Kokua Alert - Support GM 517: Appointment of William Aila, Jr. as DLNR Director‏here's an easy way to submit testimony (after you write it and save it as a document on your computer):1) go to http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/emailtestimony 2) type in GM 517 after #1 'Enter a measure to get corresponding hearing notice...' 3) click on 'get latest hearing' for date/time/place of hearing go down to #3 and fill out the information, including uploading your testimony [click on 'browse' to take you to your saved testimony and select that] 4) click on the box that says 'I understand and agree to the terms above' 5) click on submit.  and it's DONE!Aloha, everyone.  Please submit testimony and testify in person if you can in support of GM 517:  Gov. Abercrombie’s appointment of William Johnson Aila, Jr., as Director of the Department of Land and Natural Resources for a term to expire December 31, 2014.  The confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Water, Land, and Housing is this Saturday, February 12, 2011, 1:15 pm in Room 225 of the State Capitol.  We are fortunate to have Mr. Aila directing the DLNR.  Please show your support by submitting written testimony and testifying on Saturday.  Mahalo nui loa.  HEARING NOTICE: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2011/hearingnotices/HEARING_WLH_02-12-11_.HTMSUBMITTING TESTIMONY & TESTIFYING IN PERSON:Persons wishing to testify should submit testimony in one of the following ways by 4:00 p.m. the day prior to the hearing:·         By Email:  Testimony may be emailed if less than 5 pages in length, to the Committee at WLHTestimony@Capitol.hawaii.gov .  Please indicate the measure, date and time of the hearing. Email sent to individual offices or any other Senate office will not be accepted.·         By Web: Testimony may be submitted online if less than 4MB in size, at http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/emailtestimony .·         In person:  1 copy of their testimony to the committee clerk, Room 225, State Capitol.·         By fax:  Testimony may be faxed if less than 5 pages in length, to the Senate Sergeant-At-Arms Office at 586-6659 or 1-800-586-6659 (toll free for neighbor islands), at least 24 hours prior to the hearing.  When faxing, please indicate to which committee the testimony is being submitted and the date and time of the hearing.Please note:  If you submit your written testimony after 4:00 p.m. the day prior to the hearing, please sign-in at the staff table to testify orally.  A copy of your testimony may not be available during the hearing but will be posted online for the public after the hearing. WHY I SUPPORT MR. AILA AS DIRECTOR OF THE DLNR:• I support the appointment of William Johnson Aila, Jr., as Director of the Department of Land and Natural Resources because he has the experience, skills, and proven dedication to the resource to be an effective director of this challenging department.  I am confident he will serve with integrity, provide much-needed leadership, and bring people together to solve the challenges we face protecting our sacred sites, cultural practices, ocean, freshwater, ceded lands, forests, watersheds, harbors, recreation areas, and habitat for unique Hawaiian species.  • I have known Mr. Aila for at least 15 years working to protect native Hawaiian plants and animals in the Wai’anae mountains and along the Wai’anae coast.  He is honest, fair, respectful, intelligent, and hard-working.  • Over many years and by many actions, Mr. Aila has demonstrated his commitment to protecting our land and resources.  He has worked with hundreds of Native Hawaiian practitioners, community leaders, active citizens, landowners, businesses, citizen organizations, agency representatives, and elected officials.  • Mr. Aila’s personal and professional background will serve him well as Director of the DLNR.  As harbormaster for Wai’anae and working at other state harbors as well, Mr. Aila is already familiar with our state harbors, boating, ocean laws and regulations, protecting ocean resources, and addressing conflicts that sometimes arise between ocean users.• As a Native Hawaiian cultural practitioner, fisher, hunter, and gatherer, Mr. Aila will also bring an important perspective to the director’s office.  He has worked on protecting Native Hawaiian burials, iwi, and traditions, protecting water quality and marine resources that feed people and sustain businesses, and preserving sacred and other important cultural sites.  For example, he worked with state and federal agencies, and the public to formulate policies to accommodate traditional and customary practices for the Papahanaumokuakea National Marine Sanctuary in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.  He also worked to protect essential watersheds, native ecosystems, and habitat for unique Hawaiian species, including the critically endangered Hawaiian monk seal, Laysan albatross, and wedge-tailed shearwaters in the Ka’ena Point Natural Area Reserve.• Mr. Aila has been honored with this most prestigious appointment, while being given the tremendous responsibility of leading the DLNR in difficult times.  I look forward to working with him and the department.  Please support GM 517 and Mr. Aila.  Mahalo nui loa.
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