SSCR829

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 829

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: GOV. MSG. NOS. 659, 660, 661, 662, 663, 664, 665, 666

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

Your Committees on Tourism and Hawaiian Affairs and Water and Land, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 659, 660, 661, 662, 663, 664, 665, and 666, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of:

Aha Moku Advisory Committee

G.M. No. 659	FRANCES KALUHIWA, for a term to expire 6-30-2016;
G.M. No. 660	PIILANI KAAWALOA, for a term to expire 6-30-2016;
G.M. No. 661	KEITH ROBINSON, for a term to expire 6-30-2016;
G.M. No. 662	KYLE NAKANELUA, for a term to expire 6-30-2016;
G.M. No. 663	WINIFRED BASQUES, for a term to expire 6-30-2016;
G.M. No. 664	LESLIE KULOLOIO, for a term to expire 6-30-2016;
G.M. No. 665	KAREN POEPOE, for a term to expire 6-30-2016; and
G.M. No. 666	THOMAS HASHIMOTO, for a term to expire 6-30-2016,

beg leave to report as follows:

Your Committees have reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees and find Frances Kaluhiwa, Pi‘ilani Ka‘awaloa, Keith Robinson, Kyle Nakanelua, Winifred Basques, Leslie Kuloloio, Karen Poepoe, and Thomas Hashimoto to possess the requisite commitment, sincerity, dedication, and qualifications to be nominated to the ‘Aha Moku Advisory Committee.

The ‘Aha Moku Advisory Committee was established pursuant to Act 288, Session Laws of Hawaii 2012, to serve in an advisory capacity to the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources on issues related to land and natural resources management through the ‘Aha Moku System, a system of best practices that is based upon the indigenous resource management practices of moku (regional) boundaries, which acknowledges the natural contours of land, the specific resources located within those areas, and the methodology necessary to sustain natural resources and the community.

FRANCES KALUHIWA

Your Committees received testimony in support of this nominee from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Nature Conservancy, Oahu Council of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, Kako‘o Oiwi, Ko‘olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club, Ko‘olau Foundation, Maemae Jones Ohana, Maunalua Hawaiian Civic Club, Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, Indigenous Consultants, and six individuals.

Among other activities, Ms. Kaluhiwa is an active member of the Ko‘olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club Board, Kako‘o Oiwi Board, Ko‘olau Foundation Board, and Kahalu‘u Neighborhood Board. As a strong advocate for the preservation of native Hawaiian culture, community members have identified Ms. Kaluhiwa as a steward and guardian for the cultural and marine resources of Kane‘ohe Bay. Through all her activities, she works passionately to integrate Hawaiian cultural practices and customs into laws and regulations governing Hawaii's natural and cultural resources.

PI‘ILANI KA‘AWALOA

Your Committees received testimony in support of this nominee from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Maunalua Hawaiian Civic Club, Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, Indigenous Consultants, and six individuals.

Ms. Ka‘awaloa practices and teaches traditional Hawaiian methods of fishing and farming. She currently serves as a community cultural liaison for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration regarding marine life and cultural Hawaiian practices. Among other activities, she is President of the Kalapana Community Organization and a member of the Kalapana Fishing Council. As a member of the ‘Aha Moku Advisory Committee, Ms. Ka‘awaloa seeks to engage and enable localities to become proactive stakeholders and beneficiaries in the care and management of their own community resources through traditional Hawaiian resource management practices.

KEITH ROBINSON

Mr. Robinson is a veteran, an Environmental Officer at Ni‘ihau Ranch, and owner of Kauai Wildlife (Hawaiian endangered species) Reserve where he grows Hawaiian endangered plants and trees. Mr. Robinson produces tens of thousands of seeds from these endangered species, which he distributes without charge to such organizations as the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Lyon Arboretum. He earned a degree in agronomy and has experience working as a commercial fisherman, a foreman at Ko‘olau Ranch, and as a Hawaiian Endangered species wildlife photographer, where he fostered a passion and appreciation for natural and cultural resource preservation.

KYLE NAKANELUA

Mr. Nakanelua has been working as a cultural consultant for the State of Hawaii since 1996. He also works as a consultant for private contractors, training company employees about Native Hawaiian traditions, customs, and protocols. Among other activities, he has served as the Operations Officer of the Royal Order of Kamehameha. He is on the Pu‘ukohola Heiau National Historic Site Advisory Committee and the Pihanakalani/Hale Ki‘i Heiau Restoration Committee. He is known in his community as a leader in providing young Hawaiian men with the means to reconnect with their culture and the skills to become valued members of their families and community.

WINIFRED BASQUES

Ms. Basques worked at the Lanai Community Hospital for twenty-two years. She is a member of Hui Kako‘o ‘Aina Ho‘opulapula, Hui Malama Pono O Lana‘i, and the Lana‘i Hawaiian Civic Club. She served on the ‘Aha Kiole Advisory Committee and is well-known in the community as a strong advocate for the residents of Lana‘i.

LESLIE KULOLOIO

Mr. Kuloloio is a veteran and an active member of the Maui community. His unique breadth of knowledge has served to educate countless boards, commissions, students, and residents on the importance of land to the Native Hawaiian culture and community. He is a cultural consultant to the Maui Lani Development Company and was a Honokahua burials Ritz Carlton Hotel cultural community representative.

KAREN POEPOE

Your Committees received testimony in support of this nominee from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Nature Conservancy, Maunalua Hawaiian Civic Club, Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, Indigenous Consultants, and two individuals.

Ms. Poepoe has played a significant role in the formation and organization of the ‘Aha Kiole o Moloka‘i. On this committee, she advised the Nature Conservancy on the forest conservation and invasive species management programs on Moloka‘i. Ms. Poepoe is highly regarded in her community and a knowledgeable advisor on Native Hawaiian cultural protocols.

THOMAS HASHIMOTO

Mr. Hashimoto is from Hanalei and has worked his whole life to protect Hawaiian resources through native Hawaiian cultural methods he learned from his father. He has been involved in the ‘Aha Moku process since its restoration in 2006. Mr. Hashimoto is a subsistence fisherman and has also contributed significantly to the contents of two books regarding the oral histories of Ha‘ena.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Tourism and Hawaiian Affairs and Water and Land that are attached to this report, your Committees, 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 recommend that the Senate advise and consent to the nominations.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Tourism and Hawaiian Affairs and Water and Land,

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MALAMA SOLOMON, Chair

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BRICKWOOD GALUTERIA, Chair