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. 474 and 475, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of:

begs leave to report as follows:

NICHOLAS W. TEVES, JR. is an electrical contractor who has operated his own company, Commercial Electric, Inc., for thirty-three years. He is the president of Pacific Electrical Contractors Association and a board member of the Sand Island Business Association. Mr. Teves has also served on the Contractors License Board, the Aloha Tower Commission, and the Board of Electricians and Plumbers.

REUBEN S.F. WONG is a practicing attorney with over forty years of experience. Mr. Wong has a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from the University of Hawaii and a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Illinois. He is a member of the Hawaii Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the American Judicature Society, and the American Trial Lawyer's Association. He has served on the board of the Hawaii Chamber of Commerce, the board of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, and on the Legislative Advisory Study Commission on Water Resources.

Testimony in support of Mr. Teves was submitted by the Plumbers and Fitters Union Local 675, the Sand Island Business Association, the Subcontractors Association of Hawaii, and three individuals. Testimony in opposition to Mr. Teves was submitted by Hawaii's Thousand Friends, `Ahahui Malama I Ka Lokahi, and one individual. Comments were also submitted by the Hawaii Chapter of the Sierra Club.

Testimony in support of Mr. Wong was submitted by seven individuals. Testimony in opposition to Mr. Wong was submitted by the Conservation Council for Hawai`i, Hawaii's Thousand Friends, `Ahahui Malama I Ka Lokahi, and one individual. Comments were also submitted by the Hawaii Chapter of the Sierra Club.

Your Committee diligently questioned the nominees regarding their experience and knowledge of matters involving the Land Use Commission. Your Committee finds that both nominees' experience and knowledge are adequate to serve on 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.