STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1788

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  GOV. MSG. NO. 155
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water, Land, and Hawaiian Affairs, to
which was referred Governor's Message No. 155, submitting for
study and consideration the nomination of:

     TIMOTHY E. JOHNS, gubernatorial nominee to the Chairperson
     of the BOARD OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES, for a term to
     expire December 31, 2002,

begs leave to report as follows:

     Upon review of the qualifications and other background
information submitted by the nominee, your Committee finds that
Timothy E. Johns has served as the Deputy Director of the
Department of Land and Natural Resources assigned to the State
Commission on Water Resource Management prior to his ascension to
the position of interim Chairperson of the Board of Land and
Natural Resources.

     Prior to coming to public service, Mr. Johns amassed
extensive experience in natural resource conservation, real
estate development, and water-related issues.  As a practicing
attorney, Mr. Johns specialized in real estate and environmental
matters involving a variety of issues, including compliance with
state and federal water regulations.  As Director of Protection
for the Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, Mr. Johns managed a
statewide legal protection program for biologically significant
lands.

     Testimony in support of the nomination was received from
representatives of numerous state, county, private, nonprofit,

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1788
                                   Page 2


and community organizations, as well as from many private
citizens.

     A concerned individual testified in opposition to the
nomination.

     Your Committee members diligently questioned the nominee
regarding his vision of the purpose, goals, and direction of the
Department of Land and Natural Resources.  Based on this
discussion, your Committee believes that the nominee will be a
capable Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Water, Land, and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached
to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the
background, character, experience, and qualifications of the
nominee, has found the nominee to be qualified for the position
to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and
consent to the nomination.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Water, Land, and
                                   Hawaiian Affairs,



                                   ______________________________
                                   COLLEEN HANABUSA, Chair

 
a                                                     GM155