Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 138, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of:

begs leave to report as follows:

JONATHAN WAI YUN LAI is a junior partner at the law firm of Watanabe, Ing, Kawashima & Komeiji. Mr. Lai holds Bachelor's degrees in Economics and Government from Claremont McKenna College, and a Master's degree in Business Administration and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Southern California. He has practiced law since 1995 in the areas of real property, collections, banking, and bankruptcy law and is a member of the Hawaii State Bar Association (HSBA), the American Bar Association, the American Bankruptcy Institute, and the HSBA Collection Section. Mr. Lai was selected by the Governor from a list of four nominees submitted by the Honolulu City Council to represent the City and County of Honolulu on HCDA.

Testimony in support of Mr. Lai was submitted by HCDA; Goodwill Industries of Hawaii; Hope Chapel Kaneohe Bay; Olomana Marketing, LLC; and Watanabe, Ing, Kawashima & Komeiji.

Based on Mr. Lai's background and experience in business law, your Committee finds that he is a qualified candidate and would be an asset to HCDA.

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 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.