STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3708
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: GOV. MSG. NOS. 878, 880, 881, 882, 883, 884
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Twenty-Eighth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2016
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 878, 880, 881, 882, 883, and 884, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of:
Island Burial Council, Islands Of Kaua'i And Niihau
|
G.M. No. 878 |
RICHARD NESMITH, for a term to expire 06-30-2017;
|
|
G.M. No. 880 |
KEITH YAP, for a term to expire 06-30-2016;
|
|
G.M. No. 881 |
KEITH YAP, for a term to expire 06-30-2020;
|
|
G.M. No. 882 |
THEODORE BLAKE, for a term to expire 06-30-2016;
|
|
G.M. No. 883 |
THEODORE BLAKE, for a term to expire 06-30-2020; and
|
|
G.M. No. 884 |
SANDRA QUINSAAT, for a term to expire 06-30-2020, |
begs leave to report as follows:
RICHARD NESMITH
Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Richard NeSmith from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, County of Kauai Office of Economic Development, and two individuals.
Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. NeSmith has built a reputation in his community for promoting Hawaiian culture and language. Mr. NeSmith was born in Waimea, Kauai and raised in Kekaha, and he has ohana ties to Anahola and kūpuna in Halelea and Nāpali. Mr. NeSmith has a Doctor of Philosophy in applied linguistics from the School of Maori and Pacific Development, University of Waikato, New Zealand. He also holds a Master of Arts in Pacific Islands Studies from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a Bachelor's degree in Hawaiian Studies. Mr. NeSmith has taught Hawaiian language, literature, and culture for more than twenty years. Your Committee therefore finds that Mr. NeSmith has been nominated for appointment to the Island Burial Council, Islands of Kauai and Niihau based on his knowledge, experience, and commitment to Hawaiian culture and language.
KEITH YAP
Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment and reappointment of Keith Yap from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Yap's professional skills and experience qualify him for appointment to the Island Burial Council, Islands of Kauai and Niihau. Mr. Yap holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Accounting from the University of Hawaii. He is a Certified Public Accountant and is currently employed at Gay & Robinson, Inc., as its Director of Administration and Treasurer. Your Committee further finds that Mr. Yap's executive position with Gay & Robinson, Inc., one of Kauai largest landowners, provides the Council with a valuable perspective when it conducts its business and deliberations. Your Committee also finds that Mr. Yap has a thorough understanding of the role and responsibilities of council members and has been nominated for appointment and reappointment to the Island Burial Council, Islands of Kauai and Niihau, representing landowners and developers based on his knowledge, professional experience, and commitment to the Kauai community.
THEODORE BLAKE
Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment and reappointment of Theodore Blake from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and four individuals.
Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Blake's substantial contributions to his community and to preserving and perpetuating Hawaiian culture demonstrate his qualification for appointment to the Island Burial Council, Islands of Kauai and Niihau. Mr. Blake has spent more than forty-five years identifying, restoring, and preserving wahi pana and cultural sites. Your Committee further finds that the Council will benefit from the knowledge passed to Mr. Blake from his ohana, whose roots extend in the Kōloa area for at least sixty-five generations. Mr. Blake is also the Executive Director of Malama Koloa, an organization that seeks to preserve and perpetuate Hawaii's natural and cultural resources, and is a member of the Royal Order of Kamehameha. Your Committee finds that Mr. Blake has been nominated for appointment and reappointment to the Island Burial Council, Islands of Kauai and Niihau, representing landowners and developers based on his knowledge, experience, and commitment to Hawaiian culture and his community.
SANDRA QUINSAAT
Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Sandra Quinsaat from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and two individuals.
Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Quinsaat's professional and personal experience and her commitment to her community will be valuable assets and additions to the Island Burial Council, Islands of Kauai and Niihau when the Board conducts its business and deliberations. Ms. Quinsaat was involved with the application of Hawaii laws regarding disposition of human skeletal remains when such remains were discovered at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa where she currently works as a Project Manager, and at other properties such as The Point at Poipu, Marriott Waiohai, and Sheraton Kauai Resort. Ms. Quinsaat performs reinterment of iwi kūpuna with traditional Hawaiian protocol. Your Committee finds that Ms. Quinsaat's first hand experiences with iwi kūpuna will be a helpful resource to the Island Burial Council. Your Committee also notes that Ms. Quinsaat served on the Island Burial Council, Islands of Kauai and Niihau, from 2004 to 2012, and your Committee finds that Ms. Quinsaat has a thorough understanding of the role and responsibilities of board members. Your Committee therefore finds that Ms. Quinsaat has been nominated for appointment to the Island Burial Council, Islands of Kauai and Niihau, representing the geographic region of Koloa based on her knowledge, professional experience, and commitment to her community.
As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on 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 Hawaiian Affairs,
|
|
|
____________________________ MAILE S.L. SHIMABUKURO, Chair |
|
|
|
|