STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1787

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  GOV. MSG. NO. 150
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water, Land, and Hawaiian Affairs, to
which was referred Governor's Message No. 150, submitting for
study and consideration the nomination of:

HAWAIIAN HOMES COMMISSION

     G.M. No. 150       RAYNARD C. SOON, for a term to expire
                        December 31, 2002;

begs leave to report as follows:

     Upon review of the qualifications and other background
information submitted by the nominee, your Committee finds that
Raynard C. Soon has been the Administrator of the Department of
Hawaiian Home Lands' Temporary Development Assistance Group
(TDAG) and the Land Management Division (LMD) prior to being
appointed Acting Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission.

     In 1995, as the Administrator for the LMD, and again in
1998, as the Administrator for the TDAG, Mr. Soon garnered the
attention, respect, and admiration of his colleagues and clients
and was awarded the prestigious honor of Manager of the Year in
those years for his outstanding leadership and administrative
abilities.

     Testimony in support of the nomination was received from
members of the House of Representatives from the Seventh and
Forty-Third Representative districts, a Trustee of the Office of
Hawaiian Affairs, the Chairperson of the Honolulu City Council,
the Manager and Chief Engineer of the City and County of Honolulu

 
a                                                     GM150
                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1787
                                   Page 2


Board of Water Supply, two employees of the Department of
Hawaiian Home Lands, the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation, the
Nanakuli Hawaiian Homestead Community Association, the Waianae
Coast Culture and Arts Society, Incorporated, the Waianae Kai
Homestead Association, the Ahupua`a O Moloka`i, the Hawaii
Operating Engineers Industry Stabilization Fund, Kauahikaua &
Chun/Architects, the Maryl Group, Pacific Management Consultants,
Incorporated, Paul Louie & Associates, Incorporated, the West
Oahu Employment Corporation, and a number of concerned
individuals.

     Your Committee members diligently questioned the nominee
regarding his vision of the purpose, goals, and direction of the
Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.  Based on this discussion,
your Committee believes that the nominee will be an able
Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission and the Department
of Hawaiian Home Lands.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Water, Land, and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached
to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the
background, character, 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, Land, and
                                   Hawaiian Affairs,



                                   ______________________________
                                   COLLEEN HANABUSA, Chair

 
a                                                     GM150