Updated at 12:13 p.m., Monday, April 23, 2007
Senate committee opposes retaining DLNR director
Advertiser Staff
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The 4-1 vote dims Young's prospects of holding onto his DLNR post through confirmation by the full Senate.
State Sen. Russell Kokubun, D-2nd (S. Hilo, Puna, Ka'u), the committee's chairman, cited concerns about Young's management and accountability.
"He didn't do his job," Kokubun told reporters after the vote.
Several current and former DLNR workers have testified under subpoena about management difficulties in the boating and historic preservation divisions. In addition, concerns about dam management surfaced during Young's confirmation hearings.
Environmentalists and Native Hawaiian groups, including some who had almost called for Young's resignation two years ago, have backed his confirmation. Many fishermen and some Hawaiians worried about protecting burial sites have opposed the director's confirmation.
