Posted on: Tuesday, August 6, 2002

Toguchi appointed to education board

Advertiser Staff

Gov. Ben Cayetano yesterday announced the appointment of Garrett Toguchi to the state Board of Education.

Toguchi, a former school board member who lost a re-election bid in 2000, will replace Donna Ikeda, who resigned last month to run for lieutenant governor.

In his four years on the school board, Toguchi was regarded as a strong voice for special education, gifted and talented students and Hawaiian programs.

As chairman of the special programs committee, Toguchi also pushed through an action plan to help guide the Department of Education in developing the Hawaiian Studies Program.

His experience in special education also was seen as a valuable addition to the board as it grappled with the Felix consent decree, a federal court order to improve services for children with mental disabilities. Toguchi is executive director of the Arc in Hawai'i, part of a national nonprofit organization that champions the welfare of special-needs adults.

His appointment is effective immediately and will expire in November. A special election will be held then to fill the two remaining years of the four-year terms for the O'ahu at-large position.

Toguchi previously worked as a legislative researcher and was an aide to Cayetano during his term as lieutenant governor.

A Roosevelt High graduate, Toguchi is also director of the Japanese American Citizens League and a member of the Honolulu Japanese Junior Chamber of Commerce.