Hawaii Chairperson of Land and Natural Resources

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The Hawaii Chairperson of Land and Natural Resources is a state executive position in the Hawaii state government. The chairperson heads the Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources, a seven person state body responsible for conserving and managing Hawaii's natural resources and the exploitation thereof. The chairperson is the board's executive, and directly manages the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, the agency responsible for implementing the board's policies. Like all Hawaii state executives, the chairperson is appointed by the governor with the consent of the state Senate.

Current officeholder

The current chairperson is William Aila, who was appointed on November 29, 2010, by incoming Governor Neil Abercrombie. As Aila serves a term coterminous with that of the governor, his tenure in office will end in December 2014, unless he is reappointed.

Before becoming chairperson, Aila was the small boat harbormaster of Waianae, HI. He has worked for the Department of Land and Natural Resources for more than 23 years in the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation.

Authority

The Board of Natural Resources and, by extension, the position of chairperson, is created by state law.

Hawaii Revised Statutes, 171-3

(a) The department of land and natural resources shall be headed by an executive board to be known as the board of land and natural resources. The department shall manage, administer, and exercise control over public lands, the water resources, ocean waters, navigable streams, coastal areas (excluding commercial harbor areas), and minerals and all other interests therein and exercise such powers of disposition thereof as may be authorized by law.

The position of chairperson itself is in the next subsection.

Hawaii Revised Statutes, 171-4

(c) The governor shall select a chairperson of the board from among its members. The chairperson shall call and preside at meetings and may appoint a member of the board as secretary. The members of the board shall choose one of their number to act as chairperson during the absence or disability of the chairperson.

Qualifications

There are no particular qualifications for the chairperson or members of the Board of Natural Resources, but state law requires that at least one member have a background in "conservation and natural resources," meaning either a college degree in a relevant field, or "work history sufficient to demonstrate an appropriate level of knowledge." Additionally, there may not be more than three members from each political party.

Hawaii Revised Statutes, 171-4

At least one member of the board shall have a background in conservation and natural resources, as evidenced by: (1) A college degree in a relevant field, including forestry, wildlife conservation, geology, environmental science, or marine biology; or (2) Work history sufficient to demonstrate an appropriate level of knowledge in the subject of land and natural resources, including parks and recreation, public lands management, natural area reserves, aquatic resources, boating and recreation, forestry and wildlife, water resources management, or conservation and resources.

Appointments

All members of the Board of Natural Resources, including the chairperson, are appointed by the governor with the consent of the state Senate. Of the board's seven members, four represent one of each of Hawaii's land districts, and three serve at large. Board members serve four terms, beginning on January 1 of the year after they were appointed and expiring on December 30 four years later.

Term limits

No board member may be appointed to more than two consecutive terms.

Vacancies

Section 26-34 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes provides that vacancies in the board be filled according to Article V, Section 6 of the Hawaii Constitution. If a vacancy occurs, the governor appoints a replacement with the consent of the state Senate. If the Senate is out of session when the vacancy occurs, the governor may appoint a temporary replacement to exercise the powers of attorney general until the legislature reconvenes.

Duties

The chairperson is the executive member of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, and is the administrative head of the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. The board sets out conservation and regulatory policy for Hawaii's land, air water, and other natural resources, which the department then implements.

Divisions

• Aquatic resources
• Boating and Ocean Recreation
• Conservation and Resources Enforcement
• Engineering
• Hunter Education Program
• Bureau of Conveyances
• Forestry and Wildlife
• Historic Preservation
• Land
• Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands
• State Parks

Compensation

In 2010, members of the Board of Land and Natural Resources received a salary of $103,512.

Contact info

Address:
1151 Punchbowl St.
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: (808) 587-0400
E-mail: dlnr@hawaii.gov

See also

• Natural Resources Commissioner
• William Aila

External links

• Hawaii Chairperson of Land and Natural Resources