Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, Energy and Environment, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 116, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of:

begs leave to report as follows:

Upon review of the resume and other background information submitted by the nominee, your Committee finds that Gilbert S. Coloma-Agaran holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale College and a law degree from Boalt Hall School of Law, the University of California at Berkeley, where he was an associate editor on the California Law Review. Mr. Agaran was named Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources on December 18, 2000. He had been Director of Labor and Industrial Relations since August 7, 2000.

Mr. Agaran previously served as Deputy Director of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and as the First Deputy to the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources. In the latter capacity, Mr. Agaran represented the Chairperson on the Natural Energy Laboratories of Hawaii Authority, the Aloha Tower Development Corporation, and the Marine and Coastal Zone Management Advisory Group, and as a member of the Barbers Point Naval Air Station Redevelopment Commission. At both departments, Mr. Agaran was responsible for managing legislation affecting their respective program areas.

Before joining the Cayetano administration, Mr. Agaran practiced law with Carlsmith Ball LLP. He is admitted to practice before the Hawaii and California bars, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Federal District Court for the District of Hawaii.

Mr. Agaran currently serves on the boards of the National Asian Pacific Bar Association — Hawaii Chapter and the Yale Club of Hawaii. He is a member of the Hawaii Institute for Public Affairs, Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, the Hawaii State Bar Association, Kahului Filipino Community Association, Pinili-Badoc Maui Association, and Saranay Maui.

Testimony in support of the nominee was received from Congressman Neil Abercrombie, the Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Department of Accounting and General Services, Department of Budget and Finance, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Department of Human Resources Development, Department of Land and Natural Resources, a member of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, Commission on Water Resource Management, Department of Taxation, Hawaii Labor Relations Board, City and County of Honolulu Board of Water Supply, Hawaii Government Employees Association, The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, Ocean Tourism Coalition, Pacific Management Consultants, Inc., and six individuals.

Your Committee members questioned Mr. Agaran regarding his plans for the Department, given its enormous responsibilities and limited public resources. Your Committee finds that Mr. Agaran has stated his commitment to working closely with other natural resource agencies and in partnerships with communities, individuals, and private agencies interested in protecting Hawaii's natural resources.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, Energy and Environment 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.