Meet the Commissioners

Chair, (term 2025-2029)

A native of Wilmington, NC Alphonso Braggs began his career being active in local politics and community policy development at an early age.  By the age of 16, he was elected as the Southeast U. S. Region Youth Council Treasurer.

After high school, he served honorably for 26 years in the U. S. Navy serving in tours from the Pentagon to Special Programs. As a combat veteran, he completed over ten arduous deployments including the North Pole.

A devoted social justice advocate, he is committed to defending civil and human rights. He serves on the NAACP National Board of Directors, the Political Action and Legislative Affairs Committee, International Affairs Committee, Veteran Affairs Sub-Committee and the Constitution and Bylaws Committee.

In August of 2017, Mr. Braggs received a Presidential appointment to the U. S. Commission on Civil Rights State Advisory Committee. He is a longtime member of the Board of Directors, Japanese American Citizens League, Honolulu Chapter. He also serves on the Hawaii Department of Education Civil Rights Compliance Advisory Committee and the FBI Community Civil Rights Advisory Committee. He also serves as the Youth Programs Director and is a member of the District Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee.

A resident of Hawaii since 1992, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management, a Master of Business Administration and a Certification in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University.  Mr. Braggs is fully engaged in the development of future leaders; he mentors youth and aspiring entrepreneurs.  He is a much sought after mentor, life skills coach, lecturer, motivational speaker, poet and author.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Dr. Jon K. Matsuoka

Commissioner, (term 2019-2027)

Jon K Matsuoka completed his graduate studies in social work and psychology at the University of Michigan in 1985 and in the same year assumed a faculty position at the University of Hawai’i Myron B Thompson School of Social Work.  In 2000 he became dean of the school and remained in the position for 10 years until becoming President of Consuelo Foundation in 2010.  After 6 years he left to form Pili Group Consultants.  He has been a resident of Papakolea for 25 years and enjoys backyard farming and raising bees.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Arsima Muller

Commissioner, (term 2022-2027)

Ms. Muller is a partner with the law firm of Carlsmith Ball LLP in Honolulu.  Her practice includes administrative/regulatory law, with an emphasis on environmental and land use law.  She actively practices in Hawaii, Guam, and the Marshall Islands, where she is originally from.  She received her J.D. from The George Washington University Law School in Washington, DC and a B.A. in Economics and Political Science from Boston College in Massachusetts.

Ms. Muller is the current President of the Board of Directors of We Are Oceania, a non-profit organization providing support services to the Micronesian and Pacific Island communities in the State.  She is also on the Board of Directors of the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Raymond Nichols

Interim Commissioner (term 2025 to 2029) 

Raymond Nichols is a third-year law student at the William S. Richardson School of Law, where he focuses on family law, litigation, and public interest advocacy.  He brings a deep commitment to justice, zealous representation, and client-centered service. He is currently a legal intern at Pacific Island Law LLLC and hopes to continue there as an associate after graduation

He holds a B.A. in History and discovered his passion for the law through his longstanding dedication to community service.  Ray volunteers with Family Programs Hawaii’s Project Visitation, supporting sibling groups separated in the foster care system, and participates in Richardson’s Child Welfare Clinic.  He also serves on the UH Manoa Division of Student Success Student Advisory Council and the Board of Directors for the NAACP Hawaii Chapter.

Prior to law school, Ray served 11 years in the U. S. Army as an Air Traffic Control Chief and Deputy Director of Airspace Management, leading complex operations across Hawaii, South Korea, Georgia, and Alabama.

Ray’s legal experience includes roles as a Judicial Clerk for the First Circuit Court, volunteer with the Hawaii Supreme Court chambers, Legislative Aide at the Hawaii House of Representatives and intern with the Hawaii Innocence Project.  He also served with the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, where he conducted legal research, synthesized finds into actionalbe recommendations, investigated housing discrimination complaints and supported case resolution through mediation and data management.