STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1990

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                   

 

RE:     GOV. MSG. NOS. 538, 542, 543, 544

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 538, 542, 543, and 544, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority

 

G.M. No. 538

PAUL HORNER,

for a term to expire 06-30-2025;

 

G.M. No. 542

RICHARD MATSUDA,

for a term to expire 06-30-2025;

 

G.M. No. 543

GARY KRUG,

for a term to expire 06-30-2024; and

 

G.M. No. 544

KAMANAMAIKALANI BEAMER,

for a term to expire 06-30-2024,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by Paul Horner, Richard Matsuda, Gary Krug, and Kamanamaikalani Beamer for service on the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority.

 

PAUL HORNER

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Mr. Horner from the Hawaiian Civic Club of Hilo, Kūpuna for the Mo‘opuna, and three individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to the nomination for the appointment of Mr. Horner from one individual.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Horner's background, experience, and dedication to community service qualify him to be appointed to the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority.  Mr. Horner has been serving as an interim member of the Authority since his appointment in September 2022.  Mr. Horner was selected from a list of names submitted by the President of the Senate.  Mr. Horner, a Native Hawaiian, is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Na Leo ‘o Hawai‘i, a public access television organization whose mission is to facilitate diverse community dialogue and educational awareness for the citizens of Hawaii island.  Previously, Mr. Horner gained considerable hospitality industry experience through his work as a manager at the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau and various resort locations on Hawaii island, such as The Club at Kukui‘ula, Sheraton Kona Resort and Spa at Keauhou Bay, Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa at Keahou Bay, and others.

 

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Horner, with his extensive background in business, tourism, and hospitality, will provide a diverse perspective that will enhance the work of the Authority.  Mr. Horner has been with the Authority since its inception and has demonstrated his commitment and willingness to engage in the hard work necessary to establish the new agency.  Your Committee finds that Mr. Horner has a thorough understanding of the role and responsibilities of Authority members and therefore recommends that Paul Horner be appointed to the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority based on his knowledge, experience, and commitment to public service.

 

RICHARD MATSUDA

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Mr. Matsuda from the Maunakea Observatories, Hawaiian Civic Club of Hilo, Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce, Hawai‘i Island Chamber of Commerce, and seven individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to the nomination for the appointment of Mr. Matsuda from three individuals.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Matsuda's background, experience, and dedication to community service qualify him to be appointed to the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority as a member selected from a list of names submitted by the Maunakea Observatories.  Mr. Matsuda has been serving as an interim member of the Authority since his appointment in September 2022.  Mr. Matsuda has dedicated nearly three decades of his career to the W. M. Keck Observatory on Mauna Kea.  Currently, Mr. Matsuda serves as the Associate Director of External Relations, where he has built relationships with government leaders, legislators, and the community on behalf of the Observatory.  Previously, Mr. Matsuda served as the Chief of Operations and served as a member of the Mauna Kea Working Group.  Before then, Mr. Matsuda worked in a variety of electrical engineering and management roles.  Prior to joining the Observatory, Mr. Matsuda was employed as a Senior Design Engineer at Boeing.

 

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Matsuda, with his extensive science and engineering background and twenty-eight years of experience working at one of the most prominent and well-known observatories on Mauna Kea, is well-suited to join the Authority.  Mr. Matsuda has been with the Authority since its inception –- in addition to serving on the Authority's predecessor, the Mauna Kea Working Group -- and has demonstrated his commitment to getting the new agency off the ground.  Your Committee believes that Mr. Matsuda's long history with Mauna Kea and his unique perspective as a representative of astronomers will allow him to greatly contribute to future discussions.  Your Committee finds that Mr. Matsuda has a thorough understanding of the role and responsibilities of Authority members and therefore recommends that Richard Matsuda be appointed to the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority based on his knowledge, experience, and commitment to public service.

 

GARY KRUG

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Dr. Krug from the Hawaiian Civic Club of Hilo, Kūpuna for the Mo‘opuna, and three individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to the nomination for the appointment of Dr. Krug from three individuals.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Dr. Krug's background, experience, and dedication to community service qualify him to be appointed to the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority.  Dr. Krug has been serving as an interim member of the Authority since his appointment in September 2022.  Dr. Krug was selected as an individual recognized as possessing expertise in the fields of p-12 public education or post-secondary education.  Dr. Krug currently serves as the Principal of Ka Waihona o ka Na‘auao Public Charter School in Nanakuli, Oahu, which provides its students with an environment of academic excellence, social confidence, and Hawaiian cultural awareness.  Previously, Dr. Krug was an Educational Specialist for the Department of Education's Hawaiian Language Immersion Program, where he helped revitalize the Hawaiian language in the State's public schools.  Before then, Dr. Krug worked in a variety of roles at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and lectured on courses covering p‑12 education and Hawaiian studies.  Dr. Krug has also published and presented numerous scholarly works on such subjects.  In 2022, Dr. Krug was bestowed the Educator of the Year award by the Native Hawaiian Education Association.

 

     Your Committee finds that Dr. Krug, with his extensive background in p-12 education and Native Hawaiian culture, will provide a unique perspective that will help enhance the work of the Authority.  Dr. Krug has been with the Authority since its inception and is dedicated to the work of the new agency.  Dr. Krug has deep ties to Mauna Kea and his expansive knowledge of Native Hawaiian cultural issues will help contribute to the work of the Authority as well as build community trust.  Your Committee finds that Dr. Krug has a thorough understanding of the role and responsibilities of Authority members and therefore recommends that Gary Krug be appointed to the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority based on his knowledge, experience, and commitment to public service.

 

KAMANAMAIKALANI BEAMER

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Dr. Beamer from the Hawaiian Civic Club of Hilo, Kūpuna for the Mo‘opuna, Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Corporation, and ten individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to the nomination for the appointment of Dr. Beamer from five individuals.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Dr. Beamer's background, experience, and dedication to community service qualify him to be appointed to the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority.  Dr. Beamer has been serving as an interim member of the Authority since his appointment in September 2022.  Dr. Beamer was selected as an individual with aina (land) resource management expertise and specific experience with Hawaii island-based management.  Dr. Beamer currently serves as a Full Professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and is associated with the Kamakakūokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies, Hawai‘inuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge, William S. Richardson School of Law, and Hui ‘Āina Momona program.  Dr. Beamer also currently serves as a board member for the University of Hawai‘i Professional Assembly and Aloha Kuamo‘o ‘Āina, a nonprofit founded to steward the lands and waters of Kuamo‘o, Hawaii island.  Previously, Dr. Beamer served as a member of the State Water Resource Management Commission, where he similarly helped protect and manage the waters of the State.  Before then, Dr. Beamer held a variety of administrative roles at the Kamehameha Schools.  Dr. Beamer was also the former President and Chief Executive Officer of The Kohala Center, an independent and community-based center for research, conservation, and education.  Dr. Beamer has also published and presented numerous scholarly works on subjects such as water management, conservation, and ahupua‘a in the Hawaiian Kingdom.  Dr. Beamer also secured approximately $17,000,000 in grants and donations for his various institutions and organizations.

 

     Your Committee finds that Dr. Beamer, with his extensive background in science, education, conservation, and water resource management -- largely focused on Hawaii island -- will provide a diverse perspective that will help enhance the work of the Authority.  Dr. Beamer has likewise been with the Authority since its inception and has testified as to his commitment to build the new agency to be a consortium for all stakeholders.  Your Committee finds that Dr. Beamer has a thorough understanding of the role and responsibilities of Authority members and therefore recommends that Kamanamaikalani Beamer be appointed to the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority based on his knowledge, experience, and commitment to public service.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land 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 Water and Land,

 

 

 

____________________________

LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair