STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3135

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 428, 461

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 428 and 461, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Molokai Irrigation System Water Users Advisory Board

 

G.M. No. 428

LARRY S. SAGARIO,

for a term to expire 6-30-2011; and

 

G.M. No. 461

MOKE KIM,

for a term to expire 6-30-2013,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements of the nominees, and finds Larry S. Sagario and Moke Kim to have the necessary qualifications for the Molokai Irrigation System Water Users Advisory Board.

 

Testimony in support of the nomination of Larry S. Sagario was submitted by two state agencies.

 

Mr. Sagario is nominated to the Molokai Irrigation System Water Users Advisory Board to represent the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.  He is presently employed as the Water Department Supervisor for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.  Previously, he worked for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands Parks Department and as a Laborer at the Kalaupapa Settlement for the Department of Health.  Mr. Sagario has a Class B Commercial Drivers License with Hazmat, and is certified as a commercial applicator for restricted-use pesticides and a public water systems operator.

 

Mr. Sagario has more than fifteen years experience working in water systems maintenance, and maintains an excellent working relationship with Department of Hawaiian Home Lands beneficiaries and the Molokai community.  When both wells at the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands' Kalae site broke down last year, Mr. Sagario was responsible for leading the Department's efforts to repair the wells and coordinating with Molokai Ranch personnel and engineers to complete the necessary repairs for the first well.  He continues to coordinate with these parties to complete the repairs on the second well.  He has shown leadership and compassion in helping the community, once when told to turn off a customer's water meter, he instead went to the person's home and talked to them about going to the office to pay their bill.  His initiative helped everything work out for both parties.  Your Committee looks forward to Mr. Sagario bringing his extensive experience with water systems, and his positive relationship with the community, to the Molokai Irrigation System Water Users Advisory Board.

 

Testimony in support of the nomination of Moke Kim was submitted by one state agency.

 

Mr. Kim is nominated to the Molokai Irrigation System Water Users Advisory Board to represent Homestead Farmer users.  He received his Master's degree in Education from Brigham Young University.  He is presently a Homestead Farmer and a Substitute Teacher for the Department of Education.  Mr. Kim produces western, exotic, and native plants on his farm, and is an irrigation customer.  He is also a Kupuna resource for the Kamehameha Schools Ka Ike o Na Kupuna program.  Mr. Kim is a board member and docent for The Nature Conservancy – Molokai, and is a board member of the Hoolehua Farmers Alliance.  He is a member of the Hawaii State Teachers Association, the National Education Association, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, the Hawaii High School Athletic Association, the Hikiola Cooperative, and the Hoolehua Homestead Association.

 

Mr. Kim wishes to be a member of the Molokai Irrigation System Water Users Advisory Board to ensure equitable water usage with non-Homestead users.  He wants to fairly represent all users, while protecting the rights of native Hawaiians.  He has been a Homestead Farmer for more than twenty years, and has developed a water system for his use that incorporates intensive conservation practices.  While serving on the Board, Mr. Kim hopes to keep Homesteaders informed of decisions that will affect them.  Your Committee looks forward to Mr. Kim bringing his agricultural expertise and experience, and strong desire to serve the community, to the Molokai Irrigation System Water Users Advisory Board.

 

     Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and 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 Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs,

 

 

 

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair