Senate Standing Committee on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts

Good afternoon. We're convening the committee on water, land, and culture in the arts here in the Senate and Cap State Capital Conference Room 224 on our 1PM agenda. We have a number of, governor's messages, nominees who are up this afternoon. We do have a number of testifiers signed up. So we'll be asking everyone to limit their testimony to one minute so we can make sure we can get through everybody who had wished to share thoughts.

The way we'll approach this for those who are in the room with us, we'll be going through one at a time in the order that's laid out on the agenda. We'll ask testifiers to come up and testify. And for those nominees who are with us, we'll then call you up after that to say a few words if you wish. So that said, why don't we begin with GM 641, submitting for consideration confirmation to the Game Management Advisory Commission, gubernatorial nominee, Elroy Mollena for a term to expire 6/30/2029. And testifying first is DLNR.

Hello, chair, vice chair, members of the committee. Nicholas Vargas with DLNR Forestry and Wildlife. We stand on our written testimony in full support. I'm here for any questions. Thank you.

Thank you. That's everyone who had signed up to testify on GM 641. Is there anyone else wishing to testify? Seeing none. Are there any questions? Seeing none, and I don't believe Mister Mollena. Oh, yes. Good afternoon on Zoom.

Good afternoon.

If there's anything you'd like to share, please feel free to take a moment and go ahead.

Hi. Can you guys hear me?

Yes.

Okay. Yeah. I just wanted to thank you guys so much for this opportunity. Us guys on Molokai, we we we definitely you know, all islands are surrounded by a body of water, so we just gotta manage what we got on island. And for me, it's just I just wanna be the voice have a voice for our people over here.

Alright. Thank you. Any questions from the nominee? If not, thank you very much. All right. Let's move on to the next GM 642 submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Game Management Advisory Commission, gubernatorial nominee. Richard Furst, return to expire 6/30/2029. And testifying first is DLNR.

Hello chair, vice chair, members of the committee. I'm Nicholas Vargas with DLNR Forestry and Wildlife. We stand on our written testimony in full support.

Thank you for any questions. That's everyone who had signed up to testify on this nominee. Is there anyone else wishing to testify on GM 642? Seeing none. IT is there anyone online with us?

No one online, Chair. Okay.

Let's see. Is Mister Furst? It's oh, please come forward. Sorry. I don't have the faces and names tied together here.

No problem. Good afternoon. Afternoon, chair. How are you?

Good. My name is Richard Furst. I am the interim commissioner for the GMAC for the Island Of Oahu here for you for nomination hearing. Provided responses to your office's questions in writing last week and happy to answer any questions that you might have on my background or goals for the commission.

Thank you very much. Are there any questions for Mr. Furst? Seeing none. Thank you. I just say thanks for volunteering. These things aren't very, they can be time consuming and appreciate, I think, for everyone who's showing up here, the time put into some of this stuff. So appreciate that. Okay. Let's move on to GM 703, submitting for consideration confirmation of the Game Management Advisory Committee gubernatorial nominee Stephen Dewald for a term to expire 06/30/2030. And testifying is DLNR.

Aloha, Chair, Vice Chair, Members of the Committee. Nicholas Vargas with DLNR, Forestry and Wildlife. Standing on our written testimony in full support. Here for any questions.

Thank you. That's everyone who had signed up on GM 703. Is there anyone else wishing to testify? Seeing none. I see Mr. Dewald online. Good afternoon.

Good afternoon. How are you folks?

Very good. Please proceed.

I just wanted to say, you know, thank you for the opportunity. You know, I've been a hunter for a long time, and I just wanna really try to create a bridge, you know, between the community and the DLNR and just really help keep things moving in a positive direction for everybody.

Alright. Thank you very much. Is there any questions for Mr. Dewald? Thank you. Seeing none. Thanks very much.

Thank you.

All right, let's move on to GM 683 submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Hawaii Historic Places Review Board, gubernatorial nominee, Noah Dolan for a term to expire 06/30/2030. And testifying first on GM 683 is DLNR. Good afternoon.

Good afternoon, Chair, Vice Chair, Chair Chang, I mean, Senator Chang. My name is Jessica Puff. I'm the administrator of the State Historic Preservation Division. We stand on our comments and our, our comments in support of this candidate for the Hawaii Historic Places Review Board. Mr. Dolan is engaged in the community. Both his academic and professional experience evidence his, that he is well qualified to serve as a member on the Hawaii Historic Places Review Board, and we strongly support his nomination. Thank you.

Thank you. That's, we have written testimony, but that's everyone who had signed up to testify on GM 683. Is there anyone else wishing to testify this afternoon? Seeing none. Any questions? Alright. Seeing none. Let's go to the nominee online. Good afternoon.

Aloha. I'm trying to say thank you again for having me, you know, giving me the opportunity to serve in a capacity of our community. I have no other statements.

Oops. Oops. Sorry. You're breaking up just a little bit there.

Can you

hear us okay?

Yeah. I can hear you.

Oh, there. So much better.

Okay. Thank you again for the opportunity to serve the community. Yeah. That's all I have to say.

Oh, thank you very much. Okay. Are there any questions for the nominee? Seeing...

Hold on, I'll ask a question. Thank you for your willingness to serve in this capacity. I'm of the opinion that Hawaii doesn't do enough to recognize its historic places. Do you have any ideas for what you think that the board or the division could do better to help commemorate the history of our state?

I think, you know, one thing that I wrote in my written statement is maybe better education for our for the people living in Hawaii, knowing that this is the opportunity that they have if they wanna be more involved in the process of, you know, nominating certain places or sites. I think maybe just a lot a lot of people know that this support even exists or that there's even a possibility to protect these places, you know, through our government. So I think there's more awareness in the community to where I'm heading towards.

Thank you. Okay.

Any further questions? . Seeing none, thank you very much.

Thank you.

Okay. Let's move on to the next the next GM, GM 743 submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Hawaii Historic Places Review Board, gubernatorial nominee, Graham Hart, for term to expire 6/30/2030. Testifying first on GM 743 is DLNR.

Hello again. Jessica Puff, administrator of SHPD. It's good to see you again so soon. Mister Hart is an ace an acting member of the Hawaii store places review board. This nomination for reappointment is for his second term. He is an incredible member of the review board. His architectural, you know, academic perspective has been incredibly useful, for, covering this the board's business, and we strongly recommend his reappointment for his second term. Thank you.

Thank you. That's all the testimony we have on GM 743. Is there anyone else wishing to testify? Oh, please come forward.

Oh, yeah. Well, please come forward. Yes. Seeing no one else. Good afternoon.

Yeah. My name is Graham Hart. I'm currently serving on the on the board. I've been for the past four years. It's been a pleasure. I enjoy my work with all of them. And find it an absolute privilege to be able to partake in this opportunity and job.

Thank you.

Yeah. Can I add? We thank you for your service these past years, and, you know, we're very pleased with the work you've done with GIPT as well. And you have just an outstanding background and that's what we need in commissions as well. And so we're very pleased and thankful for committing to be able to serve another term because it's pretty difficult.

And I I know it changes our life, lifestyle at work, at home, and we appreciate the support of the family that has been with you as well. So thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair and good luck.

Senator Chang.

Thank you for your willingness to being servants to serve in this capacity. I'm actually an admirer of your work in mid century modern architecture. But to follow-up on my question to the previous nominee as well, you know, I I just don't think we do a really great job of recognizing our historic places. We travel to other places around the country and there are plaques everywhere about, you know, George Washington this year or whatever. Or if you go to the city of London, I one of my favorite parts of these blue plaques on buildings where it'll be like, you know, the game of soccer was invented here or, you know, John Adams lived here or whatever.

And we really don't have a lot of that here. Is there anything that we can do to help raise awareness of these historic structures?

Yeah. It's interesting. I mean, I absolutely agree with you. I think what I've noticed when I've traveled and gone to other cities as well, in other states is that there's actually, quite a many, historic properties, individual sites, and, of course, that is something significant happening. What I've seen in a lot of other cities do is that they have, quite a few districts. We I think we've got only a few historic districts, but there's like some swaths of whole cities that are part of these different, historic districts.

And I think that that, gets everybody in that district a little bit of buy off and a little bit of pride in their own history. And it's kind of less about the individual properties and individual property owners to kind of stepping up and doing their own thing, but more about a collective kind of coming together and also of writing what they're doing. And it's not so much onus on individuals having to, you know, do the work. But it's kind of like, here's something that we can all share and think that that's kind of a good strategy. Kinda getting more people.

Sorry about that.

Thank you.

Yeah. Thanks very much. I I just say, yeah, that I think, some of the projects and properties and things we've been involved with are quite impressive. But it's probably spurs a follow on conversation in another time maybe on a piece of legislation or something about really what could be done beyond what traditionally has been the realm of SHPD.

Yeah. One one just one more. Now we've had difficulty filling positions or we we've had vacancies. And recently in the last several years, we and the Senate as well, and the house, the legislature has been good in, in providing the resources for SHPD, to, you know, fill the vacancies. Do you feel comfortable now with the quorum that you folks have had?

Is it okay now? Because at one time we have, there were some instabilities as well, but it's okay now on on your point of view not coming from from the administration.

I think we have quite a few vacancies still. I think we need to be able to fill them. I think we barely have quorum from my understanding.

Okay. Well, that's. Can we have the? Sorry, come on down. Yes.

I think there's just not enough.

Well, the reason I ask, with this vacancies position is because our goal has been in housing for the last several years. And it's really critical at this point, you know, because of what's happened in Lahaina, but it's affecting all of us in the different islands as well. So how are we moving along?

I will say over the past to replace this review board. Like Graham said, we barely have enough members to meet quorum. We're working with the governor's office and, and boards and commissions to get applicants, to the governor for appointment.

Are there any is there any are there positions currently? That's on the board right now for choices? Are there applicants already being screened?

Noah is the only person that we've seen the application for this year, since last live session. Like Graham said, our biggest issue right now is getting the word out that this board exists and that we need members and to convince people to apply to it.

Okay. Well, you know, it's the interruption of, you know, the services that's out there that we must do our job, you know, and, you know, we're we've been very encouraged at this point because the legislature has been kind in giving the resources for the agencies. So, okay. I I won't, you know, extend this because there's a lot of work for us to do, but anyway, continue to do the good job you've been doing as well, and thank you for your service.

Thank you.

Thank you very much. Okay. Let's move on to the next governor's message, number 645 submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Kanehui Bay Regional Council gubernatorial nominee Joseph Pickard for a term to expire 6/30/2029. And testifying first is DLNR. Good afternoon.

Aloha, chair, vice chair, committee member. Charlie Taylor on behalf of DLNR's Division of Aquatic Resources. We stand in full support of nominee Joseph Pickard and are available for any questions.

Thank you. That's everyone who had signed up to testify. Is there anyone else wishing to testify on GM 645? Seeing none, is the nominee with us online?

Not present on Zoom, chair.

Okay. Alright. Are there any questions, for DLNR?

Yeah. You know, just just one more thing. Is this a reop or new?

He's an interim member.

Oh, okay. He was nominated already last year then.

Okay, but need to be confirmed. Okay, thank you. Thank you, chair.

Correct.

Thank you. Thanks everyone. Let's move on to GM 646. Submitting consideration and confirmation to the Economy Baby Child Council of gubernatorial nominee, Jarrett Machado, for a term to expire 06/30/2029. Testifying again is DLNR.

Chair, Vice Chair, committee members, Charlie Taylor, DLNR. We stand in full support of mister Jarrett Machado for, County OAB, interim council. Thank you.

Just a second. So, new hire, new appointee.

Correct. He is not interim.

Ok. Not interim.

Correct.

Thank you Chair.

That's everyone who had signed up to testify on GM 646. Is there anyone else here wishing to testify? Seeing none, I believe our nominee is on Zoom. Good afternoon.

Oh, sorry. I'm un-muted now. Hi. How are you?

Is there anything you'd, wanna share?

No. I'm just happy to be a part of serving my community.

Alright. Thank you. Is there are there any questions for DLNR or the nominee? Seeing none. Alright. You're off the hook. Thanks very much.

Thank you. Good luck.

Up next is GM 647, submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Kāne‘ohe Bay Regional Council gubernatorial nominee Elena Bryant for term to expire 06/30/2029. First is DLNR again.

Aloha, Chair, Vice Chair. Charlie Taylor, DLNR. The department stands in full support of Ms. Elena Bryant for the Kāne‘ohe Bay Regional Council. She is an interim at the moment. Correct. Yeah. So she's currently serving in the interim role.

Okay. So the interim is pretty much a new position. Yeah?

Started in July 2025.

Okay. Thank you.

That's everyone who signed up to testify. Is there anyone else wishing to testify this afternoon? On GM 647. Seeing none. Looks like our nominees online. Good afternoon.

Good afternoon. Aloha, Chair, Vice Chair, and Members of the Committee. I just wanna thank you for your consideration of my nomination to the Kāne‘ohe Bay Regional Council. As I expressed in my written responses to your question, Senator Lee, Kāne‘ohe Bay is a very special place to me, to my Ohana, and to my community. And it was such an honor to have the kuleana of being public advocate for Kāne‘ohe Bay as a member of the council during my first term, and I hope to have that opportunity to continue that work during the second term. Thank you.

Thank you. Are there any questions? If not, thank you very much.

Thank you. Good luck.

Let's move on to GM 738, submitting for consideration confirmation to the Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission, Gubernatorial Nominee—let me try not to butcher this...I'm usually really good at these.

Kaipulaumakani, oh.

...Yes. For term to expire 06/30/2030. Up first on 738 is KIRC.

Hello, senators. Mike Nahopi, Executive Director for the Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission. On behalf of the commission, we like to stand in strong support of the nominee. This is his first appointment. He will be replacing a—another PKO appoint commissioner who will be stepping down at the end of this fiscal year, Michela Piscaya.

I have known the nominee since he was born, since his father and I—his father was a commissioner back starting in 2011, and I worked for him. And the two of us, his father and I, came up through the PTO as Molono—training as Molonos together in the early nineties. So, I've known him a very long time. So, thank you.

Thank you very much. Signed up next is Daviana McGregor with Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana. Good afternoon.

Excuse me. Just, just one point. Okay. Kaipu is—where does he live? Maui or I mean, Molokai or?

This island. Oahu.

Oahu. Oahu. Oh, okay. So, he's not born.

Yeah. He's got a big shirt. Yeah.

Oh, okay. So, he's a, Oahu rep, in a sense.

Oh, we don't have island reps, so the...

I know.

Yeah, the PO has three seats.

Yeah. The three seats.

Yeah.

Okay. Good.

Thank you.

Thank you, and mahalo.

Thank you.

Aloha, kako. Daviana Pomei Kai McGregor. I'm speaking on behalf of the Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana.

And our Ohana, under the law, is able to nominate two—two persons for consideration for appointment by the Governor. And one person's term has expired. She was from Molokai. And so, Kaipulaumakani Kaela will take her position and serve until June 30th. And we—I also know Kaipu since he was born.

His mom's here too. And he's been coming to the island, more importantly, since six years old and taking on increasing more...for the cultural sites, historic sites, for the con—conduct—of the protocols, for the protection of our sites, and for the growth of the revegetation of the plants on the island. So, we strongly recommend that he feel confirmed. Mahalo nui.

Thank you. Thank you for being here all the time in support of the—yeah, the, yeah, the commission. Yeah. We appreciate.

Up next, on Zoom, is Kuli Aloha Olalani Salzer. Good afternoon.

Aloha, my kakou. My name is Kuli Aloha. I'm, I'm just here to help support—offer my full support for the confirmation of Kaipu Kaela. I'm to serve as the commissioner for the Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission. I refer to my written testimony, which highlights his substantial qualities and qualifications. Mahalo nui.

Thank you.

Thank you very much. That's everyone who had signed up to testify. Is there anyone else wishing to testify this afternoon? All right, seeing none, we have our nominee. Kaipulaumakani Kaela. Did I get closer that time?

Closer.

Sorry. Aloha.

Yeah. Aloha, Senator Lee, Senator Inouye, Senator Chang, all the staff in the back, Executive Director, and...for urging me and encouraging me to come and serve in this capacity as a commissioner and mahalo nui for trusting me. And I look forward to this important work. Yeah. Very honored to be here.

Yes. Thank you. It's heartening to hear and, you know, having candidates in the Commission, participation in our state. And so, we are very encouraged, you know, for folks like you. And you're still going to college?

Finishing my PhD.

Good. Good for you. Congratulations. So, you know, we appreciate, you know, making time, you know, for this position. And chair, in all the years I've been here, every time we meet with, and meet on Kahoʻolawe Commission issues as well, all the time I'm saying, "Okay, when are we gonna get time to go to Kahoʻolawe?"

And we've been offered by, you know, the group, to please go. So, chair, I think we look forward to having a good weather and that, you'll all host our committee, you know, to visit, but thank you very much. But I do have a question for the Director.

Okay. Probably...

Yes, thank you. And good luck. Thank you so much. Okay. Quick question is, and I know because as I always tell you folks, I'm on flight every week throughout the years, and I see all Kahoʻolawe all the time. And I'm so pleased with the, you know, with what has been happening on the island, you know, from when we took over, you all took over to, you know, take it back and become part of our state islands. However, the last storm we had.

Yes.

And I know the building—some of the buildings are up there and, you know, all whatever the Kuleana did in doing their work in the landscaping and such. Any big damages or any, anything, to be brought up to our attention?

As of last Wednesday, we had 24 inches of rain on the island that normally only gets 12...

That's right.

...To 18 inches in a good year. And we had that in three days. So, I'm slowly getting reports in. I just had, Kaipu, yeah, I talked to his father who is out in Hakiwaba. They said they saw a lot of mud. They're still kinda assessing. It's still wet. My base camp guys are still assessing what's hap—they just landed this morning, so, I'm hoping to get some assessments.

This is the first time that they're?

Yes. We've been back since the storm. Yeah. We've been waiting till the weather kinda gets a little better. So, I'm hoping to get some reports. I—we are on the South Side. The camp is on the South Side, so we got hit very hard. But the biggest problems we've been seeing is on South Key is in Kihei. Kihei got—I was just talking to Senator McKelvey just before this.

Kihei got hammered pretty bad. The South Kihei Road is broken in four places probably. And our boat house is located.

I'm just gonna say that's where you guys are in the offices.

Yeah. We're, we're kinda lucky. We're, we're, we're high enough elevation along the coastline that we're okay. I got reports from my guys that we had some, you know, we had some mudslides and stuff like that in our property. We've cleared them out this morning. But the rest of Kihei is kinda digging themselves out right now. So, they, they need the most help. Right?

But the property that you're at...

We're okay.

With the boat house and everything, it's okay?

Yeah. You're okay.

Well, you know, that's what we need to know because, you know, we haven't closed the session yet, and we're concerned about our existing structures.

Yes.

You know, for our agencies in, you know, wherever they're located.

Yeah. I should have a report later this week, and then I'll send you guys an email with an update.

That would be great. Send it to to the chair.

Yes.

But what about—you'll get the report for Kahoʻolawe, for the, the base camp and, and the structures?

Yes.

For Kahoʻolawe?

Yes. For Kahoʻolawe.

Yes. I will.

Send it to the chair then.

Okay. Thank you so much.

Thanks very much, Senator.

Alright. Thank you, chair.

Thank you. Any further questions? Seeing none. Thank you. Let's move on to the last GM on our agenda, GM 651, submitting for consideration and confirmation to the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission gubernatorial nominee Zachary Bantolina for a term to expire 06/30/2029. I don't believe we have testimony on that one. So that said, is there anyone wishing to testify on GM 651? Seeing none. Okay. Why don't we go into a quick recess? We can regroup here, and we'll be right back. Recess.

Good afternoon. Reconvening the committee on water, land, culture, and the arts on our 1PM agenda here in State Capitol Conference Room 224 for decision making on a number of governor's messages, as well as a second 01:05PM agenda shortly afterward. Up first on the 1PM agenda is governor's message 641, submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Game Management Advisory Commission, Elroy Molena, for a term to expire 06/30/2029.

Recommendation is to advise and consent. Are there any discussion, comments? Seeing none, Vice Chair for the vote.

For the Committee on Water, Land, Culture, and the Arts, Chair's recommendation on GM 641 is to advise and consent. Chair Lee.

Aye.

Vice Chair goes aye. Senator Chang.

Aye.

Measure is adopted, Mister Chair.

Senator Lomasau.

Aye.

Senator DeCorte.

Aye.

Thank you. Moving on to GM 642. Actually, if, with your guys' indulgence, if you're alright, why don't we take all the Game Management Advisory Commission recommendations together, the remaining ones. So it would be GM 642, submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Game Management Advisory Commission gubernatorial nominee Richard Furst for term to expire 06/30/2029, as well as GM 703, submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Game Management Advisory Commission gubernatorial nominee Stephen Dewald for a term to expire 06/30/2030. Recommendation on both of those will be to advise and consent. There's no discussion. Vice Chair for the vote.

Chair's recommendation on GM 642 and GM 703 is to advise and consent. With five Members present, any with opposition? Any no votes? Any reservations? Hearing none. Measure is adopted. Mr. Chair.

Thank you. And similarly for the next two GMs, which are for the Hawaii Historic Places Review Board. If there's no objection, we'd like to take GM 683, submitting for consideration confirmation to the Hawaii Historic Places Review Board gubernatorial nominee Noah Dolim for a term to expire 06/30/2030, as well as GM 743, submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Hawaii Historic Places Review Board gubernatorial nominee Graham Hart for term to expire 06/30/2030. We'll take those together. Recommendation for both will be to advise and consent. There is no discussion. Vice Chair for the vote.

Okay, just correct me if I'm... 683 and 743, is that correct? Okay. Chair's recommendation on GM 683 and GM 743 is to advise and consent. Any voting... With five Members present, any voting with reservations? Any no votes? Measure is adopted, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Similarly for the Kane'ohe Bay Regional Council, if there's no objections, we'd like to take those three nominations together. Voting on GM, excuse me, 645, 646, and 647, submitting for consideration confirmation to the Kane'ohe Bay Regional Council nominees Joseph Pickard, Jarrett Machado, and Elena Bryant for terms to expire 06/30/2029 respectively. Recommendation will be to advise and consent. Any discussion? Seeing none. Vice Chair.

Just to confirm, 645, 646, and 647.

Chair's recommendation on GMs 645, GM 646, GM 647 is to advise and consent. With five members present of the Water Land Committee, any voting with reservations, any no votes? Okay. Hearing none, our measure is adopted, Mr. Chair.

Yes.

Thank you very much. Moving on to GM 738. Submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission gubernatorial nominee, Kaipula Makani Olonokeala for a term to expire 06/30/2030. Recommendation is to advise and consent. There's no discussion. Vice Chair.

Okay. Thank you. Chair's recommendation on GM 738 is to advise and consent with five members present. Any voting with reservations? Any no votes? Okay. Measure is adopted, Mister Chair.

Thank you. And finally, on GM 651, submitting for consideration confirmation to the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission moving to our nominee Zachary Bantolina for a term to expire 06/30/2029. We just want to give the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts within which this particular commission is housed a chance to weigh in since they did not this time.

So we'll defer DM on this to March 23 at the end of our 1pm agenda here in State Capitol Conference Room 224. So, with that, that is the end of our 1:00 agenda. And we'll go straight into our 1:05pm agenda for decision making. Mahalo, everybody. Yeah. If there are any, like, you guys are gonna stick around for, like... We'll be done in two minutes. Oh, I'm sorry. Oh, I'm sorry. Yeah. I'm sorry about that.

You live where? You're Honolulu. Okay.

You know what? Let me...

No. One second.

Well, hold on. Let's see if we can do this. There's nothing, there's nothing that... We can Yep. You want to hold on. Sit tight

For a minute. Why don't we finish our, we're currently on the 1:05pm agenda for DM on several bills which were previously heard here last Monday, I believe. Up first is HB 2426, relating to state parks. Recommendation is to move this measure forward with amendments, making the effective date 06/30/2864. So if there's no discussion on that, Vice Chair for the vote.

That's the only amendment then, Mr. Chair? That's the only amendment to 2426. Okay. And, okay. Chair's, Chair's recommendation on HB 2426, House Draft 1 to pass with amendments. [Roll Call] Measure is adopted Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Moving on to HB 1881, relating to land use. Recommendation is to pass this with amendments. We're gonna make a few amendments. Firstly, noting that passenger ropeways exclude strictly for private single home use those of a length not greater than 100 feet. Secondly, and that would be like funiculars, allowing people in wheelchairs and things like that to get to their residence.

Secondly, removing the definition of mountain and references to that such that page one line six shall read operation of passenger ropeways shall be prohibited in all land use districts. Also adding a limited exemption for a government entity, official government recognized corporation, or official government recognized nonprofit organization, but subject to approval by the legislature. And that just note there's already a defective date on the measure. Any discussion and questions? If not, Vice Chair.

Okay. Chair's recommendation on HB 1881, House Draft 1 to pass with amendments. [Roll Call] Measure is adopted, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Moving on to HB 1918 relating to taxation. Recommendation will be to move this with amendments, changing the effective date to 01/01/3028. So this can head on to the ways and means committee for further consideration. There's no discussion. Vice Chair.

Okay. Measure is adopted, Mr. Chair.

No vote.

Chair's recommendation on HB 1918 House Draft 1 to pass with amendments with five members present. Any voting with reservations? Any no votes?

Thank you. Moving on to HB 1802, relating to conservation mitigation banks. Recommendation is to pass with amendments. Just making tech amendments, noting this has a defective date in it already. If there's no discussion, Vice Chair.

This is on 1802. Chair's recommendation on HB 1802, House Draft 1 with amendments. With five Members is... Sorry, let me redo that. Chair's recommendation on HB 1802, House Draft 1 is to pass with amendments. With five Members present. Any voting with reservations? Any no votes? Hearing none. Chair, measure is adopted.

Thank you. And finally on this...

Just a moment for that.

Yeah. Yeah. No. We'll just do that. Okay. That sounds good.

Okay. So on HB 244 sorry, 2544 relating to administrative fees, the recommendation will be passing with amendments, making a couple changes. First, adding excuse me, inserting language that limits the use of monies in the Bureau of Conveyances special fund for qualified contractors to services provided under a contract entered into no later than 12/31/2028, and changing the effective date to 07/01/3026, and making, other technical non substantive amendments. So, any discussion on that? If not, Vice Chair.

Yeah. Okay.

Okay. Thank you. Chair's recommendation on HB 2544, House Draft 1 to pass with amendments with five members present. Any voting with reservations? Any no votes? Measure is adopted. Thank you, mister chair.

Thank you. Okay. So that's the end of our 01:05pm agenda. I'll note we have not gaveled out of either of these agendas officially. So, returning to the 01:00 agenda, which was our GMs.

I'll note that we had already deferred GM 651 for decision making till Monday. However, and we did that simply because we didn't have testimony from the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts and had missed, which is I'm sure my error, the nominee who was with us in the room. So, while we'll still vote on Monday, we want to definitely give the nominee a chance to say hello to the committee and share thoughts while he's here, so he doesn't have to come all the way back in. And so, I'd like to call forward and return to that to GM 651. And since we missed the nominee and give them a chance to share with the committee unless there's any objections.

Seeing none, Mr. Bentolina, let's go forward. I apologize for missing you in the back of the room.

So, I already been an intern for the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission for the past four months, since August, and my duty is to preserve and perpetuate the legacy of King Kamehameha as the unified king during the Hawaiian kingdom. It is my sole goal to reinvigorate our celebration to continue for the next 155 years, and I will do so with all my capacities and my skills, my talents, and my peers. Mahalo for this opportunity to speak on behalf of myself.

Thank you. Are there any questions?

Well, thank you, you know, for being available, and you've been on the meetings anyway in the last several months, and we appreciate that. So anything that the committee should know since you've been here, and this is your first term. Yeah?

It's my first term today.

So anything that you've had in discussions with planning Yeah. For, you know, whatever events including the parades.

Yeah. We are, currently right now and planning for our June 13, leigh draping ceremony as well as our parade that will happen the following day of weekend. Right now, we're trying to secure a lot more funds because, you know, with the King Kamehameha celebration, funds has always been an issue. Yeah. Since it has been kinda separated from the general funds.

As my goal for the next, for doing this term is to, as of what I said, reinvigorate. Not just with with the funding, but also to have a lot more participation or spectators. Right? To come out to the parade, to come out to the the leigh draping ceremony, because it's part of our history. It's part of our identity here in Hawaii.

Yeah. With the Hawaiian Kingdom being dormant to now being a state, you know, we still have to celebrate those traditions, those legacies that have been you know, we still uphold. And that is my goal, and that would be my lifetime commitments. Yeah. Not just with the commission, but as well as an educator as well as a committee community leader in the Lahue to reassure that we focus back on the unification, the benevolence, and being pono with our citizens here of Hawaii.

So with that, you know, and understanding it, you know, the, I guess when we had to make decisions with, regards to the general fund participation, is OHA still part of the contribution for sponsorship?

From time to time, yeah.

Okay. But it hasn't been committed for an annual? Why from time to time?

It really depends on, you know, the the language that has been spoke to them and what's you know, what year is it. Yeah. So especially with this year being the 155th year. So, we are asking for funding from OHA to, you know, contribute to this legacy. Yeah. I do believe, and you can correct me if I'm wrong, that I know OHA has not in the past couple of years.

That's correct.

Yeah. But it really depends on the, I guess, what the year, like, especially when we had the hundredth anniversary for the parade itself, they contributed as well. I'm sure for this year 155 years of the celebration that we will be asking for assistance or contribution from OHA and probably from the council meeting for advancement as well.

Have you guys, since you've been there, have OHA come to the commission and and talk story, or you can have a dialogue?

Since I've been on as in the meeting since August? No.

Well, you know, it's kinda unfortunate because, you know, that's why OHA was established

Yes.

You know, to, you know, support the cultural activities no matter what it is, but anything to do with the Hawaiian culture. And that's part of their mission. And I'm disappointed though that it has been it hasn't been consistent. Yes. With that said, I'll just stop in there. Maybe you can have others mention it, but will you continue the debate with them as well? And I'm sure that some of us will be speaking with them.

Oh, yes. Definitely.

You'll have our support.

And a little bit of rework in OHA's work with, mister Hailama Farden being now the Senior Director of Cultural and Traditions within OHA. So, I think that will be also a nice lead in to continue the conversation, you know, to help continue this legacy and assistance.

What about asking the other group, the Hawaiian...

The Council of Native Hawaiians.

The council of native yes. Native Hawaiians.

Yes, Native Hawaiians.

They, since I've been in since August, no communication from them or conversation yet.

Can you make sure that's part of the ask from the commission members to help you or, you know, work with your directors as well in asking them for support? And I'm sure mister Lewis would be happy to contribute, but it has to be coming from you folks.

Thank you so much for stepping up and, being a part of making sure that this legacy is continued generations to come, and it's good to see that. I mean, I'm not going to speculate, but you look very young, so it looks nice. It's good that we have young generation ensuring that we continue this legacy. I've been to both Oahu and the Big Island parades, and I think for the Oahu one, comparing it to Big Island, I would like to see more of the keiki in the parades. And I know that that's a lifestyle up in Big Island.

Yes.

I mean, you just see paniolos and that kind of stuff. So I mean, just kind of a word of somebody who enjoys those parades. It just feels so much culturally based, authentic, Big Island because you have the keiki over there.

So, if you could take that to the table, I would appreciate that. And, yeah, continue to go after those organizations. I think it's important that we prioritize events like this that have such a long-lasting legacy attached to it.

Yes. Definitely. And part of being a commission, I did for myself to be on the Outreach and Education Committee, within the commission, to then do such of those tasks.

Good. Good. Thank you for that. Yes, you wanna make sure. Thank you, Chair.

Any further questions? If not, thank you very much. And my sincere apologies again for missing you in the back of the room there. Okay. With that,

Mahalo and good luck.

Thank you. Okay. We'll see you again next week. Yes.

With that, we're adjourned.