January 23, 2020 12:30 P.M. State Capitol, Room 016 G.M. 506
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DAVID Y. IGE TESTIMONY BY: GOVERNOR JADE T. BUTAY DIRECTOR Deputy Directors LYNN A.S. ARAKI-REGAN DEREK J. CHOW ROSS M. HIGASHI EDWIN H. SNIFFEN STATE OF HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 869 PUNCHBOWL STREET HONOLULU, HAWAII 96813-5097 January 23, 2020 12:30 p.m. State Capitol, Room 016 G.M. 506 Submitting for consideration and confirmation as the Commission Chair of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Gubernatorial Nominee, WILLIAM J. AILA, for a term to expire 12-31-2022 Senate Committee on Hawaiian Affairs The Department of Transportation (DOT) strongly supports the confirmation of William Aila Jr. as the Commission Chairperson of the Department of Hawaiian Homelands (DHHL). Mr. Aila’s strength is the fact that he understands DHHL’s responsibilities. As an environmentalist, a community activist, and a native Hawaiian cultural practitioner, he has had a lot of experience and knows the critical issues. He doesn't walk in as somebody who agreed to take the job. He walks in as someone who is willing and able and would be instrumental to make DHHL bring parties together. We have worked with Mr. Aila on several projects. His leadership in bringing to successful completion on land and environmental matters are few examples where his wealth of experience working on challenging issues to improve our state was demonstrated time and time again. He has managed to work with people who have competing interests and differing views in the most constructive and substantive manner. He is astute, steadfast, and dependable and we have the utmost confidence he will continue to improve the living conditions of Native Hawaiians. Thank you for the opportunity to provide testimony. SUZANNE D. CASE CHAIRPERSON DAVID Y. IGE BOARD OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES GOVERNOR OF HAWAII COMMISSION ON WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ROBERT K. MASUDA FIRST DEPUTY M. KALEO MANUEL DEPUTY DIRECTOR - WATER AQUATIC RESOURCES BOATING AND OCEAN RECREATION STATE OF HAWAII BUREAU OF CONVEYANCES DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION ON WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT CONSERVATION AND COASTAL LANDS CONSERVATION AND RESOURCES ENFORCEMENT POST OFFICE BOX 621 ENGINEERING HONOLULU, HAWAII 96809 FORESTRY AND WILDLIFE HISTORIC PRESERVATION KAHOOLAWE ISLAND RESERVE COMMISSION LAND STATE PARKS Testimony of SUZANNE D. CASE Chairperson Before the Senate Committee on HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS Thursday, January 23, 2020 1:15 PM State Capitol, Conference Room 016 GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE 506 SUBMITTING FOR CONSIDERATION AND CONFIRMATION AS CHAIRPERSON OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS, GUBERNATORIAL NOMINEE WILLIAM J AILA, JR. FOR A TERM TO EXPIRE ON DECEMBER 31, 2022. The Department of Land and Natural Resources expresses its strong support for the confirmation of William J. Aila, Jr. to serve as Chairperson of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands for a term to expire on December 31, 2022. Mr. Aila has served as the Deputy to the Chairperson of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) for the past four years, and as the Interim Chairperson since May 2019. As Deputy, he has played a pivotal role in implementing the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act through oversight of key programs including Land Management and Homestead Services. As the Chair he has looked at the broader picture of maintaining the long term viability of the Hawaiian Homelands Trust, much needed infrastructure repair and maintenance, and following DHHL’s master plan to develop more housing. Mr. Aila previously served as the Chairperson of the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR)from 2010 to 2014. As its Chairperson, he showed excellent leadership which resulted in doubling the amount of forest under watershed management, moving forward rules for the Hāʻena community-based fisheries, increasing staff morale, and expanding the Natural Area Reserves Program, among other things. Unlike DLNR, DLLH has a rather narrow mission which is to develop and deliver land to native Hawaiians. But, given the complicated and complex history of DHHL, this job is not as easy as it seems. Mr. Aila has the skills and the knowledge, and most importantly the Aloha to do this job. The Department of Land and Natural Resources strongly supports confirmation of William J. Aila, Jr. as the Chairperson of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this appointment. 2 DAVID Y. IGE GOVERNOR MIKE MCCARTNEY DIRECTOR DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, RANDALL TANAKA DEPUTY DIRECTOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM No. 1 Capitol District Building, 250 South Hotel Street, 5th Floor, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Telephone: (808) 586-2355 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 2359, Honolulu, Hawaii 96804 Fax: (808) 586-2377 Web site: dbedt.hawaii.gov Statement of Mike McCartney Director Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism before the SENATE COMMITTEE ON HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS Thursday, January 23, 2020 1:15 p.m. State Capitol, Conference Room 016 in consideration of GM 506 Submitting for consideration and confirmation as Commission Chair, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Gubernatorial Nominee, WILLIAM J. AILA, for a term to expire 12-31-2022. Chair Shimabukuro, Vice Chair Kahele and Members of the Committee. I support the appointment of William J. Aila to serve as the commission chair of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Mr. Aila has served the State of Hawai‘i for over three decades. It’s a challenging and difficult job being the chair and being able to find the balance to achieve the greater good. It is like a razor’s edge, the width of a blade of pili grass. I have worked with Bill Aila since 2006 and have faith, respect and trust in his abilities. No one is a perfect fit. I believe he is the right fit for this job at this time. I hope you do too. We will work with him to help the department succeed on behalf of the beneficiaries of the trust. For these reasons, I humbly ask for his confirmation as the commission chair of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. In accordance with HRS 5.7-5(b). Thank you for the opportunity to comment. DAVID Y. IGE GOVERNOR SCOTT T. MURAKAMI DIRECTOR JOSH GREEN LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ANNE EUSTAQUIO DEPUTY DIRECTOR STATE OF HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS 830 PUNCHBOWL STREET, ROOM 321 HONOLULU, HAWAII 96813 www.labor.hawaii.gov Phone: (808) 586-8844 / Fax: (808) 586-9099 Email: [email protected] January 22, 2020 To: The Honorable Maile S.L. Shimabukuro, Chair, The Honorable Kaialii Kahale, Vice Chair, and Members of the Senate Committee on Hawaiian Affairs Date: Thursday, January 23, 2020 Time: 1:15 p.m. Place: Conference Room 016, State Capitol From: Scott T. Murakami, Director Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) Re: G.M. No. 506 Submitting for consideration and confirmation as the Commission Chair of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Gubernatorial Nominee, WILLIAM J. AILA Chair Shimabukuro, Vice Chair Kahele, and Members of the Committee, My name is Scott T. Murakami, and I am the Director of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. I am testifying in strong support of Governor’s Message 506, Gubernatorial Nominee, William J. Aila, as the Commission Chair of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL). Mr. Aila has demonstrated that he has the leadership and experience to lead the DHHL. As the Commission Chair, Mr. Aila implements the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act and oversees seven divisions, including the Land Development, Land Management, and Homestead Services divisions. Mr. Aila’s prior service as the Deputy to Chairperson of DHHL and Chair of the Department of Land and Natural Resources as well as his substantial community service background show his extensive knowledge, passion, and commitment to address the complex issues before the DHHL and his dedication to public service. I urge you to confirm Mr. Aila to serve as the Commission Chair of the DHHL so that he may continue to provide leadership and service to the public. Thank you very much for the opportunity to testify in strong support of Mr. Aila. Equal Opportunity Employer/Program Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. TDD/TTY Dial 711 then ask for (808) 586-8866. RYKER WADA DAVID Y. IGE DIRECTOR GOVERNOR ANDREW T. GARRETT DEPUTY DIRECTOR STATE OF HAWAI‘I DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT 235 S. BERETANIA STREET HONOLULU, HAWAI‘I 96813-2437 January 16, 2020 TESTIMONY TO THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS For Hearing on Thursday, January 23, 2020 1:15 p.m., Conference Room 016 By RYKER WADA DIRECTOR Governor’s Message 506 (WRITTEN TESTIMONY ONLY) Dear Chair Shimabukuro, Chair Kahele and Members of the Committee on Hawaiian Affairs RE: Consideration and confirmation of William J. Aila, Chairperson of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. I submit this testimony in Strong Support of the confirmation of William Aila as Chairperson of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. I have had the opportunity to work with Mr. Aila over the past two years as Chairperson. Mr. Aila has been extremely helpful. Mr. Aila’s background and extensive experience will continue to assist in his duties as the Chairperson of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. I support the confirmation of Mr. Aila as the Chairperson of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Thank you for allowing me to testify in SUPPORT of Governors Message 506 and William Aila. DAVID Y. IGE CRAIG K. HIRAI GOVERNOR DIRECTOR ROBERT YU DEPUTY DIRECTOR STATE OF HAWAI‘I ADMINISTRATIVE AND RESEARCH OFFICE EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND FINANCE BUDGET, PROGRAM PLANNING AND HAWAI‘I EMPLOYER-UNION HEALTH BENEFITS TRUST FUND MANAGEMENT DIVISION OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER P.O. BOX 150 FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION DIVISION HONOLULU, HAWAI ‘I 96810-0150 OFFICE OF FEDERAL AWARDS MANAGEMENT (OFAM) WRITTEN TESTIMONY BY CRAIG K.