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 Nos. 629, 630, and 631, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of:

begs leave to report as follows:

THOMAS CONTRADES has served for six years as a member of the Planning Commission for the County of Kauai and was the chairperson of the Commission for two of the six years. He is also the current vice chair of the Hawaiian Homes Commission and has served on the Commission for eight years.

Mr. Contrades is a retired business agent from the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Local 142 and is active in numerous public service organizations. Specifically, Mr. Contrades is very active with the Boy Scouts of America and is an advisory board member of Hale Opio. He has also been active with Kauai Economic Opportunity, United Way of Kauai, the Kauai Central Complex School to Work Opportunities, and the Private Industry Council.

Testimony in support of Mr. Contrades was submitted by five individuals.

DUANE KANUHA is a manager with Strategic Alternatives International LLC and a vice president of strategic planning and governmental affairs with Surety Kohala Corporation, Inc. Mr. Kanuha holds a Bachelor's degree in Geography from the University of Hawaii at Hilo and served as the director of planning for the County of Hawaii's Department of Planning. He has also worked as the land director for the Hamakua Sugar Company, Inc.; the managing director of PBR Hawaii's Hilo Office; the principal for DK Planning Consultant; the island of Hawaii's assistant land agent for the Department of Land and Natural Resources' Land Management Division; and the coastal zone management liaison officer for the County of Hawaii's Department of Planning.

Mr. Kanuha is currently the director of the Hawaii Leeward Planning Conference, a member and former chairperson of Na Ala Hele Hawaii Advisory Council for the Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Forestry and Wildlife, and a board member for Na Kalai Wa'a Moku O Hawaii.

Testimony in support of Mr. Kanuha was submitted by Hawaii Island Community Development Corporation; Hawaii Leeward Planning Conference; Lanihau Properties, LLC; PBR Hawaii; and sixteen individuals.

RANSOM A.K. PILTZ has been involved in the construction industry for the past forty years and is the president of Piltz Electric. Mr. Piltz has served as a member and as the chair on the Maui County Planning Commission for six years, and has been a member of the Maui Contractors Association for fifteen years. He was also a board member and former chair of the St. Anthony High School Board, a member of the Maui Youth and Family Services Board, a member of the Maui Hui Malama Board, and the president of the Home Builders Association – Maui Council.

Testimony in support of Mr. Piltz was submitted by the chair and one member from the Maui County Council, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union – Local 142, Smith Development, and eight individuals.

Your Committee finds that the nominees' experience, background, and expertise, coupled with their strong commitment to public service, make each a valuable asset to the Land Use Commission.

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.