STAND. COM. REP. NO 631

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 510

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 510, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of:

 

Deputy to the Chairperson of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands

 

G.M. No. 510

WILLIAM AILA JR.,

for a term to expire 12-3-2018,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by the nominee and finds William Aila, Jr., to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated as the Deputy to the Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Mr. Aila from the Governor; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Transportation; Department of Budget and Finance; Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation; University of Hawaii System; Aha Moku Advisory Committee; Koolaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club; Queen Liliuokalani Childrens Center; ValueRock Realty Partners; Hawaii Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust; Democratic Party of Hawaii – Hawaiian Affairs Caucus; United Public Workers, AFSCME, Local 646, AFL-CIO; Hoomana Pono LLC; Building Industry Association of Hawaii; Ocean Tourism Coalition; Kapolei Community Development Corporation; Anahola Farmers and Ranchers Association; Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters; Sovereign Councils of the Hawaiian Homelands Assembly; Pelatron; Koolau Foundation; The Nature Conservancy; Ashford & Wriston, a Limited Law Partnership LLP; Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement; Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce; Special Olympics Hawaii; Auamo I Na Alakai; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; Princess Kaiulani Hawaiian Civic Club; Honua Consulting; Oka's Auto Body and Paint; and forty-two individuals.  Your Committee also received a petition in support of the nomination signed by twenty-four individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to the nomination from one individual.

 

     Mr. Aila is a graduate of Waianae High School.  He received a Bachelor of Science degree in General Tropical Agriculture from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

 

     Mr. Aila served as the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources from 2010-2014.  He spent the previous twenty-three years as the harbor agent for the Waianae Boat Harbor.

 

     Mr. Aila's community service includes membership in the National Marine Protected Areas Advisory Council, Kaena Point Advisory Group, Advisory Group to US Army Garrison Hawaii, US Army Ordnance Reef Advisory Committee, Leeward Community College Waianae Campus Advisory Board, Hui Malama I Na Kupuna O Hawaii Nei, Ka Papa O Kakuhihewa, Hawaii Community Development Authority, Waianae Weed and Seed Task Force, Mohala I Ka Wai, and numerous other groups.

 

     Your Committee received overwhelming testimony in support of Mr. Aila's nomination.  Various testifiers spoke to his ability to work together with groups of people and bring them together.  Your Committee also heard testimony of Mr. Aila's work ethic and hands on approach to problem solving while serving as the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources.  Mr. Aila expressed that he is personally aware of the struggles facing beneficiaries as they seek to obtain home land leases.  He and his wife spent over twenty years working through the Hawaiian home lands processes to obtain their homestead parcel.

 

Your Committee believes that Mr. Aila's work ethic, professional background, and personal experience make him qualified to serve as the Deputy to the Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission.

 

     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,

 

 

 

____________________________

MAILE S.L. SHIMABUKURO, Chair