STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3437

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 615, 616, 617

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 615, 616, and 617, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Kahana Valley Living Park Planning Council

 

G.M. No. 615

LAUREN TANAKA,

for a term to expire 06-30-2017;

 

G.M. No. 616

ROBERT STAUFFER,

for a term to expire 06-30-2016; and

 

G.M. No. 617

ROBERT STAUFFER,

for a term to expire 06-30-2020,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees and finds Lauren Tanaka and Robert Stauffer to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the Kahana Valley Living Park Planning Council.

 

LAUREN TANAKA

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the reappointment of Lauren Tanaka from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and one individual.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Tanaka's background, experience, and proven leadership as a Planner for the Division of State Parks of the Department of Land and Natural Resources qualify her to be nominated for consideration for reappointment to the Kahana Valley Living Park Planning Council.  Your Committee notes that Ms. Tanaka has decades of experience as a Planner with the Department of Land and Natural Resources and has been a member of the Kahana Valley Living Park Planning Council since 2009.  Ms. Tanaka indicates in her personal statement that she hopes to significantly contribute to a master plan for the Kahana Valley Living Park, find resolutions for outstanding issues and concerns at the park, and maintain trust and responsibility to provide meaningful cultural programs for park visitors.  Your Committee believes that Ms. Tanaka's knowledge, experience, and commitment to public service will continue to assist the Council in achieving these goals.

 

ROBERT STAUFFER

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment and reappointment of Robert Stauffer from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and one individual.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Stauffer's background, experience, and proven leadership as a state government historical project planning manager and program manager qualify him to be nominated for consideration for appointment and reappointment to the Kahana Valley Living Park Planning Council.  Your Committee notes that Mr. Stauffer is a part-time lecturer at the University of Hawaii at Manoa Ethnic Studies Department and manages the Ka Hooilina:  Journal of Hawaiian Language Sources and its corresponding web projects.  Mr. Stauffer was the first Park Coordinator for the Kahana Valley Living Park and wrote Kahana:  How the Land was Lost (UH Press, 2004) after years of academic research, including reading most available reports and manuscripts on the ahupuaa of Kahana.  Your Committee finds that Mr. Stauffer's wealth of historical knowledge of the park and Kahana area will assist the State and park residents in providing interpretive programs for the cultural enrichment of park visitors.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair