STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1607

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 614, 615, 616, 617, 618, 619

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 614, 615, 616, 617, 618, and 619, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Environmental Council

 

G.M. No. 614

MARY BEGIER,

for a term to expire 06-30-2018;

 

G.M. No. 615

MICHAEL TULANG,

for a term to expire 06-30-2020;

 

G.M. No. 616

PUANANIONAONA THOENE,

for a term to expire 06-30-2020;

 

G.M. No. 617

ROBIN KAYE,

for a term to expire 06-30-2020;

 

G.M. No. 618

STEPHANIE DUNBAR-CO,

for a term to expire 06-30-2018; and

 

G.M. No. 619

THERESITA KINNAMAN,

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 Mary Begier, Michael Tulang, Puananionaona Thoene, Robin Kaye, Stephanie Dunbar-Co, and Theresita Kinnaman to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the Environmental Council.

 

MARY BEGIER

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Ms. Mary Begier from the Office of Environmental Quality Control, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, and six individuals.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Begier's professional experience and background in business and real estate qualify her to be nominated for appointment to the Environmental Council.  Your Committee notes that Ms. Begier is the Principal Broker and Owner of Mary Begier Realty, serves as a member of the Honolulu Board of REALTORS, and volunteers through the Rotary Club of Hilo Bay, Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce, and Hawaii Island REALTORS.  She served on the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts for eight years and has been participating as an interim appointee on the Environmental Council.  Based on her knowledge, experience, and commitment to public service, your Committee finds that Ms. Begier will continue to be an asset to the Environmental Council.

 

MICHAEL TULANG

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Mr. Michael Tulang from the Office of Environmental Quality Control; Ponoholo Ranch, Limited; and Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Tulang's professional experience and background in agricultural and environmental fields qualify him to be nominated for appointment to the Environmental Council.  Your Committee notes that Mr. Tulang has worked for the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service as a Watershed Planning Economist and Resource Conservationist and served as Executive Director of the Hawaii Association of Conservation Districts.  He is a member of the Hawaii Island Workforce and Economic Development Ohana Board, Boys and Girls Club Board, Phi Sigma Epsilon, and Hawaii Cattlemen's Association, and has been participating as an interim appointee on the Environmental Council.  Based on his knowledge, experience, and commitment to public service, your Committee finds that Mr. Tulang will continue to be an asset to the Environmental Council.

 

PUANANIONAONA THOENE

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Ms. Puananionaona Thoene from the Office of Environmental Quality Control and ten individuals.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Thoene's professional experience and background in land use and environmental law qualify her to be nominated for appointment to the Environmental Council.  Your Committee notes that Ms. Thoene practices in the areas of land use law, environmental law, corporate law, administrative law, and real property law.  She serves as a member of the Hawaiian Islands Land Trust Oahu Island Advisory Council and Prince Kuhio Hawaiian Civic Club, volunteers with the Hawaii Access to Justice Commission, and has been participating as an interim appointee on the Environmental Council.  Based on her knowledge, experience, and commitment to public service, your Committee finds that Ms. Thoene will continue to be an asset to the Environmental Council.

 

ROBIN KAYE

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Mr. Robin Kaye from the Office of Environmental Quality Control, Conservation Council for Hawaii, Marine and Coastal Zone Advocacy Council, and thirteen individuals.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Kaye's professional experience and background in management consulting and conservation qualify him to be nominated for appointment to the Environmental Council.  Your Committee notes that Mr. Kaye serves as the spokesperson for Friends of Lānai and provides consulting services to the Lānai Youth Center, Lānai Culture & Heritage Center, Coalition for a Drug Free Lānai, and Lānai Community Health Center.  He has served on the Marine and Coastal Zone Advocacy Council, Board of the Conservation Council for Hawaii, and E Alu Pū, and co-founded the Lānai Limu Restoration Project.  He has been participating as an interim appointee on the Environmental Council.  Based on his knowledge, experience, and commitment to public service, your Committee finds that Mr. Kaye will continue to be an asset to the Environmental Council.

 

STEPHANIE DUNBAR-CO

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Ms. Stephanie Dunbar-Co from the Office of Environmental Quality Control; Ponoholo Ranch, Limited; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; The Nature Conservancy Hawaii; and two individuals.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Dunbar-Co's professional experience, education, and background in the ecology, evolution, and conservation biology of Hawaiian flora qualify her to be nominated for appointment to the Environmental Council.  Your Committee notes that Ms. Dunbar-Co is the East Slope Project Manager with The Nature Conservancy and led the expansion of the East Molokai Watershed Partnership.  She serves as the Program Manager of Kainalu Ranch and has been participating as an interim appointee on the Environmental Council.  Based on her knowledge, experience, and commitment to public service, your Committee finds that Ms. Dunbar-Co will continue to be an asset to the Environmental Council.

 

THERESITA KINNAMAN

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Ms. Theresita Kinnaman from the Office of Environmental Quality Control.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Kinnaman's experience and background as an advocate for community needs and conservation qualify her to be nominated for appointment to the Environmental Council.  Your Committee notes that Ms. Kinnaman is Secretary of the cultural non-profit organization Hui Malama O Kāneiolouma and has served on the County of Kauai Open Space Commission, National Tropical Botanical Gardens Lāwai Kai Resource Advisory Committee, and Koloa Community Association Board of Directors.  She has been participating as an interim appointee on the Environmental Council.  Based on her knowledge, experience, and commitment to public service, your Committee finds that Ms. Kinnaman will continue to be an asset to the Environmental Council.

 

     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