STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1758

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 511, 728

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 511 and 728, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Board of Agriculture

 

G.M. No. 511

EN YOUNG,

for a term to expire 06-30-2025; and

 

G.M. No. 728

RANDOLPH CABRAL,

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 En Young and Randolph Cabral for service on the Board of Agriculture.

 

EN YOUNG

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the reappointment of En Young from the Department of Agriculture; Ponoholo Ranch Limited; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Ulupono Initiative LLC; Hawaii Farm Bureau; and one individual.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Young's background, experience, and dedication to public service qualify him for reappointment to the Board of Agriculture.  Your Committee finds that Mr. Young grew up in South Kona in what was the largest macadamia nut orchard in the world, giving him exposure to the agricultural field at a young age.  Your Committee notes that he currently serves as the principal of Keei Consulting, LLC dedicated to the improvement of food systems in the private and non-profit sectors, including advising on food safety and produce processing, non-profit program development, land use and supply chain development, workforce development and training, and farmer engagement and contract structure.   Mr. Young was previously hired as the Executive Director of The Food Basket, Inc. and as a contract, performance, and evaluation administrator of the Office of Community Services, where he supervised the U.S. Department of Agriculture Emergency Food Program and the Senior Farmer's Market Nutrition Program.  At The Food Basket, Mr. Young connected the demand created by the underfed with the supply excesses of local farms, allowing the State to create a model for incentivizing the consumption of fresh produce at all socioeconomic levels.  Mr. Young has also previously served as the General Manager of Sensei Holdings, Inc., where he built a team to staff a modern hydroponic farm on Lanai.  This experience allowed Mr. Young to train local workers in innovative agricultural skills, reexamine land use priorities, and consistently produce high quality farm products.

 

     Your Committee further finds that Mr. Young serves as the Immediate Past Chair of the Hawaii Alliance of NonProfit Organizations and previously served as the Director of the Hawaii Public Health Institute, Director of the Hawaii Public Housing Authority, Treasurer of the Hawaii Economic Opportunity Council, and Founding Member of the Hawaii Island Food Alliance.  Your Committee notes that Mr. Young has served on the Board of Agriculture since 2020.  Your Committee further notes that Mr. Young has a thorough understanding of the roles and responsibilities of board members and his background and perspective, especially in new agricultural technologies, will enhance the effectiveness of the Board of Agriculture.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Mr. Young be reappointed to the Board of Agriculture based on his knowledge, background, and dedication to public service.

 

RANDOLPH CABRAL

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the reappointment of Randolph Cabral from the Department of Agriculture; Agribusiness Development Corporation; Ponoholo Ranch Limited; Hawaii Aquaculture & Aquaponics Association; Larry Jefts Farms, LLC; Saiva Siddhanta Church; Mulkern Landscaping & Nursery; Hawaii Farm Bureau; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; McCandless Ranch; W.T. Haraguchi Farm, Inc.; Hikiola Cooperative; Molokai Farm Bureau; Ulupono Initiative LLC; Ag Matters; and twenty individuals.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Cabral's background, experience, and dedication to public service qualify him for reappointment to the Board of Agriculture.

 

     Your Committee notes that Mr. Cabral previously worked as the Senior Vice-President of Royal Hawaiian Orchards where he provided operational oversight of six thousand acres of macadamia orchards and two hundred employees for more than thirty years.  Mr. Cabral's diverse professional background also includes experience in vegetable crops, sugar, and livestock production.  He currently operates a small ranch on Hawaii Island, and serves as the President of the Hawaii Farm Bureau.  He also serves as a member of the Agricultural Leadership Foundation of Hawaii, Hawaii Macadamia Nut Association, Hawaii Cattlemen's Association, Puna and Hawaii Association of Conservation Districts, and is a founding member of Kinoole Farmers Market and Moaula Water Cooperative.  Mr. Cabral has served on the Board of Agriculture since 2017.  These experiences demonstrate that Mr. Cabral has various farming and ranching experiences in both large- and small-scale agricultural positions and knowledge in the operations of conventional, organic, and emerging technologies.  Mr. Cabral brings outstanding leadership and stability to farming organizations.

 

     Mr. Cabral has also served on non-agriculture related boards demonstrating his commitment to his community, including Crime Stoppers, Hawaii Island United Way, and the University of Hawaii Hilo Agriculture Advisory Board.  Your Committee finds that in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Cabral helped to coordinate the BRIDGES program on the island of Hawaii to feed tens of thousands of needy local families, while paying local producers for their fresh products.  Mr. Cabral also assisted farmers on the island of Hawaii after the 2018 Kilauea eruptions.  Based on his knowledge of Hawaii's diverse agricultural industries, experience, and commitment to public service, your Committee finds that Mr. Cabral will continue to be an asset to the Board of Agriculture.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair