State Senate confirms Mizuno as UH regent

The state Senate confirmed Barry Mizuno, a Hawaii island geothermal consultant and accountant, to a five-year term on the University of Hawaii Board of Regents.

Mizuno, a former Hawaii County managing director, had served as a regent since he was appointed by Gov. Neil Abercrombie in 2011.

The Senate vote Monday was 23-2. A few senators were concerned that Mizuno had not done enough as a regent to speak up about administrative problems at the university.