STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1885

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 702

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

Island Burial Council, Island of Oahu

G.M. No. 702

CY M. BRIDGES, for a term to expire 6-30-2011,

begs leave to report as follows:

     Your Committee reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by the nominee, and finds Cy M. Bridges to have the necessary qualifications to be nominated to the Island Burial Council, Island of Oahu.

     Testimony in support of Cy M. Bridges' nomination was submitted by the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and seven individuals.

     Mr. Bridges is a graduate of Kahuku High School and attended Church College of Hawaii (now Brigham Young University of Hawaii) and Leeward Community College.  He currently serves as the Cultural Director of the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie where he oversees all aspects of the cultural presentations throughout the Center, and has been with the Polynesian Cultural Center since 1969.  Mr. Bridges serves as the President of the Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association, as a Cultural Consultant for the Innovative Development Group, and is a member of the Lanihuli Hawaiian Civic Club.  Additionally, he serves on the Ko‘olauloa Neighborhood Board, the Hau‘ula Community Association, and the Ko‘olauloa Vision Team.

     Mr. Bridges has been nominated to serve a second term on the Council as the regional representative for the Ko‘olauloa District.  During his first term with the Council, he was instrumental in wrapping, preparing, and re-interring a large number of iwi from Kualoa to Turtle Bay and in other areas of Oahu.  He received an invitation from the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum to coordinate the protocol, preparation, and transferring of the iwi kupuna of Aotearoa at the Museum to the staff members of the Te Papa Museum in Tongarewa, Wellington, New Zealand.  Furthermore, he has represented Hawaii at numerous cultural conferences, workshops, seminars, and arts festivals around the world.  Most recently, he was a judge at one of Hawaii's most prestigious cultural events, the Merrie Monarch Festival.

     Mr. Bridges has been involved with Hawaiian culture and traditions throughout his life and is committed to assisting, teaching, and serving the community.  His extensive knowledge of and experience in burial issues, vast knowledge of family genealogical ties, and cultural expertise makes Mr. Bridges an invaluable cultural resource for the Island Burial Council, Island of Oahu.

     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