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. 788, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of:

begs leave to report as follows:

MEREDITH J. CHING is the vice president of Government and Community Relations for Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. and is a current member of the Commission on Water Resource Management. She holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Stanford University and a master's degree in business administration from the University of California at Los Angeles. Ms. Ching is also a board member of the Hawaii Nature Center, a trustee of the Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, a board member of the Young Men's Christian Association of Honolulu (YMCA), a board member of the Kapiolani Health Foundation, a board member of Hawaii Medical Service Association, a board and executive committee member of the Land Use Research Foundation, and a board and executive committee member of the Hawaii Resort Developers Conference.

Testimony in support of Ms. Ching was submitted by the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Castle & Cooke Homes Hawaii, Inc.; Hawaii Nature Center; the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 142; the Gentry Companies; the Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii; the Maui Cattle Company; the Maui County Farm Bureau; the Maui Land & Pineapple Company, Inc.; Molokai Properties Limited; YMCA; and five individuals. Testimony in opposition to Ms. Ching was submitted by the Sierra Club.

Your Committee noted that there are concerns regarding Ms. Ching's employment with Alexander & Baldwin, a large agricultural company and water user in the State, and her public-trust responsibilities as a member on the Commission on Water Resource Management. However, after questioning Ms. Ching, your Committee finds that she is aware of her responsibilities to the people of Hawaii as a commissioner and is able to appropriately recuse herself in situations or decisions that directly affect her employer, Alexander & Baldwin.

Your Committee finds that the nominee's experience, background, and commitment to public service make her an asset to the Commission on Water Resource Management.

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.