Senate committee advances multiple governor’s nominees, hears island storm impacts and cultural commission plans

Chair Lee convened the Senate Committee on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts to hear a slate of gubernatorial nominations and related testimony. Department officials and community supporters repeatedly urged the panel to confirm nominees to advisory bodies overseeing game management, historic preservation and island reserves.

DLNR Forestry and Wildlife representative Nicholas Vargas told the committee, "We stand on our written testimony in full support," when introducing nominees to the Game Management Advisory Commission (GMAC). Elroy Molina, nominated for a term expiring June 30, 2029, joined by Zoom and said, "I just wanted to thank you guys so much for this opportunity" and that he hopes to "be the voice" for Molokai residents on resource-management issues. Richard First (interim commissioner for Oahu) and Steven DeWalt (a longtime hunter) also addressed the committee in support of their GMAC nominations.

The committee also heard nominations to the Hawaii Historic Places Review Board. Jessica Puff, administrator of the State Historic Preservation Division, described Noah Dolan as "well qualified to serve" and recommended Graham Hart for reappointment, praising Hart's architectural perspective. Both nominees answered senators’ questions about outreach and how to raise awareness of historic places; Dolan said better public education could increase nominations and protections.

For island-management appointments, Mike Nahabi (executive director for the island reserve commission) and community representatives including Daviana Pomeikai McGregor testified for nominee Kaipola Makani, citing family and cultural ties and long-standing involvement with revegetation and site protection. The commission reported recent storm impacts: "we had 24 inches of rain in three days," staff are still assessing mudslides and road damage in areas such as Kihei, and the committee was told an island assessment and an email update will be provided to the chair.

On GM651 (King Komo­mel Celebration Commission), the committee initially deferred decision-making to March 23 to obtain comment from the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. When the nominee Zachary Bantalina spoke in person, he said he has served on the commission in an interim role, is planning a June late-draping ceremony and parade, and is seeking more consistent funding and outreach from organizations such as the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. "We are trying to secure a lot more funds," he said, and described goals to "reinvigorate our celebration" and increase participation and cultural programming.

Vote outcomes on nominations were recorded during the committee’s decision-making session: GM641 (Elroy Molina) and grouped nominations for the Game Management Advisory Commission, the Hawaii Historic Places Review Board, Canoe Bay Regional Council nominees and the island reserve commission were all recommended "advise and consent" and adopted by voice/roll-call with no recorded opposition.

The committee adjourned after completing the day's agenda and confirming the majority of nominees; one cultural-commission confirmation (GM651) remains scheduled for decision-making at the March 23 meeting so an agency can provide comment.

Ending: The committee’s next procedural step is the scheduled March 23 decision-making on GM651; several nominees already received committee recommendation to advise and consent.