STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1781

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  GOV. MSG. NO. 259
                                        




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. 259, submitting for
study and consideration the nominations of:

KAHO`OLAWE ISLAND RESERVE COMMISSION

     G.M. No. 259       ISABELLA A. ABBOTT, Ph.D., for a term to
                        expire June 30, 2000, and

                        GEORGINA K. KAWAMURA and BURT H. SAKATA,
                        for terms to expire June 30, 2003,

begs leave to report as follows:

     Upon review of the statements submitted by the nominees,
your Committee finds that the aforementioned nominees are
volunteers, willing to serve without compensation, who will work
with compassion and commitment.  Your Committee further finds
that the nominees have been appointed based upon their
professional credentials, integrity, and a desire to make Hawaii
better through their participation on the Kaho`olawe Island
Reserve Commission to which they have been nominated.

     The Kaho`olawe Island Reserve Commission submitted testimony
in support of the three nominees.

     Your Committee notes the following specific qualifications
of the nominees:


 
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     Isabella A. Abbott, Ph.D., is the G.P. Wilder Professor of
Botany, Emerita, University of Hawaii, and a specialist in
systematics of marine algae and Hawaiian and Polynesian
ethnobotany.  Dr. Abbot holds graduate degrees from the
University of California, Berkeley and the University of
Michigan, and an undergraduate degree from the University of
Hawaii.  Born in Hana, Maui and a graduate of the Kamehameha
School for Girls, she is fluent in the Hawaiian language and is
the author of several books, including La`au Hawai`i, the
traditional uses of Hawaiian plants.  Dr. Abbott is particularly
interested in establishing a baseline study of marine algae
around the island of Kaho`olawe.  `Ahahui Malama I Ka Lokahi and
one individual submitted testimony in support of Dr. Abbott.

     Georgina K. Kawamura, is an Organization Systems Officer
with the County of Maui, where she has been employed since 1975.
A graduate of Kamehameha Schools and Maui Community College, Ms.
Kawamura is a reappointment to the Commission, where she has
served as a valued member since 1995.  As the representative for
Maui County, she has been of tremendous help in the
administrative aspects of the Commission, and is noted for her
pragmatism and good humor.  In addition to her present work with
the Commission, Ms. Kawamura is a member of the Maui Community
College Provost Advisory Council and the Board of Directors for
Haleakala Waldorf School.

     Burt H. Sakata, owner of Hawaii Stationery Co., Ltd, is a
lifelong resident of Hawaii and a graduate of Kalani High School
in Honolulu.  A member of the Protect Kaho`olawe `Ohana for
nearly twenty years, he is a hard working contributor, often
responsible for the critical planning, preparation, and cleanup
of the many `Ohana projects on the Island.  A skilled facilitator
and mediator, Mr. Sakata brings a conscientious approach to
problem solving and extensive knowledge of the Island itself.
The Protect Kaho`olawe `Ohana, Hui Alanui o Makena, and six
individuals submitted testimony in support of Mr. Sakata's
nomination.  One individual expressed his opposition to the
appointment.

     Your Committee heard from each of the nominees regarding
their hopes and concerns for the Island and the difficult tasks
before the Commission during the cleanup and restoration of
Kaho`olawe.  Your Committee is impressed by both the expertise
that each of these nominees brings to the Commission and by their
commitment to the work of the Commission.

     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

 
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background, character, experience, and qualifications of the
nominees, has found the nominees to be qualified for the
positions to which nominated and recommends that the Senate
advise and consent to the nominations.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   COLLEEN HANABUSA, Chair

 
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