STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1680

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: GOV. MSG. NO. 583

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 583, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of:

Island Burial Council, Island of Hawai'i

G.M. No. 583

RANDALL HIGA, for a term to expire 06-30-2021,

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee reviewed the personal history and resume submitted by Randall Higa for service on the Island Burial Council, Island of Hawaii.

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Randall Higa by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Randall Higa has served as an interim member on the Island Burial Council, Island of Hawaii, since late 2018. Although originally from O‘ahu, Mr. Higa has made his home in the Hāmākua moku and has genealogical ties to Liloa of Waipi‘o. Your Committee finds that Mr. Higa has dedicated his life to his community, with a career in education and the Honolulu Fire Department, where he retired as a Captain. He has also spent years preserving the natural beauty of Hawaii and local community gathering places by participating in beach and park cleanups and performing volunteer park maintenance.

Your Committee further finds that Mr. Higa has a history of working to preserve historic sites by performing restoration work on multiple walls, fishponds, and other historic sites, including working on projects involving Hawaiian dry stack wall renovation at Pu‘u Koholā Heiau, Kalaupapa, and at the Kaloko-Honokōhau Fishpond. Mr. Higa not only preserves Hawaii's past but has also been a notable advocate for broadening the appeal of traditional Hawaiian arts to younger generations by serving on the Board of Directors of several canoe clubs.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on 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 Hawaiian Affairs,

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MAILE S.L. SHIMABUKURO, Chair