STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3074

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 374

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 374, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of: 

Board of Agriculture

G.M. No. 374

JERRY L. ORNELLAS, for a term to expire 6-30-2014,

begs leave to report as follows:

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by the nominee, and finds Jerry L. Ornellas to have the necessary qualifications to be appointed to the Board of Agriculture.

     Testimony in support of the nominee was submitted by two state agencies, the Mayor of the County of Kauai, seven organizations, and thirteen individuals.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Mr. Ornellas was born and raised on the island of Kauai, where he attended and graduated from Kapaa High School.  He began farming at a young age and has continued his work in commercial farming for over forty years.  Mr. Ornellas has also worked for over twenty years as an Agricultural Research Technician/Farmer for the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, combining the science of agriculture with his extensive work experience in livestock, orchard, and vegetable farming and agricultural land and water management.

     Not only has Mr. Ornellas achieved success in farming, but he has also proven to be an effective leader.  He participated in the Agriculture Leadership Program, which selects participants from among leaders in the agriculture sector or a particular industry or rural community in the State to receive facilitation and collaborative leadership training to apply in their respective professions.

     When Lihue Plantation Company shut down in 2000, Mr. Ornellas translated his leadership skills and initiative to action as he joined a group of farmers and ranchers in forming the East Kauai User's Cooperative – the first of its kind in the State – to address complex issues concerning water delivery to East Kauai.  After two years of work, the Cooperative successfully developed and received the necessary permits to operate a water system.  Mr. Ornellas was elected President of the Cooperative in 2002 and continues to serve in that capacity in addition to leadership roles in other organizations, including Vice President of the Kauai County Farm Bureau, Chair of the Kauai Agricultural Advisory Committee, Co-Chair of the Kauai Economic Development Board's Food and Agriculture Committee, and Associate Director of the East Kauai Soil and Water Conservation District.

     Mr. Ornellas is dedicated to renewing the field of agriculture to become one of the leading industries in the State.  Numerous co-workers, community members, and leaders, particularly in the Kauai community, have testified to his commitment to agriculture, intimate knowledge and experience in agriculture, and ability to think prospectively to improve the field and business of agriculture in Hawaii.

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Ornellas is a well-respected leader whose knowledge, expertise, leadership, character, and willingness to serve the State would make him an invaluable 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