STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2784

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  GOV. MSG. NO. 168
                                        




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

Sir:

     Your Committee on Economic Development, to which was
referred Governor's Message No. 168, submitting for study and
consideration the nomination of:

NATURAL ENERGY LABORATORY OF HAWAI`I AUTHORITY

     G.M. No. 168       ROBERT K.U. KIHUNE, for a term to expire
                        June 30, 2004, 

begs leave to report as follows:

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this
nomination from the Mayor of the County of Hawaii, and three
members of the board of directors and the executive director of
the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawai`i Authority.

     Upon review of the statements submitted by the nominee, your
Committee finds that the aforementioned nominee is a volunteer,
willing to serve without compensation, and will work with
compassion and commitment to assist in administering the
functions of the Natural Laboratory of Hawai`i Authority.  Your
Committee further finds that the nominee has been appointed based
upon his professional credentials, integrity, and a desire to
make Hawaii better through his participation on the board of the
Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawai`i Authority (NELHA).

     Your Committee notes the following specific qualifications
of the nominee:


 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2784
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     Robert K.U. Kihune, retired Vice Admiral, United States
Navy, brings extensive managerial and command experience to the
board.  During his thirty-five year military career, Admiral
Kihune held positions with hundreds of thousands of military and
civilian personnel and multi-billion dollar budgets under his
command.  On his retirement in 1994, Admiral Kihune became the
executive director of NELHA, a position he held until December
1995, when he assumed the position of CEO of Waimea Enterprises,
Inc.  While at NELHA he conducted a complete review of the
organization, and his recommendations for changes brought about a
thirty-three per cent reduction in personnel and cut expenses
from $2,500,000 in 1995 to $1,900,000 in 1996.

     Your Committee finds that NELHA has made substantial
progress toward self-sufficiency as the result of the efforts of
Admiral Kihune, and believes he will bring the same measure of
success as a member of the board of directors.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Economic Development 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 Economic
                                   Development,



                                   ______________________________
                                   LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

 
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