STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1702

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 719, 720, 721, 722, 723

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 719, 720, 721, 722, and 723, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Board of Directors of the Agribusiness Development Corporation

 

G.M. No. 719

DENISE ALBANO,

for a term to expire 6-30-2016;

 

G.M. No. 720

LLOYD HARAGUCHI,

for a term to expire 6-30-2015;

 

G.M. No. 721

LLOYD HARAGUCHI,

for a term to expire 6-30-2019;

 

G.M. No. 722

MARGARITA HOPKINS,

for a term to expire 6-30-2018; and

 

G.M. No. 723

YUKIO KITAGAWA,

for a term to expire 6-30-2018,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees and finds Denise Albano, Lloyd Haraguchi, Margarita Hopkins, and Yukio Kitagawa to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the Board of Directors of the Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC).

 

 

DENISE ALBANO

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Denise Albano from the Department of Agriculture; Agribusiness Development Corporation; Ulupono Initiative; Hawaii Friends of Civil Rights; Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc.; Shinsato Farm; Kakoo Ōiwi; Waimanalo Market Co-op; Hydroponics Alternatives LLC; Feed the Hunger Foundation; and ten individuals.

 

     Ms. Albano is the President and Co-Founder of the Feed the Hunger Foundation and its Hawaii program, Food for Thought, which work to address food security in Hawaii by providing loans and grants to microfinance businesses and organizations that provide and distribute local food and produce.  She previously worked as the Campaign Manager for The Nature Conservancy Hawaii and spent several years working in social services for youth, including the YMCA, Project YES/Youth Uprising, San Francisco Children and Families Commission, and Larkin Street Youth Services.

 

     Ms. Albano indicated in her testimony that she believes Hawaii needs more farmers on agricultural lands and that it is necessary for the State to establish food hubs that include transportation and packing and distribution centers to create a network that will assist small farmers to better supply agricultural products to consumers.

 

     Your Committee finds that Ms. Albano's past experiences with microfinance, Hawaii's local food system, and social services qualify her for appointment to the Board of Directors of the ADC as a representative of the City and County of Honolulu.

 

LLOYD HARAGUCHI

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Lloyd Haraguchi from the Department of Agriculture, Agribusiness Development Corporation, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Hawaii Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust, and two individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition from Farm Lovers Farmers Markets and seventeen individuals.

 

     Mr. Haraguchi is the former Executive Director of the Public Land Development Corporation.  He has previously worked for James Campbell Company, LLC, managing Hawaii Land Management assets consisting of agricultural land, water systems, telecom sites, and other zoned property; Fort Street Investment Corporation managing commercial retail and office properties on Oahu; the Estate of James Campbell managing, planning, and negotiating the permitting for land development projects in Kapolei and Kahuku; and the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation planning and overseeing the development of affordable housing projects on Oahu and Hawaii.

 

     Mr. Haraguchi indicated in his testimony that he believes all agriculture needs to be nurtured, regardless of the size of the operation, and that he believes Hawaii's farmers need to be given adequate resources.

 

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Haraguchi's past experiences with property and land management qualify him for appointment and reappointment to the Board of Directors of the ADC as an at-large member.

 

MARGARITA HOPKINS

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Margarita Hopkins from the Department of Agriculture, Agribusiness Development Corporation, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Hawaii Export Nursery Association, Big Island Association of Nurserymen, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, and eight individuals.

 

     Ms. Hopkins recently worked as the Agriculture Disaster Assistance Coordinator assisting recovery efforts for the agriculture industry negatively affected by Hurricane Iselle.  She previously worked for the County of Hawaii Department of Research and Development preparing and updating the county agricultural development plan.  Ms. Hopkins serves on numerous community boards and councils including the Language Access Advisory Council, Pacific West Area Institutional Biosafety Committee, and Big Island Resource Conservation & Development Council.

 

     Ms. Hopkins indicated in her personal statement that she has focused her career on assisting all types of farmers, with particular emphasis on small-scale farms.  She also indicated that she believes the ADC has the opportunity and responsibility to be an integral part of developing an agricultural industry that provides food and supports Hawaii's economy.

 

     Your Committee finds that Ms. Hopkins's past experiences in agricultural development and as an agricultural economist qualify her for appointment to the Board of Directors of the ADC as a representative of Hawaii County.

 

YUKIO KITAGAWA

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Yukio Kitagawa from the Department of Agriculture, Agribusiness Development Corporation, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and four individuals.

 

     Mr. Kitagawa formerly served as the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture from 1988 through 1994.  He also previously served as Assistant Director of the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Cooperative Extension Service and as Deputy Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture.  Mr. Kitagawa currently serves on a number of community boards including the Hawaii Marketing Alliance, Wahiawa Hongwanji, C & C Agriculture Development Task Force, and Hawaii Agriculture Resource Center.  He served as a member of the ADC Board of Directors from 1999 to 2002.

 

     Mr. Kitagawa indicated in his testimony that he believes the ADC should look at all types of agriculture, work with other departments, and encourage a dairy and increased food production on Oahu.

 

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Kitagawa's past experiences with agriculture and public service qualify him for appointment to the Board of Directors of the ADC as an at-large member.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

RUSSELL E. RUDERMAN, Chair