Commission on Water Resource Management


The Commission

The Commission consists of seven members, five of whom are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the State Senate. The remaining two are the Chairperson of the State Board of Land and Natural Resources, who serves as Chairperson of the Water Commission, and the Director of the State Department of Health. The members are unpaid and serve a limited term.

Laura H. Thielen, Chairperson

Laura Thielen Laura H. Thielen is the Director of the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Ms. Thielen graduated from Punahou High School and attended the University of Colorado, attaining a bachelor of arts in Political science. She furthered her education with a law degree from Case Western Reserve School of Law and a master's degree in public policy from Georgetown University. Ms Thielen began her professional career as an attorney with the law firm Squire Sanders and Dempsey in Cleveland, Ohio, focusing on litigation and environmental law. Her interest in environmental law brought her back to Hawaii where she practiced at the firm of Gerson Grekin Wynhoff and Thielen, then went on to join the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii. Prior to serving in state government, Ms. Thielen was the sole proprietor of LHT Services, which provided business consulting to non-profit organizations and state agencies. In April 2005, Ms Thielen was appointed Director of the Office of Planning, where she was, among other things, instrumental in updating the Ocean Resource Management Plan and in formulating legislation related to important agricultural lands.

Chiyome L. Fukino, M.D.

Chiyome Fukino Dr. Chiyome L. Fukino is the Director of the Hawaii State Department of Health. Dr. Fukino previously worked in private practice in internal medicine since 1985, served part-time on the medical staff of Leahi Hospital and has broad experience in working with Hawaii's healthcare community. She served as medical director of the Queen's Physician Group, a contract consultant with Kahi Mohala and a physician with Fronk Clinic. Much of Dr. Fukino's professional work and research has focused on the health of Native Hawaiians. Her research projects for Native Hawaiians included AIDS Education Curriculum and a Native Hawaiian Health Curriculum for children and parents.

Meredith J. Ching

Meredith Ching

Meredith J. Ching is Vice President of Government and Community Relations for Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. She has previously served as Director and Executive Assistant for Natural Resources Development. Prior to her joining A&B, Inc., Ms. Ching was a Financial Analyst for the Dillingham Corporation. In 1978, she earned a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Stanford University and a M.B.A., in 1980, from the University of California at Los Angeles. She currently serves as trustee for the Nature Conservancy of Hawaii and board member for the Hawaii Nature Center, YMCA, and Kapiolani Health Foundation. This is her second term (July 1, 2005 - June 30, 2009) with the Commission.

James A. Frazier

James Frazier

James A. Frazier is a graduate of Punahou School and Colorado State University before returning to the islands to join the sugar industry in 1959. He is now retired after 35 years in agribusiness and 4 years with the State of Hawaii as Executive Director of the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii. The numerous assignments he has had throughout the State have made him aware of the value of water sources. In each location, responsibilities involved water resource management and the awareness of the water system of the island. He served as President of the Hawaiian Sugar Technologist and served as a board member on several Soil and Water Conservation Boards. This is his second term (July 1, 2007 - June 30, 2011) with the Commission.

Neal S. Fujiwara

Neal Fujiwara

Neal S. Fujiwara recently retired as the Maui District Conservationist from the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) after thirty-two years. He holds a Bachelor's Degree from Utah State University and also worked at Pioneer Mill Sugar Co. as an assistant irrigation specialist before joining the NRCS. As Maui District Conservationist, Mr. Fujiwara administered a multitude of natural resources conservation programs to help people reduce soil erosion, enhance water supplies, improve water quality, increase wildlife habitat, and reduce damages caused by floods and other natural disasters. Mr. Fujiwara also served as District Conservationist for Kauai and Soil Conservationist for Kauai County. This is his first term (July 1, 2005 - June 30, 2009) with the Commission.

Donna Fay K. Kiyosaki, P.E.

Fay Kiyosaki

Donna Fay K. Kiyosaki is Senior Vice President of Development for Waimana Enterprises, Inc. Prior to joining Waimana, she served for 8 years as the Deputy Manager & Chief Engineer of the Honolulu Board of Water Supply. Ms. Kiyosaki has over 25 years of experience in both the public and private sector in water, wastewater, energy, and public works. She was previously the Director & Chief Engineer for the County of Hawaii, the civil engineering section head and the integrated resource planning coordinator for Hawaii Electric Light Company, planning engineer for the Big Island Department of Water Supply, and a design engineer in private practice. She is a graduate of Stanford University and a registered Civil Engineer in the State of Hawaii. Ms. Kiyosaki served on the National Board of Directors for the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies and is a committee chair for the American Water Works Association, Hawaii Section. This is her first term (July 1, 2007 - June 30, 2011) with the Commission.

Lawrence H. Miike, M.D., J.D.

Lawrence Miike

Lawrence H. Miike is a graduate of the University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine, and the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law. Following his education, he served as a Senior Associate with the congressional Office of Technology Assessment conducting national health policy studies in Washington, D.C. Upon returning to Hawaii in 1989, Dr. Miike was the founding Executive Director of Papa Ola Lokahi, the umbrella organization for the Native Hawaiian health systems. In 1992, he served as Medical Director for the Hawaii Medicaid Program, then went on to serve as the State Director of Health from 1994 to 1998. For 10 years, Dr. Miike was also Professor of Family Practice and Community Health at the John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa. In his capacity as Director of Health, Dr. Miike was a member of the Commission on Water Resource Management, but continues to serve occasionally as a hearing officer for both the Water Commission and the Board of Land and Natural Resources since his retirement in December 1998. This is his second term (July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2012) with the Commission.

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Selection and Terms

The State Water Code declares that the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources shall serve as the Chairperson of the Commission, while the Director of Health shall serve as an ex-officio voting member. The other five members of the Commission are to be appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate. Each member must have substantial experience in the area of water resource management.

In appointing a member to the Commission, the Governor selects from a list submitted by a nominating committee. The nominating committee is composed of four individuals chosen as follows:

  1. Two (2) persons appointed by the Governor.
  2. One (1) person appointed by the President of the Senate.
  3. One (1) person appointed by the Speaker of the House.

Following a solicitation of applications, a list of at least three individuals is sent to the Governor for each open position. Once appointed, the members of the Commission serve without compensation, but are reimbursed for expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties. The tenure of each Commission member is subject to the provisions of §26-34, Hawaii Revised Statutes, which are summarized as follows:

  1. The members of each board and commission established by law shall be nominated and, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, appointed by the Governor.
  2. The terms of the members shall be for four years; provided that the Governor may reduce the terms of those initially appointed so as to provide, as nearly as can be, for the expiration of an equal number of terms at intervals of one year for each board and commission.
  3. Unless otherwise provided by law, each term shall commence on July 1 and expire on June 30
  4. No person shall be appointed consecutively to more than two terms as a member of the same board or commission; provided that membership on any board or commission shall not exceed eight consecutive years.
  5. Any member of a board or commission whose term has expired and who is not disqualified for membership under subsection (a) may continue in office as a holdover member until a successor is nominated and appointed; provided that a holdover member shall not hold office beyond the end of the second regular legislative session following the expiration of the member's term of office.
  6. A vacancy occurring in the membership of any board or commission during a term shall be filled for the unexpired term thereof, subject to Article V, section 6 of the Constitution of the State.
  7. The governor may remove or suspend for cause any member of any board or commission after due notice and public hearing.

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Commission's Role

Commission's RoleThe State, as trustee of water resources, has the constitutionally-mandated responsibility to set policies, protect resources, defines uses, establish priorities while assuring rights and uses, and establish regulatory procedures. The Commission on Water Resource Management (Commission) is the entity fulfilling this responsibility through administration of the State Water Code, Chapter 174C, Hawaii Revised Statutes, which was adopted by the legislature in 1987. Operating procedures are governed by administrative rules, which are Chapters 167 to 171, Hawaii Administrative Rules.

The Commission has jurisdiction over land-based surface water and ground water resources, but not coastal waters. The protection and management of these water resources is carried out through resource assessments, planning, and regulation. Generally, the Commission is responsible for addressing water quantity issues, while water quality issues are under the purview of the State Department of Health.

The Commission has a regularly scheduled meeting once a month, but on its own motion or on petition or application of any interested person or persons or an agency of the state or county government hold proceedings as necessary from time to time for the purpose of:

  1. Obtaining information necessary or helpful in the determination of its policies or actions;
  2. Formulating its own rules;
  3. Carrying out its duties and responsibilities including the designation of water management areas, the permitting of water uses, and the enforcement of rules, orders and legal standards and obligations.

For specific reference to the role of the Commission, please see the Hawaii Administrative Rules, §13-167-22, Proceedings before the Commission.

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