STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 2415
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: GOV. MSG. NO. 506
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirtieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2020
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 506, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of:
Chairperson of the
Hawaiian Homes Commission, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands
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G.M. No. 506 |
WILLIAM J. AILA, for a term to expire 12-31-2022 (title amended to Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands by GM510), |
begs leave to report as follows:
Your Committee reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by William J. Aila for service on the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.
Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of William J. Aila from the Office of the Governor; Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; Department of Accounting and General Services; Department of Public Safety; Department of Transportation; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Department of Human Resources Development; Department of Budget and Finance; Department of Agriculture; Department of Human Services; Department of Taxation; Department of Health; Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Hawaiian Homes Commission; Office of Enterprise Technology Services; Hawaii State Energy Office; Hawaiian Community Development; Ko‘olau Foundation; Hokukahu, LLC; DeBartolo Development; Kobayashi Sugita & Goda, LLP; Hawaii Conservation Alliance Foundation; Mohala I Ka Wai; Ko‘olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club; Oahu Economic Development Board; Maui Humane Society; PBR Hawaii & Associates, Inc.; Hawaii Operating Engineers Industry Stabilization Fund; Honolulu Habitat for Humanity; Makaha Hawaiian Civic Club; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Kina‘ole Foundation; Sanji PM LLC; Pacific Strategies LLC; Nanakuli Housing Corporation; Aloha Ke Akua; Waiohuli Hawaiian Homesteaders Inc.; Capital Consultants of Hawaii; and one hundred eleven individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to the nomination for the appointment of William J. Aila from the Keaukaha Community Association; The Villages of La‘iopuna Association; O‘oma Homestead Alliance, LLC; La‘i‘Opua Community Development Corp.; Helekunihi Cultural Foundation; Maku‘u Farmers Association; Beneficiary Trust Council; Pana‘ewa Hawaiian Home Lands Community Association; Ku Kia‘i Kahuku; Keaukaha Pana‘ewa Farmers Association; Association of Hawaiians for Homestead Lands; Anahola Hawaiian Homestead Association; and one hundred nineteen individuals. Your Committee received comments on the nomination for the appointment of William J. Aila from one individual.
Your Committee
finds that Mr. Aila
is a graduate of Wai‘anae High School and received a Bachelor of Science degree in
General Tropical Agriculture from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Mr. Aila resides with his family on a
Hawaiian Home Lands agricultural lease and has been a committed community
servant for decades, serving on the National Marine Protected Areas
Advisory Council, Ka‘ena
Point Advisory Group, Advisory Group to the U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii, U.S.
Army Ordnance Reef Advisory Committee, Leeward Community College Wai‘anae Campus - Advisory
Board, Hui I Malama I Na Kupuna O Hawaii Nei, Ka Papa O Kakuhihewa, Hawaii
Community Development Authority, and Wai‘anae
Weed and Seed Task Force, among others.
Mr. Aila worked as a commercial fisherman
for twenty-eight years then for the Department of Land and Natural Resources as
a Harbor Agent for the Wai‘anae Boat Harbor for over twenty years. Mr. Aila was then appointed to lead the
Department of Land and Natural Resources, as Chairperson of the Board of Land
and Natural Resources, from 2010 through 2014, where his accomplishments
included securing the final Board of Land and Natural Resources' approval of
the Hā‘ena, Kaua‘i community based
subsistence fishing area rules, protecting critical watershed areas, expanding
Hawai‘i's Natural Area Reserve
System program, and establishing new enforcement mechanisms to protect Hawaii's
cultural and natural resources.
In 2014, Mr. Aila was appointed to be the
Deputy to the Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission. Additionally, from May 2019 to the present,
Mr. Aila served as Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission and Director of
the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.
While at the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Mr. Aila has begun
diversifying lot offerings with products, including turnkey homes, vacant lots,
and several dwellings. Mr. Aila has also
taken steps toward increasing the number of products available to beneficiaries
while preparing to produce one thousand three hundred lots over the next five
years. Mr. Aila's other
accomplishments at the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands include completing new
administrative rules for planned communities, multi-family complexes, and
rental housing, which expand residential lease offering and housing opportunities. These new administrative rules for rental
housing are an integral part of the release of a request for proposal issued under
the leadership of Mr. Aila to develop affordable rentals at 820 Isenberg in
Moilili. Given the greatest demand for residential
leases on Oahu, Mr. Aila worked to secure additional land on Oahu suitable for
residential development through the purchase of three parcels in Moilili from
Kamehameha Schools. Finally, Mr. Aila
was able to acquire forty-four acres utilizing affordable housing credits near
Wailuku, Maui that have one hundred thirty-seven turnkey homes and twenty-four
vacant lots scheduled to become available following an environmental assessment.
Your Committee finds that Mr. Aila's personal experience as the spouse of a homesteader who endured relocation almost nine years after accepting the original homestead award provides him with insight into the frustrations of Hawaiian home lands beneficiaries. Therefore, your Committee recommends that Mr. Aila be appointed as Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission based on his achievements, experience, and commitment to public service.
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 |
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