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

begs leave to report as follows:

Upon review of the testimony and the statements submitted by the nominees, your Committee finds that Kelvin K.F. Ching and David D. Higgins have the necessary character, experience, and qualifications to serve on the Kaneohe Bay Regional Council.

Testimony in support of the nominee was received from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Kelvin K.F. Ching was selected by the Kaneohe Bay Regional Council to fill the position as the fishing panel representative to the Council, and is the present incumbent in this position. During his present term, Mr. Ching has held regular meetings with fishermen and has been instrumental in developing a coherent direction for protecting fishing interests within Kaneohe Bay, while minimizing conflicts between competing fishing interests. A graduate of the University of Hawaii, he is self-employed.

David D. Higgins serves as the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board representative to the Council. He is President and CEO of the Marimed Foundation, which owns and operates the training vessel Tole Mour, home-ported in Kaneohe Bay. As a businessman whose business is directly associated with Kaneohe Bay, Mr. Higgins has a firm understanding of the competing uses of the Bay by the various special interest constituencies. His membership on the Council has proven a stabilizing influence on Council proceedings, and he has been instrumental in developing a consensus among his fellow council members on several contentious issues.

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