The Senate Committee on Water and Land held a hearing and decision meeting March 28, 2025, in Room 016 and advised and consented to two governor nominations and passed multiple resolutions addressing shoreline and cultural-preservation issues.

The committee voted to confirm Stanley Rudis to the Game Management Advisory Commission and Alexandra Kaleipolo to the Legacy Land Conservation Commission. Nick Vargas of the Department of Land and Natural Resources told the committee, “The department strongly supports the governor's message 5 8 5, nominating mister Bridal to the Game Management Advisory Commission,” and noted Rudis’s prior service, including as GMAC chair from July 2020 to June 2022. Stanley Rudis, the nominee, said he planned to seek to continue as GMAC chair if reappointed and to “bring meetings to all the hunters of all the islands” and to work on wildlife management plans island-by-island.

David Penn, staff person for the Legacy Land Conservation Commission and program specialist in DLNR’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife, urged confirmation of Alexandra Kaleipolo and described her interim service on the commission. Alexandra Kaleipolo told the committee she has a long personal connection to the Legacy Land program on Hawaii Island and said the county two-percent land fund and the Legacy Land Program have helped “protect almost 11,000 acres” and that the county “received about $15,000,000 from the Legacy Land Program.” Bill Brillhanty, representing the County of Hawaii Office of the Mayor, offered support and praised Kaleipolo’s experience with easements and county land programs.

The committee also advanced two related measures concerning coastal and cultural preservation. The committee passed SCR 119 and SR 100, which request the Department of Land and Natural Resources to convene a Kailua Bay advisory working group. Megan Statz of DLNR said the department stood on written testimony and would answer questions as needed. Carolyn Anderson, interim president and CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, also said she stood on written comments.

In a joint action with other committees, the chamber advanced SCR 75 and SR 58, which request that the County of Maui employ an archaeologist to help with historic-preservation work as Lahaina is rebuilt. Committee discussion included one substantive amendment clarifying language about whether an archaeologist has already been fully engaged; senators explained the measure is intended to support existing county work and add resources. One senator said the resolution is meant “to support the work of miss Sicks and Maui County, not to fling shade at them,” stressing the measure’s supportive intent.

Separately, the committee moved SCR 24 with amendments urging the U.S. Department of Defense to preserve online references to the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and to include the 100th Infantry Battalion where appropriate.

Votes at a glance

- GM 585 (Stanley Rudis) — Confirmation to the Game Management Advisory Commission (term to 06/30/2028). Committee recommendation: advise and consent. Recorded committee votes: Chair Inouye — Aye; Vice Chair Elefante — Aye; Senator Chang — Aye; Senator McKelvey — Aye; Senator deCorte — Aye. Outcome: confirmed (committee action: advise and consent).

- GM 550 (Alexandra Kaleipolo) — Confirmation to the Legacy Land Conservation Commission (term to 06/30/2028). Committee recommendation: advise and consent. Recorded committee votes: Chair Inouye — Aye; Vice Chair Elefante — Aye; Senator Chang — Aye; Senator McKelvey — Aye; Senator deCorte — Aye. Outcome: confirmed (committee action: advise and consent).

- SCR 119 / SR 100 — Requesting DLNR convene a Kailua Bay advisory working group. Committee recommendation: pass with technical and non-substantive amendments. Recorded committee votes: Chair Inouye — Aye; Vice Chair Elefante — Aye; Senator Chang — Aye; Senator McKelvey — Aye; Senator deCorte — Aye. Outcome: passed with amendments.

- SCR 75 / SR 58 — Requesting the County of Maui to employ an archaeologist for historic preservation in Lahaina rebuilding. Recommendation: pass with technical amendments and one substantive amendment clarifying the scope of engagement. Recorded committee votes (joint committees): multiple committees recorded support; committee members on Water and Land recorded the recommendation as passed; Chair Inouye and other voting members recorded ayes. Outcome: passed with amendments.

- SCR 24 (as amended) — Strongly urging the U.S. Department of Defense to retain references to the 442nd Regimental Combat Team on its website and to include the 100th Infantry Battalion where the 442nd is referenced. Committee recommendation: pass with amendment. Outcome: passed with amendments.

Why it matters

The confirmations fill advisory seats that counsel the Department of Land and Natural Resources on wildlife and land-conservation policy, affecting island-specific management plans and community land-purchase programs. The Kailua Bay working-group measure and the Lahaina archaeologist resolutions aim to create or fund advisory and technical capacity for shoreline and cultural-resource management. The DoD resolution concerns preservation of historical records and public access to military-history references.

What was not decided or remains unclear

The committee advanced the measures to the next legislative stage; the transcript records committee-level outcomes and amendments but does not record final floor action or any subsequent appropriations. Specific implementation details (for example, exact budget lines or hiring timelines for an archaeologist in Maui County) were not specified in the committee record.

End note

The committee concluded its March 28 hearing and will forward the measures and confirmations for further processing according to Senate rules.