Senate Floor

Will the Senate please come to order? Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

24 present. One excused.

Thank you. The chair has read the journal of the preceding day and approves the same. Are there any introductions this morning, Senator Kanuha?

Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President. Colleagues and honored guests. Today we have the distinct honor of welcoming the exceptional student athletes of the boys and girls wrestling teams of Kamehameha Schools, Kapalama, who have brought pride and glory to their school and community by capturing state championship titles.

At this time, I would like to yield to the Senator from District 14 who represents this area and will introduce these remarkable champions.

Thank you, Senator Kanuha. Mr. President, let me just first say Imua Kamehameha.

As a mom of a Kamehameha School alumnus, also a lifer, who was a lifer, and he also played sports at Kamehameha, I am really proud to stand up and to recognize the outstanding boys and girls teams of Kamehameha Schools, Kapalama, for their remarkable achievements in the 2024 state wrest championships.

These athletes have demonstrated unparalleled dedication, discipline and resilience, qualities that have not only propelled them to victory, but also exemplify the values instilled by their school coaches and communities. I am excited to recognize first the Wahine warriors wrestling team, whose performance this year was nothing short of extraordinary.

I'm proud to share that this talented team produced not just one, not two, but three individual state champions, each embodying the warrior spirit and commitment to excellence. First, Jax Raylan. Jax is a senior who captured her third state title. The. Then we have Riley Nishida. Riley, who, also a senior, who captured her second title.

And she's also just a freshman, I might say. And Ariana Waikinekona, who won her first state title. Okay, let me correct that. Let me correct that. Ariana is the freshman, okay? Also, I want to congratulate all of you ladies. You've made your school, your families and your community proud.

Now, I'm equally proud to introduce the boys wrestling team who displayed unmatched grit, determination and resilience to earn the 2024 boys championship title. And their dominating performance at the state championship match is a testament to their dedication and warrior spirit. First, head coach David William Keiki Chu. If you'll stand to be recognized, Coach.

And then we have co Captain Noah Mckenzie. Noah, please stand to be recognized. And co captain Ramsey Nishida, who's the twin brother of Riley Nishida. So it runs in the family. And I'd like the rest of the team sitting up in the gallery. If you will all please rise to be recognized for your hard work and perseverance.

Finally, Mr. President, none of this success would have been possible without the leadership and guidance of the dedicated team of warrior assistant coaches who inspired and mentored and molded these athletes into champions on both on and off the court. So a special mahalo goes to them and also to the parents of all of these athletes.

We do have a couple of them in our audience. If you will please stand and be recognized. Yeah, go ahead. Be proud of your. Be proud of your. And, Mr. President, may I submit the written names so that they can be entered into the journal?

And I now pass this over to Basco, our majority leader, when they are.

Submitted to the clerks who ordered. Senator Kanuha.

Thank you, Mr. President. It is often said that champions are made, not born. And nowhere has this been more evident than in the journey of these warriors.

With the unwavering support of their athletic Department, fellow students, administrators, proud parents, and all those who have guided and supported them, these student athletes have proven themselves to be true champions in every sense of the word. Congratulations.

So we've got about five minutes of agenda work to do. And if you can just sit patiently once we're done, then we would. Members will come up to greet you individually, and we'd like to take a photo. And the sergeants will escort the rest of your team to the floor. Madam Clerk.

On page one. Governor's message number 787 withdraws nominations to the candidate Advisory Council for the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii. File beginning on page two. House communication number 423. Return Senate Bill 1291, Senate draft one that has passed third reading in the House unamended file.

House communication number 424 returns Senate Bill 1051, Senate draft one that passed third reading in the House in an amended form for Agree Disagree. Senator Wakai.

Mr. President, I move this that the Senate disagree to the amendments proposed by the House to Senate Bill 1051 SD1.

Senator DeCorte.

Mr. President, I second the motion.

It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Any objections? If not, the motion is carried. Conferees will be named at a later date.

House communication numbers 425 and 426 transmit various house Concurrent Resolutions which were adopted in the House for referral to Committee so ordered on pages 3 to 18. Standing Committee report numbers 141,422 to 1478 and on pages 20 to 24, Standing Committee report numbers 1492 to 1508.

For one day notice so ordered, beginning on page 18, Standing Committee report numbers 1479 to 1487. For 48 hour notice, so ordered beginning on page 19, Standing Committee report numbers 1488 to 1491 for adoption. Senator Wakai.

Mr. President, I move for the adoption of standing Committee reports numbers 1488-1491.

Senator DeCorte.

Mr. President, I second the motion.

It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Any objections? If not, the motion is carried.

Beginning on page 24, Adoption of Resolutions, Standing Committee Report Numbers 1371-1420 for the adoption of Senate Concurrent Resolutions and Senate resolutions listed on pages 2024-38 for adoption. Senator Wakai.

Mr. President, I move for the adoption of said Senate Concurrent Resolutions and Senate resolutions.

Senator DeCorte.

Mr. President, I second the motion.

It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Senator San Buenaventura.

A short reservation for standing Committee Report 1392. 1393. My position is basically a declaration of a public health emergency has legal implications. It's not just urging. So for those reasons, I suggest caution. Thank you. Thank you.

So we will ask before the vote if there are reservations on any of the resolutions, so identify reservations. If there are no votes on any of the resolutions, then we'll identify those. And you seem ready to go. Senator Awa. Would you like to indicate reservations or no votes?

Yes. Sorry. Is this for all one? Okay. Yeah. Please.

Please mark down my no votes to SCR51, SR33, SCR76, SR59, SCR93, SR76, SCR103, SR84, SCR115, SR96, SCR111, SR 92, SCR183, SR153, SCR42, SD1, SR27, SD1, SCR159, SD1, SR129, SD1, SCR182, SR152, SR.

SCR200, SR180, SD1, SCR184, SR146, SCR229, SR205, SCR124, SR104, and SCR179, SD1, and SR149.

Thank you, Senator DeCorte.

Senate President, if you could please note my no votes for for the following SSCR138.82 SR93, SSCR13883, SR76, SSCR1390, SCR115, SSCR1391, SR96, SSCR1392, SCR111, SSCR1393 SR92, SSCR1401, SCR159, SSCR1402 SR129, SSCR1411, SCR184, SSCR1412, SR146, SSCR1419, SR179 and finally SSCR1420 SR149. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you, Senator Fevella.

Yeah, I can no vote for SCR159SD1 and SR129SD1. Thank you, Senate President.

Thank you. Senator San Buenaventura, you had, you know, stood to indicate some caution, did you want to be registered with reservations on that particular item?

Yes. Correct. That would be SCCR 1392 and 1393, which is the Standing Committee report, which refers to sent Concurrent Resolution 111 and sent Resolution 92.

Any other reservations or no votes? Senator San Buenaventura. No. Thank you very much. Thank Senator Fevella.

I apologize, Senator. President, I have two more no votes. SCR179ST1, SR149SD1. Thank you, Senator. President.

Thank you. Anyone else want to register reservations or a no vote? If not, Madam Clerk, are there any further objections or reservations? If not, the motion is carried. Said resolutions have been adopted.

Referrals and re referrals.

Referrals and re referrals are made in accordance with the supplemental orders of the day that may be filed later today. No further business. Mr. President. Are there any announcements today? Senator Elefante is up. And then Senator Awa.

Thank you, Mr. President. Just want to remind everyone that we are one month out from the annual Capitol blood drive sponsored by the representative from Kanohe, which will be happening on May 1st from 9am to 3pm in conference room 329. Currently there are 30 people signed up, but the goal is 50.

This is a great and convenient way to give back to the community and save lives. So please look at the QR code on the flyers in the elevator or the email that was sent out. If you have any further questions, you can Contact the House Consumer Protection and Commerce Chair at 586-8470. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you, Senator Awa.

Mahalo. Pelekena. I'd like to personally congratulate all the wrestlers and I know we did earlier, but I was one obviously, and back in my day, Kamehameha didn't come out on top.

I just want to point out real quick one person that changed that for you guys because he's actually a Kahuku Red Raider, your Director of athletics, Rob Hesia. You should all give him a round of applause because that's why you guys are where you're at with your coaches and all of your efforts. Mahalo.

That was a pretty good way to work in the high school in your district. Do we have any further announcements? If not, I have one. There will be. Senator Lee.

Thank you, Mr. President. Just a reminder outside, from basically now till 2:30, the Hawaii bicycling League has a bunch of low speed electric bicycles they're sharing with us to take a look at. I don't believe we can go for rides, I don't think. But they're there and there's folks from the community happy to answer questions. Thank you.

I don't believe our insurance policy would cover that liability for any injuries. Any further announcements again, if not, I have one. There will be a leadership meeting immediately after greeting our honored guests on the floor in room 409. Senator Wakai.

Mr. President, I move that the Senate stand adjourned to 11:30am tomorrow.

Senator DeCorte.

Mr. President, I second the motion.

It's been moved and seconded. If there are no objections from the members, the Senate will stand adjourned until 11:30am tomorrow.