Nomination Deadline for Mauna Kea Working Group Extended For Three Weeks

News Release from House Democratic Caucus, April 8, 2021

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – The House of Representatives has extended the nomination deadline for Native Hawaiian persons who wish to serve on the Mauna Kea Working Group from April 5, 2021 to April 26, 2021.

The Working Group is established pursuant to adopted House Resolution 33. The working group will consist of 15 individuals (a chairperson, 7 members government members, and 7 Native Hawaiian members). Its purpose is to propose a new governance and management structure for Mauna Kea.

The deadline is extended to coincide with the completion of the legislative session on April 29 and to allow the general community to learn more about the working group.

The nomination form is available at https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/docs/2021MaunaKeaResoNomination.pdf.

Nominations are due on or before 4:30 p.m. on April 26, 2021.

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Mauna Kea Working Group Starts to Take Shape

News Release from House Democratic Caucus, March 31, 2021

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – On March 4, 2021, the Hawaiʻi House of Representatives adopted House Resolution 33, Convening a Working Group to Develop Recommendations for a Governance and Management Structure for Mauna Kea. The 15-member Working Group is tasked with developing recommendations for a new governance and management structure for Mauna Kea that collaboratively engages with all stakeholders, particularly the Native Hawaiian community.

Four (4) members of the Working Group include the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Board of Land and Natural Resources, University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents, and Mauna Kea Observatories. The organizations were asked to identify their representatives by March 24, 2021. The following Working Group members have been named by stakeholder organizations:

Sterling Wong, Chief Advocate of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, will represent the Office of Hawaiian Affairs;

Robert K. Masuda, First Deputy, will represent the Board of Land and Natural Resources;

Bonnie Irwin, Chancellor of the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, will represent the University of Hawaiʻi's Board of Regents; and

Rich Matsuda, Chief External Relations Officer and interim Chief Operating Officer at the W. M. Keck Observatory, will represent the Maunakea Observatories.

In addition, House Speaker Scott K. Saiki will select the Chair, three (3) members of the House of Representatives to participate in the Working Group, and seven (7) representatives of Native Hawaiian groups, organizations, or communities. Nominations for the seven (7) Native Hawaiians nominated by Native Hawaiian groups, organizations, or communities are due by 4:30 p.m. on Monday, April 5, 2021. The nomination form is available on the House website: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/docs/2021MaunaKeaResoNomination.pdf

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HNN: State House names four members to Mauna Kea Working Group