STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1828

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                   

 

RE:     GOV. MSG. NOS. 767, 768, 769, 770

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 767, 768, 769, and 770, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Island Burial Council, Islands of Kauai and Niihau

 

G.M. No. 767

WAYNE HARADA,

for a term to expire 06-30-2022;

 

G.M. No. 768

SANDRA QUINSAAT,

for a term to expire 06-30-2024;

 

G.M. No. 769

SHERRI-LEE CUMMINGS YOKOTAKE,

for a term to expire 06-30-2021; and

 

G.M. No. 770

SHERRI-LEE CUMMINGS YOKOTAKE,

for a term to expire 06-30-2025,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by Wayne Harada, Sandra Quinsaat, and Sherri-Lee Cummings Yokotake for the Island Burial Council, islands of Kauai and Niihau.

 

WAYNE HARADA

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Wayne Harada from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and one individual.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Harada's professional experience, background, and commitment to public service qualify him for appointment to the Island Burial Councils, islands of Kauai and Niihau as the representative for the geographic region of Waimea/Na Pali.  Mr. Harada is a former member, previously serving two terms on the Island Burial Council, islands of Kauai and Niihau.  While on the Council, Mr. Harada was able to work with other members to meet deadlines in a timely manner and assist community members with iwi kūpuna issues with cultural sensitivity.  As a reflection of his strong genealogical ties, Mr. Harada believes that he has gained the respect and trust of many Native Hawaiian elders of north Kauai, who have provided him with oral histories and knowledge of indigenous burial practices and protocol.

 

     Mr. Harada's family is from the Halelea moku and Wainiha ahupuaa and he descends from the Kanialama and Haumea lines from Maui and Kauai.  He served as an educational coordinator for the Hanalei Watershed Hui, and as a cultural specialist for various educational programs on Kauai, including the Nā Pua No‘eau and Pualani Foundation.  He is the current Hawaiian cultural specialist for the Kanuikapono Public Charter School in Anahola.  As an educator, Mr. Harada seeks to teach ike kuuna, hula, and chants to students to carry on the legacy of their ancestors.  He also engages in traditional and customary Native Hawaiian practices of hula as a dancer with Hālau Ha‘a Hula o Kekauilani Nā Pua Hala o Kailua, fishing and farming, developing courses in self-sustainability, and as a member of Hui Maka‘āinana o Makana to restore kalo patches in Haena State Park.  Therefore, your Committee finds that Mr. Harada has a thorough understanding of the role and responsibilities of board members and will be an asset to the Island Burial Council, islands of Kauai and Niihau, based on his knowledge, experience, and desire to contribute to the 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 one individual.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Quinsaat's professional experience, background, and commitment to public service qualify her for reappointment to the Island Burial Council, islands of Kauai and Niihau as the representative for the geographic region of Koloa.  Your Committee notes that Ms. Quinsaat previously 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 finds that 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, where she seeks the advice and respect of kūpuna.  These are critical attributes for council members whose primary purpose is to serve the best interests of kūpuna and surviving families and descendants.  Ms. Quinsaat has been a strong voice for kūpuna in Koloa for many years.

 

     Ms. Quinsaat also maintains strong connections with the community and seeks to protect cultural traditions.  She currently serves on the Protocol Committees at the Hyatt and with Nā Kalai Wa‘a o Kaua‘i and dances hula with Hula Hālau Na Hui o Kamakaokalani.  Your Committee therefore finds that Ms. Quinsaat will be an asset to the Island Burial Council, islands of Kauai and Niihau, based on her knowledge, professional experience, and commitment to her community.

 

SHERRI-LEE CUMMINGS YOKOTAKE

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment and reappointment of Sherri-Lee Cummings Yokotake from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Cummings Yokotake's professional experience, background, and commitment to public service qualify her for appointment and reappointment to the Island Burial Council, islands of Kauai and Niihau as the representative for the geographic region of Hanalei.  Ms. Cummings Yokotake's maternal genealogical ties are to Kauai and Niihau.  Ms. Cummings Yokotake has served as the Vice President of the Hanalei Hawaiian Civic Club, director of the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement Directors of Native Rights for the Sovereign Council of Hawaiian Homestead Associations, and Vice President of the Anahola Hawaiian Homes Association.  In several of these roles, Ms. Cummings Yokotake worked on matters involving legislative policies and resolutions with impacts on the Native Hawaiian community which allowed her to advocate at the state and federal levels.

 

     Additionally, Ms. Cummings Yokotake is a founder of a Native Hawaiian organization, Mālama Anahola, and owner of LYC Construction Company for the past seven years.  As a former contractor and land developer, Ms. Cummings Yokotake was involved in due diligence related to the inadvertent discovery of iwi kūpuna on projects her company worked on.  In this capacity, she developed cultural mitigation plans prior to the start of all projects with high likelihoods of encountering significant findings, including unmarked ancestral burials.  These efforts allowed her company to mitigate inadvertent discovery of iwi kūpuna.  Ms. Cumming Yokotake's understanding of land development and construction issues and commitment to kuleana have allowed her to be an appropriate advisor for burial issues in Anahola.  Your Committee finds that Ms. Cummings Yokotake will be an asset to the Island Burial Council, islands of Kauai and Niihau, 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