HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0327.014 2012-2014 Page 1 of 1
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Murashige, Laura C,)MM. 327
From: rhakoda @aol.com
Sent: Friday, June 21, 2013 12:18 AM
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Cc: saiskc @yahoo.com; RHakoda @aol.com
Subject: testimony in support of Duane Kanuha as Planning Director
Attachments: Testimony in Support of the Appointment of Duane Kanuha.pdf
Dear Honorable Council Members and Mayor Kenoi,
Please accept this testimony in support of Duane Kanuha at the Wed. July 10, 2013 confirmation hearing in Hilo
Mahalo!
Riley K. Hakoda (R) GRI, ABR
Principal Broker
Pier Management Hawaii LLC
ph. 808-523-8002
fax 808-523-8001
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Comm. No. 3;-1. 141
Ref.To: P/Caanei/
Ref. Date JUL 1 0 ZU13
6/25/2013
Testimony in Support of the Appointment of Duane Kanuha
as Planning Director for the County of Hawaii
By
Riley K. Hakoda
Principal Broker
Pier Management Hawaii, LLC
Honorable County of Hawaii Council Members and Mayor Kenoi
My name is Riley Hakoda, Principal Broker for Pier Management Hawaii, LLC and
I fully support and endorse Mr. Kanuha's appointment as Planning Director for the County of
Hawaii
Mr. Kanuha's residency on the Big Island spans decades of accomplishments servicing
the County of Hawai'i and the State of Hawaii as a successful administrator and businessman
with years of experience in leadership, management and administration primarily in land use
matters. As an active, civic-minded citizen. Mr. Kanuha has served in the Public Sector for many
years; and has also been heavily involved in applying his skills in Private Sector.
During his tenure as the State of Hawaii Land Use Commission Chair, Mr. Kanuha presided over
many difficult dockets and consistently displayed the proper decorum and presence to facilitate
public input and lead and direct proceedings to ensure fair participation and unbiased decision-
making for all Parties and the public good.
I first met Mr. Kanuha in 2008 while I was attaining my Masters degree in urban and regional
planning at the University of Hawaii and gaining experience as a planner working at the Land Use
Commission. I was extremely impressed by his attention to detail and investigative questioning
during Land Use Commission hearings. Despite his intense scrutiny to uncover the various
facets of each docket, he consistently maintained a friendly, open and approachable demeanor
that displayed how he could be true to his values in pursuit of the truth, but tactful in how he
obtained the answers he was looking for. Mr. Kanuha was tough when he needed to be; and
equally empathetic and compassionate when necessary as well.
As Chair of the Commission, he gained the respect of his fellow Commissioners by sharing his
wisdom and experience; and had them collaboratively working on docket decisions instead of
being polarized. It is also worthy to note that the Commissioners are uncompensated public
volunteers who are tasked with a demanding meeting schedule requiring frequent inter-island
travel and stacks of paperwork; and as Chair, Duane ensured that the meetings were efficiently
conducted to avoid unnecessary delays and extensions.
In closing, Mr. Kanuha is without a doubt one of the most skillful administrators in the
State. His level of success is rooted in his passion to serve his community with integrity
and proves him to be a role model for an overseer in land use planning. It is without a doubt that
Mr. Kanuha, as Planning Director will serve to preserve and protect Hawai'i's lands and
encourage those uses to which lands are best suited."
Please afford him with the highest consideration to be appointed as Planning Director.
Sincerely,
Riley K. Hakoda