Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 18, Number 5, 1 May 2001 — Commissioners changing [ARTICLE]

Commissioners changing

Noa Emmett Aluli, M.D„ chairperson of the Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission, is stepping down from the commission when his second term ends June 30. Aluli, a Moloka'i physician, has served as the KlRC chair since the commission was formed in 1994. Under his leadership the K1RC has grown from two to 16 employees, with recent annual budgets of roughly $1 million. Aluli is one of the founders of the Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana, the group that first called for an end to the bombing of the island and its return to Hawai'i. Aluli's seat will be filled by Craig Neff of Hilo, who has previously served on the KIRC. Neff is an artist and owner of The Hawaiian Force, an artistic line of t-shirts and other accessories with distinct Native Hawaiian motifs.

Neff 's designs are sold in his downtown Hilo shop and at craft fairs statewide. Neff is a mo'olono, a leader in ceremonies conducted on Kaho'olawe during the Makahiki season to honor Lono, the Hawaiian god of agriculture. OHA Trustee Colette Machado is expected to be reappointed to a second term as the KIRC as OHA's official representative, and also served on the commission prior to serving as OHA trustee. In addition, she is a business and civic leader on Moloka'i. Gov. Cayetano's appointment of Neff and the reappointment of Machado must be confīrmed by a vote of the State Senate before the close of the 2001 session.

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Editor's note: The Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission is the state 's manager of Kaho 'olawe and its near shore waters. Periodic update reports are submitted to Ka Wai Ola by KIRC Administrative Manager Heidi Meeker.