STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2788

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  GOV. MSG. NO. 161
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water, Land, and Hawaiian Affairs, to
which was referred Governor's Message No. 161, submitting for
study and consideration the nominations of:

HAWAIIAN HOMES COMMISSION

     G.M. No. 161       WONDA MAE AGPALSA, for a term to expire
                        on June 30, 2003; and

                        MILTON PA, for a term to expire on
                        June 30, 2004,

begs leave to report as follows:

     Upon review of the qualifications and other background
information submitted by the nominees, your Committee finds that
the aforementioned nominees have worked and will continue to work
with compassion and commitment in administering the
responsibilities placed upon them by the State and the Hawaiian
Homes Commission Act of 1920, as amended.

     Your Committee finds that the nominees are well-respected
members of the Hawaiian community with a long history of
community activism and service.

     Testimony in supporting the nomination of Wonda Mae Agpalsa
was received from the Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes
Commission.  Testimony supporting the nomination of Milton Pa was
received from the Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission,
the State Council of Hawaiian Homestead Associations, the

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2788
                                   Page 2


Kalamaula Hawaiian Homestead Association, the Hoolehua
Homesteaders Association, and three private citizens.

     Your Committee finds that Wonda Mae Agpalsa is a Project
Coordinator for First Hawaiian Bank and has already served one
term as a Hawaiian Homes Commissioner representing the island of
Oahu.  Her expertise in mortgage lending and banking is an asset
to the Commission.

     Your Committee finds that Milton Pa is a retired employee of
the Department of Education with thirty-five years of service.
He is or has been a member of numerous professional and community
organizations such as the National Retired Teachers Association,
the National Education Association, the Hawaii State Teachers
Association, the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, the
Hoolehua Homesteaders Association, and the Maui County Cultural
Resources Commission.

     Your Committee diligently questioned the nominees regarding
their vision of the purpose, goals, and direction of the Hawaiian
Homes Commission.  Based on this discussion, your Committee
believes that the nominees will ably discharge their duties as
commissioners.

     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
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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