Commissioner Bios & Staff

The Commission is a five member body created by the 1973 legislature under Act 185. Commissioners are appointed by the Governor from a list of ten nominees submitted by the Judicial Council. The appointments are not subject to senatorial confirmation. Commissioners serve on a voluntary basis for a four-year term and may be reappointed for a second four-year term.

Commissioners

A headshot of David Chee David Chee, Chair

David Chee was born and raised in Honolulu. In 1988, he received a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Washington, and in 1992, a J.D. from the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaii. He has a small law firm that concentrates on real estate litigation. He enjoys traveling and spending time with his family.

His term expires on June 30, 2025.

 

A headshot of Danton Wong Danton Wong, Vice Chair

Danton Wong was born and raised in Honolulu.  In 1979, he graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Economics, and in 1982 earned his law degree from UC Law San Francisco (formerly known as UC Hastings). He is a partner in Chun Kerr LLP concentrating in real estate transactions and business consultation.  Out of the office he enjoys traveling, golfing and playing music.

His term expires on June 30, 2028.

A headshot of David Chee Jon Itomura

Jon Itomura is a graduate of St. Louis High School.  In 1985, he received a B.A. in Environmental, Pollution, and Organismic Biology from the University of Colorado, and in 1992, a J.D. from the Puget Sound School of Law.  After working for the Senate Ways and Means Committee, Circuit Court, and serving as Deputy Attorney General until 1999, he was General Counsel for the Campaign Spending Commission from 1999-2003.  Following sixteen years as Supervising Attorney for the Division of Consumer Advocacy, he retired from State service in 2019 and is currently the Executive Director for the Hawaii United Okinawa Association.

His term expires on June 30, 2027.

A headshot of Barbara Polk Barbara Polk

Raised on the mainland, Barbara Polk earned a BA in Psychology from Oberlin College in Ohio and a Ph.D in Social Psychology from University of Michigan. She was an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Wayne State University in Detroit before moving with her then husband and son to Honolulu in 1973. After a year as a planner for the Developmental Disabilities Council, she joined the staff of the University of Hawaii, spending the next 26 years in various staff and line positions, mostly in the Community College system, including nine years as Provost of Leeward Community College. She retired as Policy and Planning Officer for the University of Hawaii System. In retirement Barbara has been a meeting facilitator, and volunteer mediator and literacy tutor, as well as board member and chair of both Americans for Democratic Action, Hawaii, and Common Cause, Hawaii, as these organizations worked on good government issues at the legislature, including ethics and campaign spending.

Her term expires on June 30, 2028.

Caroline Peters Belsom

Caroline Peters Belsom is a retired attorney who resides in Wailuku, Maui.  Born and raised on Oahu, she is a graduate of the Kamehameha Schools, St. Olaf College in Minnesota (BS Math/Physics), Iowa State University (MS Physics) and the University of Connecticut School of Law (JD).  Since 1982 she has served as an Assistant US Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa, a litigation partner at two local law firms, in-house counsel for Kapalua Land Company, and a solo practitioner in Lahaina and Wailuku.  Over the years Caroline has served on various non-profit boards and county commissions.  She currently engages in activities that preserve and perpetuate various aspects of her Hawaiian cultural heritage.

Her term expires on June 30, 2027.

 

Commission Staff

The Commission staff consists of an executive director, associate director, general counsel, administrative assistant and elections assistant.

Executive Director – Kristin E. Izumi-Nitao
Associate Director – Vacant
General Counsel – Kristie Cruz Chang
Election Assistant – Terence Lau
Administrative Assistant – Anthony Diep