STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1870

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 421, 615

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 Nos. 421 and 615, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission

G.M. No. 421	MILTON M. ARAKAWA, for a term to expire 6-30-2011; and
G.M. No. 615	CRAIG A. NEFF, for a term to expire 6-30-2011,

begs leave to report as follows:

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Milton M. Arakawa from Munekiyo Hiraga, Inc.; Chair of the Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve Commission; one Maui Councilmember; and one individual.

     The nominee is the Director of the Department of Public Works and Environmental Management, County of Maui.  He has worked for the Hawaii Community Development Authority and the Department of Planning and Economic Development.

     Mr. Arakawa received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Sociology, a Master of Arts in Sociology degree, and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa.  He is a member of the American Planning Association, American Institute of Certified Planners, and Kiwanis Club of Maui.

     Your Committee notes the nominee's personal statement to the effect that the Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve Commission should act as a steward of the Island of Kaho‘olawe.  All actions on the island should be done in accord with a master plan.  The plan should outline specific achievable steps to maximize and leverage finite resources, as well as maximize efforts in the areas of environmental restoration, enhancement of cultural resources, and development of appropriate infrastructure.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Craig A. Neff from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve Commission; Kohe Malamalama O Kanaloa; and six individuals. 

     The nominee is the owner of The Hawaiian Force, a retail clothing boutique in Hilo that features his artwork and designs on clothing and other items.  He has previous service with the Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve Commission from 1994-1999, and 2001-2002.  Mr. Neff has been a member since 1981 of the Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana.  His community service includes protection and repatriation of iwi kupuna on Moloka‘i and Kaho‘olawe.

     Mr. Neff received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa.  Your Committee notes his personal statement to the effect that he has been consistently involved with Kaho‘olawe as a member of the Protect Kaho‘olawe Ohana for the past twenty-six years.  He has walked the island from ili to ili, and has paddled around the island from bay to bay.  He served on the Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve Commission in its formative years which focused on the development of safety and management policies, plans, and protocols.  He has been involved in each and every burial protection and stabilization process conducted on the island.  Mr. Neff is trained as a Na‘alapa in the protocols to protect and stabilize the religious and cultural sites on Kaho‘olawe.

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

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

____________________________

RUSSELL S. KOKUBUN, Chair