Senate Standing Committee on Water and Land

I was going to say good morning, but it's good afternoon. And it's that time again for our hearings to occur. And this is the Committee on Water and Land. Just, just some housekeeping announcements. We will.

For those test testifiers, which also includes those on zoom, we ask that you stand on your written testimony or limit your oral testimony to two minutes. The live and the live and archival video of this hearing can be found on the Senate's YouTube channel channel. Decision making will follow after the hearing is done.

And this is the hearings from the testifiers as well as the item agendas on the hearing notice. Mahalo Committee Members for being here. We will have more coming in on our busy schedule. And just to let you know, with regards to the Waterland hearing on Friday, March 7, we're in room two to nine.

We will be taking all of the resolutions first. We do have three nominees on the governor's messages will follow. Okay, Members, let's proceed with SCR3.

This is authorizing the issuance of a perpetual non exclusive easement covering a portion of state submerged lands at Mauna Lua, Honolulu, Oahu for the stormwater management outfall and the drainage system for use, repair and maintenance of the improvements constructed thereon. Dlnr. I think I got Rebecca here. Yes. Come on. John, welcome.

It's good to have you here this morning.

Thank you. Chair. Good afternoon. Chair. Good afternoon. Vice Chair and Senator McKelvy, the Depart Rebecca Anderson with the Department of Land and Natural Resources. The Department supports this Administration measure. We're asking for one clarifying amendment to the title of this resolution.

Just to specify that the resolution is sorry that the easement requested will be granted to the city and County of Honolulu.

Okay. And so ordered in your testimony as well. That's correct. On the recommendation. That's correct. Thank you. Members, any questions of DLNR right now on Rebecca? If not, thank you, thank you, thanks for being here. Okay. Durazo Tsuji, are you going. Are you on zoom?

Not present on zoom. Chair.

Okay, well represented by Rebecca. Okay, then we will proceed with. zero, is there anyone else wishes to speak to SCR3? Okay, seeing none, hearing none. Let's proceed on to SCR4.

And this is authorizing the issuance of a 25 year term non exclusive easement covering a portion of state submerged lands at Kikia, Olake, Kekaha, Kauai for a shoreline protection structure and for use, repair and maintenance of the improvements constructed thereof. Rebecca, are you on this one as well?

Yes, Chair. The Rebecca Anderson Department of Natural Resources. The Department stands in support of this Administration measure.

Okay, thank you. Let's see on zoom. Graham Chelius not present Chair. All right, Send communication in support of this measure. Is there anyone else wishes to speak on SCR4? Any questions, Members? Okay, hearing none, seeing none, let's proceed to scr 5.

This authorizing the issuance of a 25 year term non exclusive easement covering a portion of state submerged lands at Waikiki, Honolulu, Oahu for concrete stairs and for use, repair and maintenance of the improvements constructed thereon. Okay. DLNR.

Good afternoon. Chair Rebecca Anderson with DLNR standing on our. Standing on our testimony in support of.

This Administration and no amendment recommendations. Yeah. Okay. Is there anyone else to speak on this measure? Okay, seeing none, hearing none.

Let's proceed to Scr6 and this authorizing the issuance of a 25 year term non exclusive easement covering a portion of state submerged lands at Ewa Beach, Ewa, Oahu for a seawall and for use, repair and maintenance of the improvements constructed there on dlnr.

Good afternoon. Chair Rebecca Anderson with DLNR. And the Department stands on our written testimony in support of this Administration measure.

Similarly, no amendments on this measure as well.

Correct.

Okay, thank you so much. Okay. Is there anyone else wishes to speak to Scr6? Okay, seeing none, hearing none, we'll proceed with the last recommendation for DLNR.

This is SCR7 and this authorizing the issuance of a 25 year term non exclusive easement covering a portion of state submerged lands at Laie Ko Laoloa or AHU for a ruck revetment that include stairs and for use, repair and maintenance of the improvements constructed thereon. Okay. DLNR.

Rebecca Anderson with DLNR. The Department stands in support of this Administration measure.

Okay. Similarly no recommendations for amendments on this measure as well. Okay. Anyone else here wishing to speak on SCR 7 Members? Questions? Okay, hearing none. Members, why don't we do this? Because we have DLNR here. We'll proceed with our Gm. So let's take a vote on this measure. We got a quorum, so. Okay. Thank you. Yes.

All right. We're continuing on decision making for the items that are on the water land hearing of Friday, March 7th. We'll proceed with the DLNR measures. Members. SCR3 and this is the authorizing the issuance on the easement for a portion of the submerged lands and at Mauna Lua, Oahu.

Chair's recommendation on this is to the recommendation is to incorporate the amendments from DLNR. And this is amending the title of this measure to accurately reflect the fact that the requested easement is to be granted to the City and County of Honolulu for its public infrastructure.

And as recommended by DLNR, we'll also have technical and non substantive amendments on this measure. Any discussions? Okay. Hearing none. Vice chair for the vote. Chair votes aye.

Chairs recommendations is to pass with amendments SCR 3. Chair. Okay. Vice chair votes aye. Senator Chang's excused, Senator McKelvey. Yes. Senator DeCorte is excused. Madam Chair. Recommendations adopted.

Okay, thank you. I was going to do the by one vote, but we have a change on one of the SCRs. Okay, let's proceed with SCR 4. And this is the authorizing the 25 year term for the non inclusive easement on the submerged lands at Kiki Olake, Kauai for shoreline protection.

Chair's recommendation that this is to pass this measure as is any discussion.

Chair real quickly.

Senator McKelvey.

Yeah. This only has to do with a bill coming up, but I've always had a lot of concerns with sea walls and using walls as hardening. However, these resos are to repair existing structures, especially since they provide public access. So I am going to support them.

But just to note, I am going to go WR and SCR 6 because of that. But I'm going up on this one.

Okay, but this is on four.

Alright.

Yeah, correct, but--

Thank you. Thank you so much. Alright. And this also is the issue as well. Also affects Maui in many areas.

It's a blanket thing for everything.

It's a repair of existing structures.

Yes. Okay.

Chair's recommendation is to pass this measure as is. Hearing none, vice chair for the vote. Chair votes aye.

Chair's recommendations to pass SCR 4 on amended of the three members present on waterline any nobles or votes or reservations? Hearing none. Madam Chair your recommendations adopted.

Okay, thank you. SCR 5 and this authorizing a 25 year term as well covering the portion at Waikiki, Honolulu, Oahi, Oahu. Chair's recommendation is to pass just with the amendments. There's technical and not substantive amendments on this measure. Any discussion? Hearing none. Vice chair for the vote. Chair votes aye.

Okay. Chair's recommendation is to pass SCR 5 with amendments. [roll call]. Madam Chair, your recommendations adopted.

Okay, thank you. SCR 6. This is authorizing a 25 year term covering the portion at Eva Beach Eva Oahu for seawall and for use and repair. Chair's recommendation is to pass this measure as is. Any discussion? Okay. Hearing none. Vice chair for the vote. Chair goes aye. And we do have our additional thank you, Samantha DeCorte.

West side here.

Yeah. Okay. Chair's recommendations to pass. SCR 6 unamended. Right, chair.

Yes.

SCR 6 unamended. Of the four members present, noting the reservation of Senator McKelvey. Any other reservations? Any other no votes. No vote for Senator DeCorte. Madam Chair, recommendations adopted.

Okay, thank you. SCR 7. And this authorizing the 25 year term covering the land, submerged lands at Laie Kauloa, Oahu. Chair's recommendation on this measure is to pass as is unamended. Okay, Chairs. Any discussions? Vice chair for the vote. Chair goes aye.

Chairs recommendations to pass SCR 7 on amended. Of the four members present. Any no votes. No vote for Senator DeCorte. Any votes or reservations? Hearing none, Madam Chair. Recommendations adopted.

Okay, thank you so much. And thank you DLNR. Rebecca. Alright, let's proceed then, with the second half of our great agenda today. We're going into the governor's appointees, and we welcome our agency. And this one is with regards to HCDA as well. And let's proceed with GM 558.

And this is submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Hawaii Community Development Authority. And this particular district is the representation at Kalaeloa District. And the nominee is Gerald Gardner for a term to expire June 30, 2026 as well. And I I yeah. Okay. There he is. Okay. Testifiers. HCDA.

Good afternoon. Chair. Vice Chair, Members of the Committee. Craig Nakamoto, Executive Director for the Hawaii Community Development Authority. I wholeheartedly support the nomination of Gerald Gordon. In Mr.

Gordon's short time on the board, with his urban planning background and his background in housing and related areas, he's been an invaluable resource to the board even in that short time, and to the staff. As an interim board Member, Mr.

Gordon has been really eager to learn about HCVA in General, about Housing, Reserve Housing Program, and just about the Koloa Community Development District in General. It is often challenging to find board members who are willing to volunteer their time and build compensation. So I'm grateful to have a board Member like Mr.

Gardner serving as the resident Member for Kaleidoa. Resident Community Representative. Thank you very much.

Yes. And I'd like to also commend you, Mr. Nakamoto, for allowing Craig allowing the nominees, even prior to the confirmation process, that you're allowing, once the appointment is done by the Governor, that you're allowing members to sit on the board and get their feet wet. And I think that's a good idea.

By the time they come to us, if they want to continue after hearing and participating, just seeing what hcd, what the authority does at your meetings. So I commend you for, you know, allowing them to do that as well. Do you have a member of your office here?

Why don't you come? I have Member corner on online.

Yes, I. No, I was wondering if she was.

She was your army Director, is our board secretary. So I just wanted to introduce.

That was nice because we don't get to see them often. Okay, welcome. At least also get your feet wet knowing what we're doing here with all that you folks do as well. Okay, thank you. And you're going to be here till the end, right? Yes, yes. Okay. Prior to recalling the nominee, I'd like to go on that.

We did receive testimonies and we did receive from dbit, James Tokioka communication and support. And Josh is here for Holomua Collaborative.

Chair, Vice Chair, Committee Members. I'll keep my testimony short. I'll mostly just stand on the testimony that we have in support. I'll just underscore the part where I've gotten the chance to work with Mr. Gordon for the past couple of years, focused on a lot of the housing related work.

As a reminder, I'm the Executive Director of Holomua Collective and Collaborative. Our mission is to try to keep all local working families in Hawaii by making sure they can afford to stay. And of course, housing is a critical component of that. So we've had a lot of discussions around housing. And the thing I would underscore about Mr.

Gordon is that in those discussions, and he's been involved in a lot of them, not only has he brought technical expertise, deep understanding of zoning, everything he does is data based, evidence based, but he's also paired that with a real ability to work across lines of difference, listen to people who might have a different take on things and focus on finding collaborative solutions.

And you don't always find those two things together. The person who's really data driven and the person who has really high emotional intelligence. And you've got that with Mr. Gardner. I think that would be a big benefit to HCDA. So thank you. Happy to support him. Thank you.

Thank you for your comments as well. Damian Waikoloa in support. We did have, we received from Pacific Resource Partnership in support, Ian Teriyama. And we had three supports from John Rogers, Justin Tindall and Ted K. Fallas. Okay. All right. Ms. The man of the day, Gerald Gardner. Okay. Aloha, how are you?

Aloha chair. I'm doing well and thank you very much for allowing me to testify remotely. We have two sick kids at home, so I appreciate the opportunity to be on hand for a little bit more this afternoon.

Yes. Just do the fatherly work. But isn't it wonderful that we can also do work at the same time with zoom online? Yes. Welcome.

And as we have received the process from the Governor and the Director of HCDA and the testimonies and we too would like to thank you for the opportunity that you're volunteering for this particular very important agency.

You know, looking at the process of developments and rather interesting matter of fact, you're an overall person and not only in your role that you will be representing the Kalailoa residents and the community as well. So share your thoughts about what you've already experienced attending the hearings.

And we just, you know, as you heard, and we all heard from Josh and the Director, your experience is so important for this particular agency and the authority.

Yes, ma'am, I'd be happy to share about my experience so far. So as an interim appointee. So I've had the opportunity to attend two meetings now I attended, well, two separate days.

I attended the 99 year lease administrative rules hearings, both the presentation and the decision making, and attended the General Authority, the latest General authority in Kalailoa district meetings. I'm very excited, really. Seems like Craig has assembled a great staff to work on housing issues and community development and all of the districts including Kalailoa.

I've had the opportunity, the pleasure of meeting some of my fellow board members and learning about their interests and abilities. And I've even had the opportunity to submit some comments and to make some contributions to the administrative rules that I think will allow the pilot program that the Legislature passed to operate that much better.

So I think the members have seen my background. I'm an urban planner by training, master's from Virginia Tech. I work as a policy researcher in housing affordability and disaster recovery at Uhero. That's the day job.

And I have been involved in housing issues in Hawaii for a couple of years now through the Holomua Collective and through, you know, some advocacy efforts as well, led the Hawaii Zoning Atlas.

So I have a bit of, a bit of technical ability in GIS and mapping and data analysis that I hope to bring to the HCDA board as well.

Thank you so much. And Members, during our my interview with Gerald as well as we know and in his role as still at the University of Hawaii and with the Economic Research Organization.

But my question to him was sort of that had to do with Kalailoa and my question to him, and perhaps our good friend Greg here, is that there is a bunker like at Kalailoa. And it's rather interesting because the development around that particular area under the University of Hawaii. But my understanding is that there's restrictions.

Gerald, if you can share with us, when I asked you, there were restrictions on what would happen with an area like where the bunker is right now, and why is a restriction still being managed or a recommendation when the transfer of the lands were given to the state, and then we then in turn gave it to the University.

But there were some restrictions only with that particular area. And if HCDA wanted to look at developments and whatever, I was kind of surprised that I read that there were some restrictions on that particular bill. I mean, building. And I'm not sure if it's within a certain acreage or whatever, but can you share with us? And then.

Craig, come on up to. And you're with the University of Hawaii, Gerald, and then you're also. That's your district in coming in. Were you aware of that?

I know a little bit about it, yes, ma'am. So I know that. I believe you're speaking about the hangar that's owned by, UH.

I did see a bunker hangar. Yes.

Yes, ma'am, it was. So it was in the news recently. I believe DHHL has proposed to use the hangar as a modular housing factory potentially, and they're asking for it to be transferred to them. I'm not familiar with the full context. I know of the, you know, initial transfers.

My understanding is that, uh, received that land originally with. With the understanding that it would be only used for educational and maybe one other category of purposes, but they actually paid to have that restriction lifted later. So that's as much as I know about that specific property.

I'll turn it over to Craig with more of the institutional knowledge.

Thank you so much. Yeah, because I thought. I understand that they were for that particular area. There is still a recommendation by the military only for that particular parcel. Am I wrong?

So that hangar is, I think, on the airport. Klaeloa Airport, yes. Sorry. And it is being used right now, I think, by the city temporarily. There is an idea to have DHL use it as a modular. To construct modular homes.

I don't know what the status of it and how Airports Division views that, but I think Airports Division may have a concern about it. I don't want to speak for them, is you're kind of building modular homes, doing construction in the hangar in kind of an airport operations area.

And it didn't seem compatible with that, if you think about the kind of traffic that comes through that area. So, again, I'm not speaking for the DOT Airports Division. Sure. I think there would probably be a concern about using it for modular construction.

In an aoa, and I think we all tend to. I would be concerned as well, because the use. Because there are still runways. There's still the runways in case of emergencies as well. And I guess with the proposal that has not my understanding. I'm sorry, we didn't have a deal in our people here as well.

No formal process that DHHL has submitted yet. And I'm sure that it would involve. Because it's part of the HCDA Community Development portion. So there's nothing there. But just in back of our minds, Members, I thought I'd bring that up because, you know, there's a request only, and what we've heard But I understand.

I was here in the early 2000 when the military gave the property to the state, and that's when I was chair of Waterland at that time. And we divvied up that particular area to the University. Subsequent later during the years, I think. What year did you HCDA get the property? Property.

I think it was about that time during the brac, during the bracket.

Oh, okay. All right.

So, yeah, I. I think definitely, you know, the idea of building modular homes to satisfy housing needs is a good one. Just not sure if it's appropriate, compatible with airport operations.

Okay, thank you. Thank you so much. Okay. Any questions? Members of the nominee GM558. Mr. Gardner. Okay, I think we're all happy. Gerald, go take care of the. The little ones and, yeah, tell them drink a lot of water. Okay. Thank you so much.

Very good.

Okay. Members, let's then proceed with the next one on the agenda. Let's see, we got GM 559 and this is submitting for consideration and confirmation to the community—Hawaii Community Development Authority. The nominee, Miki'ala Lidstone, for term to expire June 30th, 2027. HCDA.

Thank you, Chair, Vice Chair, Members of the Committee. Craig Nakamoto, Executive Director of HCDA. I stand in strong support of Ms. Lidstone's nomination as the Cultural Specialist. She replaces Peter Apo, who resigned last year. I wanted to say something personal about my observations about Ms. Lidstone.

So, she was first a small business nonprofit member of the Kalai Law Board. So, she served in that capacity. As such, the only meeting she attended was Kalai Law and the General Authority. We asked her to be a Secretary of the, you know, Board.

And she willingly did that, even though it meant attending every meeting, even the meetings that she wasn't a Kaleido Board Member or General Authority Board Member. And this is despite running her learning center, being involved on the neighborhood board.

One of the challenges, you know, we face as an agency to get small business nonprofit members because we have a small business nonprofit member and a resident member. Oftentimes, the small business nonprofit members are so busy running their small business or their nonprofit organization, that's challenging.

But Ms. Lidstone has stepped up to do that, even though it means attending all meetings. And then when Peter Apo resigned, Ms. Lidstone was glad to serve as a Cultural Specialist.

She's not only a cultural practitioner, runs a small business, but she's active in her community, and really served as an invaluable resource to me and the board as a Cultural Specialist. So, wholeheartedly support her nomination, Chair.

Thank you. Thank you so much. And Members, this is the at large position, so, okay, as well. Okay. We did receive testimonies in support for GM 559, as well, from DBEDT, James Tokioka, Cheryl Burkhardt, and Shirley Sweeney in support as well. Okay. Miki'Ala, welcome. And I would say welcome back.

Aloha Nui Chair, Vice Chair, Members of the Committee.

Aloha.

And well, we thank you for your contributions. And I'm sure it kind of just meets what you've been doing all these years in your occupations. But more importantly, when it comes to the cultural aspect of actually all of the agencies under, in most cases with DLNR, I can say that it's so important to have that added voice.

And you know, you've been on the board for some time now and anything to add to how it's, you're enjoying the time, make recommendations?

I want to thank Craig for, for asking me to step up to this position. I'm happy to serve. It's really actually a great honor. But more so, it, it's a great honor to learn and to learn more about these spaces within our community and also from the testifiers, and many of our testifiers are Native Hawaiian testifier, their perspective on what's occurring with, with these, with these lands, and so, it's been great to sit in the meetings.

I'm glad that Craig suggested that I attend all of them because I've learned a lot and I've listened a lot and so I can process that and really understand and really look for balance within, within this.

Okay, Members, any questions you'd like to share? Okay, good luck and mahalo again, you know, for all that you have done in the communities, matter of fact.

And, you know, to look at the districts that now compose HCDA and more so from the west side of the island, where there are actually more areas of concern that are pretty much cultural sensitive and so—and you coming from the region as well, you know, we appreciate your volunteering. Okay.

Okay, let's proceed then, members, to the next GM. And this will be GM 688. And let's get to my paperwork here. What did I do with my calendar? You got. Can I use yours? It's amongst my paperwork here. Okay. Our last nominee for the agenda is GM 688. And this is submitting for consideration and confirmation to the HCDA.

And this is the district of Pulehunui on Maui. And the nominee is Deborah Kabibi for a term to expire June 30th, 2028. Okay, HCDA.

Thank you, chair, vice chair, members of the committee, Craig Nakamoto, Executive Director of HCDA, speak in wholehearted support of Ms. Kabibi's nomination. When I look at the work that we have to do in South Maui, in the Pulehunui district, almost 900, approximately 988 acres, you know, obviously we're not based on Maui. We're based in- on Oahu.

And to have members like Member Kabibi, Member Yamasaki, who is the business member representative, is invaluable. As we move on the Pulehonui infrastructure development, I'm going to lean very heavily on Member Kabibi and Member Yamasaki for their input on the community. What is the best way to reach out to the community for-

for input and support for the infrastructure project. And both her and Member Yamasaki have indicated a willingness to help us in any way possible, to kind of help us in the community. So again, I really support her nomination. Thank you chair.

Okay. Thank you so much. We've also received four GM 6, eight testimonies from DBED as well, the Friends of the Children's Justice Center, Paul Tonneson, as well as the. Interesting. This came from Kapolei Chamber of Commerce, a friend, I guess, of our nominee here, Kieran Polk.

We have four individuals, Grant Chan, Carol Davis, and a former Senator, Gil Agaran, and of course, the Lakeland Yamasaki as an individual in support as well. Okay. Good afternoon.

Good afternoon. Thank you for having me, chair, vice chair and committee members.

And if I'm sure members, you all know as well, or some that we have. Deborah has come from MEO, which is a very, very active agency on the island of Maui. But with that said, she's also a busy person. But we thank you as well, you know, for your volunteering for this particular position.

And it's as you know, Greg said, and this new. I think, I think this was the last so far of the new district. Right. That was added to HCD.

Latest so far.

Latest so far. Yes, yes, yes. And I believe, I think this was what, two years ago? Correct.

Okay. Alright. Now. Yes. And your busy schedule. So again, as the director did say, you know, having a person in that position representing the island as well, it's important to sit on this body, you know, representing the area. Okay. Want to add how you've enjoyed the meeting so far?

Actually, I've enjoyed it a lot. I feel like I have a steep learning curve. I'm not a, you know, I'm not an urban planner and that's not my back background, but I am a community organization. I do understand about engaging community and I know that's my role. So I'm excited about that.

It's a privilege to serve my community. I've been very active in many aspects and I look forward to, you know, making a difference. I think out of some of the other boards and commissions I've sat on. What struck me with this group is it's very collaborative.

There's a lot of conversation and I don't feel like it's a rubber stamp. There's people asking good questions and, and I feel people come to the meetings prepared and that, that impressed me as somebody who's very busy. I- I appreciate that.

Okay, great. That's the learning curve too. Yes. Members, any questions you may have for- for Deborah as well, but you know, director, come on up. I have just- just- just for us with Pulehunui. Now, when I remember we gave you the oversight for that particular district, but now there are also different components

near your HCDS portion, you have a neighbor. Is HCD. No, this our state housing project. Are they still part of it? Next around the area or so. And, and, and to add, is DHHL your neighbor as well?

Yeah.

So you're going to have lots of activity around.

There's going to be activity. I don't know if it's going to be like right away, but within the, the district, the biggest landowner is DLNR. DLNR owns a lot of that land.

What DLNR plans to do is build industrial- industrial development, kind of as an employment center or workforce development across Veterans Highway, but not in our district, there's the land owned by the Department of Hawaiian Homelands, and they're planning some development on their land on DLNR land. What's proposed is the relocation of the Maui County Jail to there.

What's also proposed, I heard recently, is the Veterans affairs would like to locate their veterans home on DLNR land. Also, as part of our work, if we can, is to improve the infrastructure to the Maui Raceway Park. You know, the racetrack. It's well used, it's very popular. And if you.

If you've ever been there, it's a kind of a dirt and gravel road going in, and it lacks a lot of infrastructure.

What? On whose land? The state portion. That's.

I think that's county land. Long term. Yeah. Okay. I've worked with them. Yeah. And then there's other things planned for DLNR land, but the main thing is probably the relocation of the Maui County Jail, which is needed, and then the veterans- the veterans home as well.

So for- for Pulehunui, what is so far, the plans for the first. If you got to that stage yet.

We've got- Yeah, I'll tell you where we are. So we have to encumber the money. So we encumbered the money before. We didn't want to let it lapse. So we've encumbered the money. We have a design build contractor, Hawaiian Dredging along with their subs, Munekio, Hiraga, Wilson Okamoto.

They've done a planning assessment report for the district, and then we're working on a community outreach plan for the- for the district as well. And that's the community outreach plan that once we kind of finalize it internally, then I would want to share it with Member Khabibi and Member Yamasaki for their input because they know the community.

The next step is to have Munichio and Wilson Kokomoto folks engage with DLNR, DHHL, DCR and others to understand what their needs are for their development and then come up with kind of an infrastructure master plan and a community plan for the district.

It will lay out what kind of infrastructure is needed, the timing, hopefully the priority and the cost. But in- in that area, I think the biggest infrastructure need above everything else is water. Water is- Water is the biggest need. We can't make it, and we just can't build it. So we have to.

That's going to be the biggest infrastructure need and the biggest challenge.

Okay, so that doesn't apply only to you then. So all the. Your neighbor landowners of a similar situation. So are we looking at a combination of creating some water wells or are we going to probably. I know for DHHL lands they got to provide their own. So.

So absent of that, I think on our state land for the housing project and we need to get water so that be probably connected with your project.

So DLNR is looking at a- has a water consultant right now. So they're looking at a source of brackish water that they may then filter to become potable. There's other- There's other things that we're looking at, you know, maybe R1 water that can be used for fire suppression, irrigation.

So you know, to- to solve the water solution situation water in the area, I think it's going to have to be us pulling many levers. The R1 using R1 using brackish water that's filtered and other kinds of things to solve the water issue.

Well, I'm glad and for members too because we rarely get to communicate with the chair on all the different projects. So it's a good time to get ourselves acclimate now the amount of resources you had for the first contract. So where are you now? So do you have enough resources funding for the major infrastructure portion?

I think that's yet to be determined. I think the contract amount.

How much did you get?

64 million.

So you have 54, 64 million that you used around. But only for Pulihonui.

Only for now. I think to accomplish all the infrastructure needs for the district, I think it's going to require more than 64 million. And it's not the entire 64 million that we're using for construction. Some of it is contract managers and other consultants.

But once we do the complete the planning, they identify the infrastructure needs and priorities and the cost, then we'll have to prioritize what's the most important thing we can do now with the funds we have. And then I think we have to then I think seek legislative funding for the remainder. I don't think there's enough.

Okay. Alright. Questions for him. Okay, thank you so much. This is. Yeah, this is a good time, you know to do the review of the agency as well and the newest project. And so thanks for all you do as well. Thank you, Craig. Okay. All right, let's proceed.

Members, we're ready for decision making on staff—staff recommendations. Okay.

Okay. Fire away.

And by the way, Craig, and don't leave, you folks. Oh, my, our, our male partner on the Kalailoa, we're going to miss you, but stay back just for a few—Members for picture taking after the vote.

We gotta roll Hulu's corner.

Okay. All right. Okay. Let's proceed with GM 558 with regards to the confirmation of Gerald Gardner for a term to expire June 30th, and his confirmation is for the District of Kalailoa. Chair's recommendation is to advice and consent on GM 558. Any discussions? Hearing none. Vice Chair for the vote. Chair goes "Aye."

[Roll Call]

Thank you. For GM 559, and this is the confirmation of Miki'Ala Lidstone, and her term is June 30th, 2027, on this at large position. Okay. Any discussion? Char's recommendation is to advise and consent on GM 559. Okay. Hearing none. Vice Chair for the vote Chair goes "Aye."

[Roll Call]

Okay. GM 688, and this is the submitting for consideration the confirmation of Deborah Kabibi, and this is for a district representation of Pulehunui, a term expiring June 30th, 2028. Okay. Chair's recommendation is to advise and consent. Any discussions? Hearing none. Vice Chair for the vote. Chair goes "Aye."

[Roll Call]

Okay. Thank you so much, Members, and good luck. This concludes Water and Land Committee Hearing.