STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3675

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 854

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 854, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of: 

Commission On Water Resource Management

G.M. No. 854

NEIL HANNAHS, for a term to expire 06-30-2020,

begs leave to report as follows:

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by the nominee and finds Neil Hannahs to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated for appointment to the Commission on Water Resource Management.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Neil Hannahs from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Aha Moku Advisory Committee; The Nature Conservancy; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; Ponoholo Ranch, Limited; and nineteen individuals.

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Hannahs' experience as the Director of the Kamehameha Schools Land Assets Division and Founder of Ho‘okele Strategies LLC, commitment to public service, and proven leadership qualify him to be nominated for appointment to the Commission on Water Resource Management.  Your Committee notes that Mr. Hannahs has over thirty years of executive level experience working with Kamehameha Schools.  He is the Director of the Kohala Center, Aloha Kuamo‘o ‘Āina, and Hawai‘i BioRefineryCo; Treasurer of the Wai‘anae Coast Redevelopment Corporation; and Chair of the Polynesian Voyaging Society Board of Directors.  He has previously served as the President of Hui Hānai, Kaka‘ako Improvement Association, and Land Use Research Foundation; Vice President of the Historic Hawai‘i Foundation; and Treasurer of Pacific Islanders in Communication.  Your Committee further finds that Mr. Hannahs has been nominated for appointment to the Commission on Water Resource Management based on his knowledge and experience with land and resource management and willingness to serve the public.

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

____________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair