STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1732

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 292

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 292, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of: 

Board of Agriculture

G.M. No. 292

LAURIE KWAI-HOON HO, for a term to expire 6-30-2010,

begs leave to report as follows:

     Your Committee reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by the nominee, and finds Laurie Kwai-Hoon Ho to have the necessary qualifications to be nominated to the Board of Agriculture.

     Testimony in support of Laurie Kwai-Hoon Ho's nomination was submitted by the Department of Agriculture; the Agribusiness Development Corporation; the Office of Economic Development, County of Kauai; the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation; the Kauai County Farm Bureau; the Kaua‘i Museum Association, Ltd.; the Lihu‘e Business Association; and nine individuals.

     Ms. Ho is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools and received her Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Technology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  She is currently a Coordinator for Garden Island Resources Conservation and Development, which is part of the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the United States Department of Agriculture.  As Coordinator, she assists the Resource Conservation and Development Board of Directors in developing long-range and annual plans of work, builds effective coalitions with government agencies, groups, and individuals, and facilitates meetings for local task forces, steering committees, and advisory groups.

     Ms. Ho joined the Board of Agriculture as an interim appointment member representing Kauai in the summer of 2006 and in that time has show her great ability to serve.  She contributes to the Board twenty-nine years experience with the United States Department of Agriculture where she has worked individually and collaboratively with local, national, and international producers and her commitment to reconnecting Kauai consumers with their local agriculturalists.  This is an important initiative that the Department of Agriculture recognizes as an invaluable necessary step toward garnering the public support needed to keep agriculture viable in Hawaii.  Ms. Ho's demonstrated commitment, motivation, farming background, education, and life experiences will greatly assist the Board of Agriculture with important decisions affecting agriculture in Hawaii.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs 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.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

RUSSELL S. KOKUBUN, Chair