STAND. COM. REP. NO. 679

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: GOV. MSG. NOS. 190, 191, 192, 193

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Media, Arts, Science, and Technology, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 190, 191, 192, and 193, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of:

Hawaii Historic Places Review Board

G.M. No. 190

DAWN E. DUENSING,

for a term to expire 06-30-2008;

G.M. No. 191

VICTORIA N. KNEUBUHL,

for a term to expire 06-30-2006;

G.M. No. 192

MICHIKO KODAMA-NISHIMOTO,

for a term to expire 06-30-2008; and

G.M. No. 193

PETER R. MILLS,

for a term to expire 06-30-2008,

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees, and finds the nominees to have the necessary qualifications to be appointed to the Hawaii Historic Places Review Board.

Your Committee received testimony on behalf of DAWN E. DUENSING from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and three individuals. Ms. Duensing earned bachelor's and master's degrees from Northern Illinois University and a Graduate Certificate in Historic Preservation from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Ms. Duensing has extensive experience in matters relating to cultural resources, including experience as a cultural resources planner, historical researcher, preservation planner, architectural historian, historic structure cataloguer, and national register of historic places nominations drafter. She has served as an interim board member representing the discipline of history since July 2004.

Your Committee received testimony on behalf of VICTORIA N. KNEUBUHL from the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Ms. Kneubuhl earned a bachelor's degree with a concentration in Hawaiian cultural studies from Antioch University and a master's degree from the University of Hawaii. She is the director of educational programs at the Manoa Heritage Center. Ms. Kneubuhl has extensive experience developing educational and interpretive programs to preserve and share Hawaiian history. She is also an accomplished playwright who has received numerous accolades for her works about Hawaiian history. Ms. Kneubuhl has served as an interim board member specializing in Hawaiiana since July 2004.

Your Committee received testimony on behalf of MICHIKO KODAMA-NISHIMOTO from the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Ms. Kodama-Nishimoto earned bachelor's degrees in history and anthropology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and has worked as a historian at the Center for Oral History for over twenty-five years. She has been a volunteer with the American Cancer Society, the American Youth Soccer Organization, and National Junior Basketball. Ms. Kodama-Nishimoto has served as an interim board member representing the discipline of history since July 2004.

Your Committee received testimony on behalf of PETER R. MILLS, Ph.D. from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and two individuals. Dr. Mills earned bachelor's degrees in anthropology and psychology from the University of Vermont, a master's degree in anthropology from Washington State University, and a Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of California at Berkeley. Dr. Mills is an associate professor of anthropology at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, and he has extensive experience in review and compliance procedures for National Register determinations of eligibility and the National Register nomination process for historic properties. He is currently working with the university to develop a cultural resource management master's degree program to help address Hawaii's historic preservation challenges. Dr. Mills has served as an interim board member representing the discipline of archeology since July 2004.

Through questioning by your Committee, all of the nominees demonstrated a solid understanding of the issues and resource challenges faced by the Hawaii Historic Places Review Board, and will be able to make strong contributions towards its improvement.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Media, Arts, Science, and Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominees, has found the nominees to be fully 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 Media, Arts, Science, and Technology,

____________________________

CAROL FUKUNAGA, Chair