STAND. COM. REP. NO. 855

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 392

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 392, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of: 

Board of Agriculture

G.M. No. 392

DERRICK F. NISHIMURA, for a term to expire 6-30-2010,

begs leave to report as follows:

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by the nominee, and finds Derrick F. Nishimura to have the necessary qualifications to be nominated to the Board of Agriculture.

     Testimony in support of the nomination of Derrick F. Nishimura was submitted by two state agencies, one organization, and two individuals.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Mr. Nishimura is a graduate of the Agricultural Leadership Foundation of Hawaii at the University of Hawaii at Manoa's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, and of the University of Hawaii at Hilo, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in General Agriculture.  He is currently the General Manager for Agro Resources, Inc. and has previously held supervisory, support, and technical positions for several businesses in the agriculture and agribusiness industries.

     Mr. Nishimura has thirty years of experience in various Hawaii agriculture-related businesses, spanning four islands; a broad range of industries, including papaya, guava, cattle, sugar, macadamia nuts, and coffee; and various job functions, including field operations in guava and coffee production, developing application rates for weed control, recruiting and managing seasonal workers, and maximizing crop yields.

     Mr. Nishimura currently serves on the Board of Agriculture and has also served as a former Board member and past Vice President of the Kauai County Farm Bureau, and former Board member and Secretary of the Hawaii Coffee Growers Association.  Mr. Nishimura's commitment to help agriculture thrive in Hawaii and his extensive background in agriculture make him a valuable asset to the Board of Agriculture.

     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,

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair