SSCR1355

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1355

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: GOV. MSG. NOS. 533, 534, 535

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. 533, 534, and 535, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of:

Natural Area Reserve System Commission

G.M. No. 533

ARLENE BUCHHOLZ,

for a term to expire 6-30-2013;

G.M. No. 534

RONALD RAPANOT,

for a term to expire 6-30-2013; and

G.M. No. 535

JOHN SINTON,

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 Arlene Buchholz, Ronald Rapanot, and John Sinton to have the necessary qualifications to be nominated to the Natural Area Reserve System Commission.

Testimony in support of the nomination of Arlene Buchholz was submitted by one state agency, one organization, and five public citizens.

Dr. Buchholz received her Bachelor's degree in Chemistry from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Oregon State University, and her Master's of Public Health from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She is currently employed as a Veterinary Medical Officer III for the Hawaii State Department of Health, Disease Outbreak Control Division. Dr. Buchholz is a Board member for the Hawaii Audubon Society, an outings leader for the Sierra Club Hawaii Chapter, and a member of the Hawaiian Trail and Mountain Club. Dr. Buchholz satisfies the requirement that a member of the Natural Area Reserve System Commission be a member of a hiking organization organized in the State.

Dr. Buchholz has been a hike and service trip leader for sixteen years with the Sierra Club Hawaii Chapter, and a volunteer program and Christmas bird count coordinator with the Hawaii Audubon Society for ten years. She has visited many Natural Area Reserves, Wildlife Refuges, and State and National Parks in Hawaii as a service project participant or a hiker. Dr. Buchholz has been witness to the restoration of Kaena Point with native coastal plants and increasing populations of nesting Laysan Albatross, Wedge-Tailed Shearwaters, and Monk Seals. Her interests include native birds, the Hawaiian Hoary Bat, wildlife disease, and invasive species prevention and control.

Testimony in support of the nomination of Ronald Rapanot was submitted by one state agency.

Mr. Rapanot is a graduate of Molokai High School, and retired after thirty-five years from the Maui Electric Company. He is President of the Molokai Hunters Association, a representative on the Molokai Hunters Advisory Council, and a representative of hunters on the Molokai Hunting Working Group working with The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii. Mr. Rapanot satisfies the requirement that a member of the Natural Area Reserve System Commission be a member of a hunting organization organized in the State.

Mr. Rapanot has worked with The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii to seek a balance between resource protection and the interests of hunters, and finding ways to integrate the diverse viewpoints. He will be the first person to serve on the Natural Area Reserve System Commission from Molokai, and he has a great familiarity with the Puu Alii and Olokui Natural Area Reserves, and the Pelekunu and Kamakou Preserves, which are part of the Natural Area Partnership Program.

Testimony in support of the nomination of John Sinton was submitted by one state agency and three public citizens.

Dr. Sinton received his Bachelor's degree in Geology from the University of California at Santa Barbara, his Master's degree in Geology from the University of Oregon, and his Doctor of Philosophy in Geology from the University of Otago in New Zealand. He is presently employed as a Professor in the Department of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Dr. Sinton satisfies the requirement that a member of the Natural Area Reserve System Commission be a person possessing scientific qualifications as evidenced by an academic degree in geology.

Dr. Sinton's experiences as a professor and lecturer have provided him the ability to explain geological concepts to diverse listeners. During his thirty-one years in Hawaii, he has developed a deep appreciation for Hawaii's native flora and fauna, and is an amateur botanist. Dr. Sinton previously served on the Hawaii State Earthquake Advisory Board, the Department of Land and Natural Resources Geothermal Geotechnical Advisory Committee, and as Chair of the Department of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Additionally, he has advised the former State Geologist and previous Natural Area Reserve System commissioners. Dr. Sinton has a demonstrated understanding of the scientific principles necessary to inform the Commission, and a strong desire to contribute to the State's administration of its natural resources.

Written testimony presented to your 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