Forum

GM 755

TESTIMONY OPPOSING THE APPOINTMENT OF

TED YAMAMURA

BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON LAND, WATER & HOUSING

Thursday, April 5, 2012   1:25 p.m. Conf. Rm. 225

I oppose the appointment of Ted Yamamura to the Commission on Water Resources Management because the law provides for an individual with substantial experience or expertise in traditional Hawaiian resource management techniques and usage and in the 25 years since the law was passed, a native Hawaiian practitioner who meets these qualifications has never been appointed.

Hawaii law, HRS sec. 174C-7(b) states: 

Five members shall be appointed by the governor subject to confirmation by the senate, … provided that at least one member shall have substantial experience or expertise in traditional Hawaiian water resource management techniques and in traditional Hawaiian riparian usage … .

But instead, CWRM has been stacked with Maui Commissioners, opponents of Native Hawaiian water rights, specifically friends and allies of Alexander & Baldwin, and its subsidiary East Maui Irrigation.  Every single CWRM decision denying Native Hawaiians has been overturned by appellate courts.  These opponents of Native Hawaiians have been making bad decisions and forcing parties into decades' long costly litigation to appeal their decisions.  After 25 years of ignoring Native Hawaiians, it's time to stop the collusion between A&B, EMI and the state.  Please do not confirm Mr. Yamamura to CWRM as he is not knowledgable about Native Hawaiian water resource management and traditional usage.

signed:  (your name)