basis cited: Article V, Section 6 of the Hawaii State Constitution, which governs appointments and confirmations.

Background / Context

The School Facilities Authority oversees public school facilities, including governance and oversight of facility-related projects (planning, construction, improvements) in Hawaii. Board members are gubernatorial appointees subject to Senate confirmation.

The nomination was submitted via a Governor’s Message dated January 15, 2025, and the bill was introduced January 23, 2025, with referral to the Committee on Education (EDU).

Legislative Actions and Status

January 23, 2025: Referred to EDU; the measure was received.

March 10, 2025: Nominee M. Kimo Unten withdrawn by Governor (Gov. Msg. No. 719). This withdrawal indicates the governor rescinded the nomination, rendering the proposed appointment inactive unless a new nomination is made.

The current status effectively leaves the SFA position for this nominee vacant unless the governor nominates another candidate.

Affect on Stakeholders

Affected: Hawaii Department of Education and the School Facilities Authority, which rely on a functioning board to guide facility projects, budgets, and policy decisions.

Other stakeholders include students, families, educators, and taxpayers who are interested in the governance of public school facilities.

Timelines and Procedural Notes

If a new nomination is submitted, the Senate would again refer the nomination to EDU for consideration.

The withdrawal closes the current nomination path for M. Kimo Unten; future action would require a new gubernatorial nomination and Senate confirmation.

Bottom Line

GM625 originally proposed confirming M. Kimo Unten to the Hawaii School Facilities Authority for a term ending 06/30/2028. The governor withdrew the nomination on March 10, 2025, leaving the appointment open unless a new nomination is submitted and confirmed.