Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 340 and 341, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of:

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories, résumés, and statements submitted by the nominees, and finds the nominees to have the necessary qualifications to be appointed to the position of nomination.

Your Committee received testimony in support of JO-ANNA NAKATA from the Department of Agriculture, the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, and four individuals. Ms. Nakata graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Hawaii and earned a Masters Degree in Public Health from UCLA. She is the principal of her own consulting firm specializing in public health, capacity building, and community development. Ms. Nakata has extensive experience in the field of agriculture, both in the private and public sectors. She served as the State Executive Director of the United States Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency for Hawaii and the Pacific Basin, and worked as an analyst on the Governor's Agriculture Coordinating Committee and was a staff member on the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation. Ms. Nakata has also worked in the field of public health and was involved in public health promotion initiatives for the United States Department of Health as well as St. Francis Hospital. She has been serving as an interim appointee on the Advisory Committee on Pesticides since July 2003. Drawing upon her experience in the Hawaii agricultural industry as well as her familiarity with federal economic development programs, Ms. Nakata is not only well informed, but able to provide important input concerning the various issues before this Committee.

Your Committee received testimony in support of CYNTHIA K.L. REZENTES from the Department of Agriculture, the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, the Lualualei Ahupua`a Council, and one individual. Ms. Rezentes was born and raised in Hawaii and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Gonzaga University as well as a Master of Science degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering from the University of New Mexico. Ms. Rezentes worked for IBM in various engineering and management positions for nineteen years and currently devotes her time and energies working with numerous community organizations in Waianae. Ms. Rezentes is the Director and President of the Oahu Resource Conservation and Development Council, an organization that provides support and resources for various community-based environmental initiatives. She is also a member and Secretary of Mohala I Ka Wai, a local watershed management initiative in partnership with the Board of Water Supply that is responsible for watershed management in Waianae as well as Makaha Valley. Ms. Rezentes has also been serving as an interim appointee on the Advisory Committee on Pesticides for the past year.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, 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.