STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1179

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 515

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

Board of Agriculture

G.M. No. 515

CLARK S. HASHIMOTO, for a term to expire 6-30-2013,

begs leave to report as follows:

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

     Testimony in support of the nomination of Clark S. Hashimoto was submitted by one state agency, one county agency, two organizations, and nine individuals.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Mr. Hashimoto earned a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Business Management from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.  He is currently an Agriculture Specialist for the County of Maui's Office of Economic Development.  Prior to his current position, Mr. Hashimoto worked for twenty-eight years as a County Extension Agent and County Administrator for the University of Hawaii's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, three years as a full-time persimmon farmer, and two years as an Agriculturalist with the Hawaiian Sugar Planters Association.

     In addition to building extensive work experience in agriculture, Mr. Hashimoto has also served as a Board member of the Maui County Farm Bureau and Board of Water Supply.  He is a current member of the Makawao Hongwanji Mission and has been a youth baseball coach for over twenty years.  He has worked hard to build his family's persimmon business, increasing production, expanding the marketing of products to Oahu, and selling a broader range of products.  Mr. Hashimoto is committed to educating the youth on agriculture and food, which is just one of the reasons he is well-respected, especially within the Maui agricultural community.

     Mr. Hashimoto offers a unique perspective with significant experience in the private and public sectors, depth of knowledge and experience in agriculture, and solid character, all of which make him an excellent candidate for 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