Legislative briefs

Advertiser Staff

Human Resources nominee advances

The nomination of Kathleen Watanabe as Gov. Linda Lingle's director of the Department of Human Resources Development has advanced out of the Senate Labor Committee. The nomination goes to a confirmation vote by the full Senate.

An attorney who started out as a social worker, the 47-year-old Kapa'a native told lawmakers her new job incorporates both disciplines. She was county attorney for Kaua'i County under former Mayor Joanne Yukimura from 1990 to 1994.

Later, she was supervising deputy for the Attorney General's Employment Law Division from 1999 until several months ago, when she became personnel program administrator for the Human Resources Development Department.

Watanabe received letters of support from a variety of people who have worked with her from within and outside DHRD.

Watanabe takes over a post held by Davis Yogi, who served dually as chief labor negotiator for the state.

Lawmakers seek Kaho'olawe plan

State lawmakers are pressing for details on how Kaho'olawe will be managed after the Navy turns it over to a state commission in November.

Tomorrow, a bill requiring a master plan from the Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission will come up for a vote by the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs. At issue is the deadline for the master plan, originally set at July 1 and then delayed in a revised version to Aug. 1.

Testimony at yesterday's hearing favored the bill, although the commission believes a further delay is necessary, a delay that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs also supports. Stanton Enomoto, the commission's senior policy adviser, told the Senate committee that ongoing negotiations with the Navy mean a report cannot be completed until Aug. 29.