HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0020.028 2000-2002 COLBERT M. MATSUMOTO
1022 Bethel Street
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Phone: (808) 564-8132. Fax (808) 564-8170
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December 14, 2000 County Council
The Honorable James Y. Aralcakt
Chairman, County Council
County of Hawaii
25 Aupum Street, Rm. 209
Kilo, Hawazr 96720
Re Nomination of Chnstopher J Yuen
Dear Chairman Arakalu
I wish to offer my testunony in support of the nomination of Chnstopher J. Yuen
as the Planning Director for the County of Hawaii
I have known Chris for six years after having first met him in connection with our
sernce as members of the Boazd of Land & Natural Resources ("Land Board") of the
State of Hawazt. As member; of a stx-member Boazd, you can't help but interact and get
to ]mow your colleagues on the Land Board well -particularly since the work of the
Land Board was time-consumrng and intense dunng the twice monthly meetings and
frequent public heanngs, bnefings, and site visits
As members of the Land Boazd, we were called upon to exercise oversight
authority with respect to a wide range of azeas related to public lands and resources I
was regularly impressed with Chns's span of Imowledge of diverse topics. In particular,
I found Chns to be an important resource when tt came to land use issues that came
within the scope of our authonty over lands m the conservation dtstnct Chns would
reveal a depth of knowledge of land use law and planning principles that provided helpful
insights as we reviewed and debated matters submitted to us for decision.
While I did not always agree with Chns (although we certainly found ourselves in
agreement more tunes than not), I was always comfortable that our disagreements were
based upon reasonable and substantive differences in opimon and not were not azbitrary
Chris demonstrated a capacity to be fazr and open to considering alternative yews and
would fazrly evaluate all factors brought to the table. Pnor to meeting loin I had heard
Chns being labeled as an "environmentalist" Such a restrictive label, however, does not
Comm. No. ~
ale No.
Ref. To: ~?hnts~~ G
Ref. Date 1 92000
The Honorable James Y Arakalu
Deccmber 14, 2000
Page 2
fairly descnbe this man who cleazly comprehends the need for balance between the
preservation and economic development of those resources.
Chns has a particulazly deep love of the island of Hawaii. I was regulazly amazed
at the depth of his knowledge of the island as he would often recount lus farruliarity with
diverse and remote areas of the island that he had personally explored It is not often that
you can find ahome-grown local boy with the background and ability that Chns has who
is willing to offer lus skills to public semce. There is no doubt in my mind that the
County of Hawaii stands to gazn a tremendous benefit from the talent and expenence that
Chns will bung with loin to the Planning Depaztment. I therefore encourage you to act
favorably upon lus nomination.
Sincerely yo ,
C lbert M Matsumoto
CMM:Icw
cc• Bobby Jean Leithead-Todd
Chris Yuen