STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1571

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 821

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 821, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of: 

 

Commission on Water Resource Management

 

G.M. No. 821

DENISE ANTOLINI,

for a term to expire 6-30-2015,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by the nominee and finds Denise Antolini to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the Commission on Water Resource Management.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Denise Antolini from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Koolaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club, Ahahui Malama I Ka Lokahi, Hawaiian Islands Land Trust, University of Hawaii Biology Alumni Association, Kanehili Cultural Hui, The Trust For Public Land, Aha Moku Advisory Committee, Koolau Foundation, Conservation Council For Hawaii, The Nature Conservancy, The Outdoor Circle, Hookipa Network – Kauai, Malama O Puna, Surfrider Foundation, Ai Pohaku, and numerous individuals.

 

     Denise Antolini received a Juris Doctor degree from the Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California at Berkeley, and a Master of Public Policy degree from the Graduate School of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley.  She received a Bachelor of Arts degree magna cum laude from Princeton University.  She is the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of Law at the William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawaii at Manoa.  Ms. Antolini teaches environmental law and is currently in the process of publishing Hawaii Environmental Law.

 

     The nominee is currently serving as an interim appointment for the Commission on Water Resource Management.  She was also the Chair of the City and County of Honolulu Clean Water & Natural Lands Commission where she advised the Honolulu City Council on expenditures to support the acquisition of conservation land on Oahu.

 

     As a practicing attorney, Ms. Antolini worked on several Water Code cases, including as the lead attorney for community groups in the landmark Waiahole water case.  She has also worked on cases related to ground water management area designation, well permits, Native Hawaiian rights, and public trust doctrine issues related to water resources.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land 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 Water and Land,

 

 

 

____________________________

LAURA H. THIELEN, Chair