Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 315, 377, and 378, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of:

begs leave to report as follows:

CARL A. CARLSON, JR. possesses extensive experience in agriculture and ranching, having served as president for Parker Ranch, Inc., Hawaii Meat Company, Ltd., and Kona Livestock & Land Management, Ltd. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from California State Polytechnic University. Mr. Carlson's professional and community affiliations include serving as a director of The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii and The Kohala Center, and as a member of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, the Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, and Kona Family YMCA. He is currently on the Board of Agriculture.

DIANE L. LEY is the deputy director for the County of Hawaii's Department of Research and Development and has worked as the deputy to the chairperson for the Department of Agriculture, an administrative assistant for both the Big Island Farm Bureau and the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, and an assistant coordinator for the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources' Agricultural Leadership Foundation Program. Ms. Ley's professional and community affiliations include the Agricultural Leadership Foundation of Hawai`i, the Agribusiness Development Corporation, the Agricultural Leadership Foundation of Hawaii Alumni Association, the Hawaii Florist and Shippers Association, the Agriculture Committee for the Hawaii Island Economic Development Board, and the Fern Forest Community Association.

DERRICK F. NISHIMURA has over twenty-five years of experience working in the agricultural industry. Currently, he works for Kilauea Agronomics as an orchard superintendent. Mr. Nishimura received a Bachelor of Science degree in general agriculture from the University of Hawaii at Hilo. He is a current member of the Kauai County Farm Bureau and the Hawaii Coffee Growers Association and has served on both organizations' boards.

Testimony in support of Mr. Carlson was submitted by the Department of Agriculture, the Hawaii Leeward Planning Conference, KTA Super Stores, and twenty individuals.

Testimony in support of Ms. Ley was submitted by the Department of Agriculture, the Agribusiness Development Corporation, the Mayor of the County of Hawaii, the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, and three individuals.

Testimony in support of Mr. Nishimura was submitted by the Department of Agriculture, the Agribusiness Development Corporation, the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, the Kauai County Farm Bureau, and three individuals.

Upon review of the testimony and written statements submitted by the nominees, your Committee finds that the nominees have the necessary character, experience, and qualifications to serve on the Board of Agriculture.

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.