STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1434

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 516, 517

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 Nos. 516 and 517, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

Commission on Water Resource Management

G.M. No. 516	SUMNER P. ERDMAN, for a term to expire 6-30-2013; and
G.M. No. 517	NEAL S. FUJIWARA, for a term to expire 6-30-2013,

begs leave to report as follows:

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees, and finds Sumner P. Erdman and Neal S. Fujiwara to have the necessary qualifications to be nominated to the Commission on Water Resource Management.

     Testimony in support of the nomination of Sumner P. Erdman was submitted by one state agency, four organizations, and eleven individuals.

     Mr. Erdman earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Puget Sound.  He also participated in the University of Hawaii's Agricultural Leadership Program and Stanford University's Executive Business Leadership Program.  Since 1995, Mr. Erdman has served as the President of Ulupalakua Ranch, Inc., a cattle and elk operation on Maui.

     Mr. Erdman has actively served on several boards and commissions.  He is the Founding Director of the North American Elk Breeders Association, both Vice President and President of the Maui Cattlemen's Association and the Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, and Director of the Central Maui Soil and Water Conservation District.  He has also served as a member of the state Board of Agriculture.  Through his involvement with Ulupalakua Ranch and these boards and commissions, he has garnered extensive knowledge and experience with local water issues and finding resourceful means of conserving and managing water.  Additionally, Mr. Erdman's commitment to and leadership on the stewardship of resources make him an excellent candidate for the Commission on Water Resource Management.

     Testimony in support of the nomination of Neal S. Fujiwara was submitted by one state agency, two organizations, and thirteen individuals.

     Mr. Fujiwara earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agronomy/Plant Science from Utah State University.  He worked for the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for thirty-two years, serving as a Maui District Conservationist and managing programs on the islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanai, and Kahoolawe.  In his capacity as a District Conservationist, Mr. Fujiwara administered programs to enhance and conserve water supplies, improve water quality, and reduce damage from floods and other natural disasters.  Mr. Fujiwara performed his duties in partnership with other federal, state, and local government agencies, and he contributes this experience of building strong teams and community ties to the Commission on Water Resource Management.

     Mr. Fujiwara has served as a member of the Commission on Water Resource Management since 2005.  As a member of the Commission and through experiences with the NRCS, Mr. Fujiwara has been involved in the designation of Na Wai Eha on Maui, the first surface water management area in the State; the establishment of interim instream flow standards for East Maui; the adoption of the 2008 Water Resource Protection Plan; obtaining funding for the construction of Kahakapao Reservoirs in upcountry Maui; and other water use-related activities.  Mr. Fujiwara's experience and technical knowledge make him an excellent nominee for a second term on the Commission.

     Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     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,

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair