STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1893

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 526

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 526, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of: 

 

Deputy to the Chairperson, Department of Hawaiian Home lands

 

G.M. No. 526

KATIE DUCATT,

for a term to expire 12-07-2026,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by Katie Ducatt for service as the Deputy to the Chairperson of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Ms. Ducatt from the Governor, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Department of Transportation, Department of Public Safety, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Budget and Finance, Department of Taxation, Department of Human Services, Department of Health, Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Public Housing Authority, Office of Enterprise Technology Services, one former Chairperson of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, two Commissioners of the Hawaiian Homes Commission, one former Attorney General, Pacific Resource Partnership, Hui Kako‘o ‘Āina Ho‘opulapula, and thirty-four individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to the nomination for the appointment of Ms. Ducatt from four individuals.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Ducatt's background, experience, and dedication to community service qualify her to be appointed as Deputy to the Chairperson of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.  Ms. Ducatt has served as the interim Deputy since January 2023, where, despite the great attention surrounding the Department over the past ninety days, she has quietly and efficiently assisted in helping the Department to continue providing homestead and housing opportunities to native Hawaiian beneficiaries.  Previously, and especially relevant, Ms. Ducatt served for eight years as a Deputy Attorney General assigned to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, where she gained substantial working knowledge of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920, as amended, and obtained direct experience in real property, litigation, and other legal issues pertinent to the Department.  During this time, Ms. Ducatt also gained a deep understanding of the political and practical challenges facing the Department, as well as the many important issues impacting native Hawaiian homesteaders.

 

     Previously, Ms. Ducatt worked at a variety of boutique law firms, where she specialized in civil litigation relating to real property matters.  Your Committee believes that Ms. Ducatt's subject matter expertise in this area will serve her well given how fundamental real property issues are to the Department's mission.  Ms. Ducatt also served as a Deputy Public Defender for the Office of the Public Defender and served as a law clerk to then Circuit Judge of the Court of the First Circuit, Richard Pollack, who would later become an Associate Justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court.  Ms. Ducatt earned a Juris Doctorate from the William S. Richardson School of Law and a Bachelors degree in Business Administration from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa.

 

     Your Committee notes that, during the hearing, Ms. Ducatt took the time to recognize and directly address the testimony in opposition to her nomination, displaying a strong willingness to listen to the concerns of all beneficiaries.  Your Committee finds that Ms. Ducatt, with her extensive legal background, deep understanding of real property law and native Hawaiian issues, and core institutional knowledge gained through eight years of dedicated service, possesses the requisite qualifications to serve as the Deputy to the Chairperson of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.  Your Committee believes that Ms. Ducatt's legal expertise and knowledge of the Department is a tremendous asset that will help Ms. Ducatt carry out her expressed intent to implement formal training, internal policies, and workflows to minimize gaps in current processes to ultimately help reduce the number of beneficiaries on the waiting list.  Your Committee believes that Ms. Ducatt, with her reputation as a trustworthy, highly-organized, and detail-oriented public servant, will greatly compliment Chairperson Watson as he seeks to take immediate action on the twenty projects identified in the strategic plan approved by the Hawaiian Home Lands Commission.  Therefore, your Committee recommends that Katie Ducatt be appointed as the Deputy to the Chairperson of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands based on her knowledge, experience, and commitment to public service.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

MAILE S.L. SHIMABUKURO, Chair