STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1626

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 688, 689

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 688 and 689, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

Land Use Commission

G.M. No. 688	ERNEST MATSUMURA, for a term to expire 6-30-2017; and
G.M. No. 689	SHELDON BIGA, for a term to expire 6-30-2015,

begs leave to report as follows:

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees and finds Ernest Matsumura and Sheldon Biga to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the Land Use Commission.

ERNEST MATSUMURA

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Ernest Matsumura from the Land Use Commission and six individuals.

     Ernest Matsumura received a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.  He has been the Chief Executive Officer of American Trading Co. Ltd. since 1971 and is the former owner (retired) of Designer Meats Inc. d.b.a. Miko Foods of Hawaii.  He is also the President of the East Hawaii Community Development Corporation.  Mr. Matsumura's experience includes Charter Director of Pacific Educational Foundation Inc. (Hawaii Jobs Corps); Past President/Director of the Kanoelehua Industrial Area Association; Hawaii County Advisor for SRI International, Menlo Park, California; Chairman of the Hawaii County Private Industry Council; Chairman of the Hawaii Island New Industry Development Committee; Principal of  Hawaii Job Corps Center Educational Department; Hawaii County Hospital Management Advisory Committee; Board of Director of Alu Like Inc. statewide; Region IX Business Roundtable program of the U.S. Department of Labor; and Chairman of the County of Hawaii Real Property Tax Board of Review.

     Mr. Matsumura has served on the Land Use Commission on an interim basis for the past two years, and your Committee finds that Mr. Matsumura's knowledge and skills will enable him to continue representing the island of Hawaii well on the Commission.

SHELDON BIGA

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Sheldon Biga from the Office of the Mayor of the County of Maui, Land Use Commission, and six individuals.

     Sheldon Biga is a Lead Millwright Journey Worker, Machine Shop at Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company in Kahului, Maui, a position which he has held since 1977.

     Mr. Biga has been serving on the Land Use Commission since June 2012.  According to testimony, he has already demonstrated the willingness and capability to contribute to the Commission.  Mr. Biga has worked hard to find common paths to resolve a number of difficult community issues and has been a leader in working for the betterment of his community.  He has a deep seated love of his island home of Maui, which lends important insight to the Commission.  Mr. Biga's philosophy on his role with the Land Use Commission is very holistic and multi-dimensional.  He sees the significance of the Commission as an opportunity to develop a balance between economic, cultural, and agricultural interests.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land 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 and Land,

____________________________

MALAMA SOLOMON, Chair