Senate Floor

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

[Roll Call] All 25 Members are present.

Thank you. The Chairs read the journal of the preceding day and approves the same. Are there any introductions this morning? Senator Keohokali.

Mr. President. There's a grumpy old man in the gallery who deserves an introduction, and I wanted to make sure that his presence was noted in the journal and also a description of his General demeanor and standing in the world. Isaac Choi is with us. Welcome.

I served with him in the House and he is a friend, and I'm happy he's serving the public. Please stand up and be introduced.

Further introduction. Senator Dela Cruz, then Senator Gabbard.

Thank you, Mr. President. I guess in this case, I actually have to agree with the CPN chair that he is a grumpy old man. I also want to thank the Bill staff because they were able to get so many Wham fin releases out on time to make sure that the Members could vote on their measures.

And if they could just stand and be recognized. Asher Ray, Diana Fabian, Christy, Joshua and David. Thank you, Mr. President.

Senator Gabbard, then Senator DeCoite.

Mr. President, colleagues, staff and guests, I just wanted to take a moment to introduce my awesome staff for this year. Meg Turner, please stand. My office manager, Melanie June, my community liaison, Donna Lay, legislative aide. Also, Leah Bellard, my AEN Committee Clerk. And Nadia Riggs, her assistant, as well as our intern, Ari Romuldo. Thank you all.

They did a great job. Mahalo.

Am I supposed to introduce Barbara and thank her for bringing the toffee to the capitol today? Hi, Mrs. Gabbard.

Thank you. Prez saved my life. And I'd also like to. I'd like to introduce my wife, Carol, the toffee maker. Aloha. Please stand.

Senator Rhoads.

Thank you, Mr. President. Also like to introduce my staff. I've been blessed over the years with. Having great staff, but this was a. This was a particularly good year. My attorneys, Moya Gray, Teddy Brokawn, Jesse Fagg, if you guys could all stand. Committee Clerk Emilia Borland. Legislative aides Mia Ogata, Sarah Thorne and Peyton Haygood.

And my shy office manager is still in the office, Glenn Young. Thank you so much for all your. Hard work and just for being a great group of people to be around. Mahalo.

Senator DeCoite than Senator Lee.

Thank you, President.

Senator DeCoite than Senator Lee.

Thank you, Mr. President. I also like to take the opportunity to thank my staff, Iseta Malufa, Richard Oshiro, Tyler Gomes and Jesse Kalahui. They've been super instrumental in having to deal with a lot of stuff this year in my office. And thank you for helping working with me this year.

And if we could give them a round of applause, Mr. President, I also would like to introduce the interim CEO that is here from HTA Caroline. Sitting next to her is also HTA Roy Funn. And I believe I saw Todd walk in Toddlepole as well. And I agree with the CPN chair and the Wham Chair.

That grumpy old man up there talk about, you know, glad he's here as well. Thank you, Mr. President.

Senator Lee.

Thank you, Mr. President. Similarly, I'd like to acknowledge staff who made everything possible this year. Joining us in the gallery are Anthony, Danielle and Natasha. Thank you so much, guys.

Further introductions. Senator Fevella, then Senator Kanuha.

Thank you. Thank you, Senate President. I want to introduce my staff. You guys all can stand. Office manager Raza Morgan, Chris Joyce, Wyn and Matt. You guys all know Risa because she's running around like a rabbit and making sure I'm at the right hearings at the right time.

But I appreciate all of them for making me on time to my Committee hearings and conference Committee. Thank you, guys.

Senator Kanuha.

Thank you, Mr. President. In the gallery, visiting from California, Los Angeles and San Diego respectively, I have two of my aunties. If you could please stand and be recognized. First up, Auntie Linda Gusik and Auntie Rosemary Kanuha. Please wave. Thank you for visiting. Thank you for everything that you do and welcome to your holy State Senate.

Our Hawaii State Senate. And also want to thank my staff, Auntie Pony and Nettie. Mahalo for all your hard work. And of course, Kepa, who is watching from the office. Also, we want to recognize in the gallery our Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke and her trusty sidekick, Khaleo Chang. Thank you, Mr. President.

Senator Elefante.

Thank you, Mr. President. Happy Aloha Friday to everyone. I would like to take this time to recognize my staff, my office manager Jan Salcedo, my legislative aide, Taylor Sales, and our session staff, Faith Cantua. And in addition, I'D like to also recognize, here in the gallery, we have Richmond Luzar, Melissa Pavacek, Steve and Kat Brady.

If you could please stand to be recognized. Welcome to the Senate.

Senator Aquino, then Senator Kim, then Senator Chang.

Thank you, Mr. President. I, too, would like to acknowledge my staff. And you know, they're very hardworking. They are in the office right now. Working to the very last day, but. But I really want to acknowledge them. Crystal Castile was my intern. Today is her very last day. She graduates from the University of Hawaii.

And she has a bright future ahead of her. And also Kathy Ni and Savannah Coley. Who will be staying with my office. And so they will continue to work really hard. So thank you very much.

Senator Aquino and then Senator Chang.

Thank you, Senate President. I, too, would like to acknowledge my staff. Very hardworking. We have Nathaniel Ise. Please rise. We have Janie Nankes, who is my Committee Clerk, and my office manager, Marina Andrade, who's been with me since 2008. Welcome.

Senator Chang, then Senator Inouye.

Thank you, Mr. President. I wanted to extend my thanks to our office staff who have worked so hard all session long and all year long. I see in the gallery we have our legislative aide, Zephany Smith Eisenstadt, and our Committee Clerk, Angie Chapman.

With us, or who are not with us today, are our office manager, Ruben Sierra, and our intern, Shaina Laguatan. Thank you so much.

Senator Inouye.

Thank you, Mr. President. Good day to all of you. I, too, Dito with Senator Kim. My staff is busy upstairs in the office cleaning up as well. And I'd like to say mahalo to Tammy Kotani, who has been a spark plug in the office for several years as well. And to Amelia and to Mel Aching.

And just to let you know, those who are recession hires, there is opportunity for you, because Mel Aching has been with me for the last six years. And when you have experiences like him, it's such a benefit to the office. And Mel Aching was working for the former Senator, Sam Sloan for 15 years.

So abundance of experience for all of you. Session hires. You learn and come back. And I'm sure your Senate Senators will appreciate that as well. And mahalo to my colleagues. And I guess we'll all take a break. Mahalo, Mr. President.

Thank you, Senator McKelvey.

Thank you, Mr. President. I, too, would just like to acknowledge the hard work of my staff.

They're in the office right now, but Wendy Wilson, Beth Mckenzie, Kaweela Pratt and Kamana Levy all did an amazing job, not only with helping us with the legislative stuff, but continuing to help the people of Lahaina and Maui with their challenges going forward. So mahalo to them and thanks for the work. Gang. Thank you.

Any further introduction? Senator Awa and Senator San Buenaventura.

I'll do the Senate all a favor. And if we can acknowledge the photographers of Hawaii News now, Alan Johnson and Jam Aquino. Also Blaise Lovell. If you could write something good about us down here, we'd appreciate that. From Civil Beat. Mahalo.

Senator San Buenaventura.

Thank you, Mr. President.

I also would like to acknowledge the hard work of my staff, who is. Also the. Who did the moment of. Concentration a week ago. She will be leaving us from Florida. And Julian Grady, who has had a welcome experience staff. And with their hard work, we're able to pass on a number of bills.

So thank you very much to my staff. I appreciate you even if you're not here, but are in my office.

Any further introduction, Senator Rhodes? Then, Sen. Senator Richards.

Thank you, Mr. President. I think I also noticed Will Kaine, Governor's senior advisor, up there behind me. If you're still there. Welcome to the Senate.

Senator Richards.

Thank you, Mr. President. I too want to acknowledge my staff and express my true appreciation for all the work they did. My manager, Marguerite Olson, Reggie Garcia, my Committee Clerk, Meiji Chang, my session hire. And then two more session hire, Magdalena Marbonne and Spencer. The five of them kept me running.

And it's not true they did not have an airtag on me during the session. So. Thank you, Mr. President.

Any further introductions? If not. Madam Clerk. oh, Senator Kidani.

Thank you, Mr. President. I just wanted to take a moment to remember and honor the late Patsy Takimoto Mink. Because of Patsy, women's sports is alive. And well in the high schools. And I want to acknowledge the new women's sports of flag football, of which my granddaughter plays.

And they are still in the running with Campbell High School for the finals tonight. Aloha.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. Beginning on page one, departmental communication numbers 316 to 412. Transmit reports. File starting on page 15. House communication number 821 informs the Senate that the House passed various bills on final reading. File on page 55. Judiciary communication numbers 33 to 35. Transmit various reports. File beginning on page 56. Advise and consent.

If there are no objections from the Members, we will be taking advice and consent on consent.

Standing Committee report numbers 2010-2013 on governor's messages for adoption.

Is there any discussion? Not do we have unanimous consent? Any reservations? Any. No votes?

25 Ayes.

Thank you. The nominees for said governor's messages have been confirmed. Senator DeCoite.

Thank you, Mr. President. I'd like to take this time to recognize and thank you all for the support of. If you would please stand. Mr. Todd Apoll as well as Mr. Roy Fun. I believe you know we are taking and moving in the right direction with your leadership.

I look forward to bigger and better things with HTA and want to acknowledge the both of you for being here today. So mahalo for your service and thank you colleagues for your support of these two individuals that will serve us well. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Beginning on page 58, final adoption of resolutions. Senate Concurrent Resolutions number 12. House draft 160 House draft 1. 86. House draft 1. 115, House draft 1. 123 House draft 1. 180 House draft 1 and 197 House draft 1 for adoption.

Senator Wakai.

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

Senator DeCorte.

Please. Mr. President, I second the motion.

It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? If not, do we have unanimous consent or any objections? I have no votes for Senator Awa on SCR115 HD1. SCR197 HD1. Senator Fevella.

Am I no vote for SCR 12 SD1 HD1.

Any other no votes? Senator DeCorte.

Please note my no vote for SCR115 HD1, SB97 CD2.

So noted. But we'll get to the Senate bills when we get to bills. SCR 197 is the resolution though you're casting a no vote on, right? Correct. Any reservations? If not, the majority of the Members casting in the affirmative. Said resolutions have been adopted. Beginning on page 60. Final reading.

If there are no objections from the Members, we'll be taking final reading on consent.

Final reading of Senate Bill 97 Conference Draft 2, relating to motor vehicles.

Is there any discussion? Senator Elefante.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise in support for Senate Bill 97 Senate Draft 2 House Draft 2 CD 2.

Please proceed.

Thank you. Imagine this: you're peacefully sleeping at night, and within moments, it feels like you're at the center of a Daytona 500 racetrack with loud noises and excessive speeding. Suddenly, the quiet, peaceful neighborhood you live in turns into a loud motor speedway. As you awake from your sleep, you immediately contact 911 to make a report, yet by the time you make the report, the speeders are gone.

Report filed, complaint made. The following weekend, instead of one night, now it's every weekend from 11:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. and now at all times of the day unless there is a State Department of Transportation road work on the freeway and highways.

Mr. President and fellow colleagues, excessive speeding is real and happening every day in our communities, especially for the communities I represent in Aiea and Pearl City. Lives have been lost. I'd like to share with you and this body and members of the public a personal story.

During my preschool years, my grandfather would take me to school every morning, and sometimes along the way, we would stop by to get pandesal at Stadium Marketplace by Ice Palace. One morning, as we were making a right turn from Kahuapaani Street into Ala Alii Street across of Crosspointe, a vehicle behind us was speeding and suddenly slammed into the back of the Volkswagen van that my grandfather and I were in.

It ejected him from his seat. He fell to the ground unconscious. I suddenly unbuckled my seatbelt, and as I awoke him, I could hear sirens and first responders in the distance, and within minutes, they arrived at the scene to transport us to the hospital. At the time, there was no traffic light at that intersection.

Fortunately for my grandfather and I, we survived. Mr. President, in the State Department of Transportation's testimony in this measure, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 44% of Hawaii's traffic fatalities from 2013 to 2022 were speed related.

In 2025, according to data from HDOT, there had been a total of 46 traffic fatalities statewide as of April 20, 2025. And to give you more context, at this time last year, there were only 32 fatalities. Recently from the Honolulu Police Department from November 2024 to January of this year, HPD issued the following citations and arrests: three racing arrests, 29 reckless driving arrests, 49 impaired driving arrests, 57 excessive speeding arrests, and 100 plus moving and equipment citations.

This needs to stop and motorists who violate our current laws need to be held accountable for their irresponsible actions by putting their life at risk and others' lives as well.

Supporting SB 97 is a step in the right direction to give another tool in our toolbox to go after repeat offenders within five years of two prior convictions for excessive speeders and hold them more accountable by a mandatory minimum jail sentence of 30 days, the removal of their license and privilege to operate a motor vehicle not less than 90 days but not more than six months, attending a driver training course, fines, an assessment of their driver education, and that the vehicle used in the Commission of Defense may be subject to forfeiture.

Lastly, thank you to the Honolulu Police Department and all law enforcement for their efforts to enforce our current laws. They also put their lives at risk by making citations and arrests. And many thanks to the Transportation and Culture and Arts Chair in our Senate, the Senator from Waimanalo, our House Transportation Chair, the Representative from Nanakuli, our Judiciary Chairs in the House and Senate for their leadership on this bill.

Mr. President, in closing, let's get serious with reckless motorists and do the right thing with passing and supporting this measure. I urge my colleagues to vote in support of this bill. Thank you.

Thank you. Further discussion? If not, do we have--Senator San Buenaventura.

In opposition.

Please proceed.

I thank the chair of PSM for his story and I agree that excessive speeders should be punished. My concern is the forfeiture, the vehicle forfeiture, especially in multi-generational households where there is only one vehicle to get anywhere.

And I'm one of those families when I was growing up where brother, sister, who are all older than me and my mom, we all shared one vehicle that we needed to get to work, to school, and when that vehicle is forfeited because of the reckless actions of one--I agree with punishing that one person, but when you start punishing the family by removing their ability to work or to go to school, then I have a problem with that, and with that, I'm in opposition.

Thank you. Further discussion? Senator DeCorte.

Also in opposition.

Please proceed.

I would also like to thank the introducer of this bill and the chairs that pushed this forward. As the Senator from Puna had stated, I also have the same concerns. My community also deals with a multi-generational household with usually one vehicle.

So to have a vehicle be forfeited because of one person in the household's reckless mistakes, which I do believe should be held accountable and there should be punishment to its fullest extent--however, the same car that is used to drive recklessly is the same car that mom uses to drop the kids off at school, is the same car that is used to go to work, is the same car that is used to go to Tamura's to buy food.

This is the same vehicle we're talking about. Because of one person's reckless--not mistake--because of one person's irresponsibility to drive excessively, the whole household suffers, and right now in the Waianae Coast, we cannot afford to have not even one vehicle taken from the household. So respectfully, I oppose. Thank you.

Thank you. Further discussion? If not--oh, Senator Fevella.

Thank you, Senator, President. I also takes my hat off to our chair for introducing this bill. My issue with the bill is--beside the forfeiture--is that we already have laws. How I know is because I got penalized. Having more than one ticket on your abstract, you have to have a special insurance or you forfeit your license.

There is laws and parameters that is in place right now that is working, not into the areas that people that is already driving without license and disrespecting the law anyway. So when I was young, I lost my license for five years for not only speeding but having car accidents within the same year.

I had to have an SR, 1,000 to $2,000 every three months insurance coverage as I could not drive. I lost my license. I couldn't drive. I lost the privilege. And because, you know, I was reckless and it was my fault, I didn't blame anybody, but we have laws that is on the books to protect certain people that's going to follow the law anyway, but if they're going to break the law, they're going to break the law.

And again, like I said in my high school, I'll tutor introducer, but taking away cars and opportunities for other things like what we're talking about that already have laws on the books.

One thing I just want to share with my colleagues here, and no disrespect to the chair, but we seem to make bills and laws that we already have laws in place that we're not even enforcing, and it's not anything to do with HPD, but to put more laws on the books, to have HPD hardly can't even enforce the laws that we have is just another law that's going to sit there. Thank you.

Thank you. Further discussion? Representative--I mean, representative--Senator Lee and then Senator McKelvey, former representatives.

I was wondering who you're going to demote. Thank you, Mr. President. In support. I appreciate the comments from all our colleagues. I'd just like to point out the provisions, with respect to SB 97, address the situation where our current laws on the books are not strong enough when it comes to repeat offenders who are killing people out on our highways.

The forfeiture provisions for vehicles that are contained in the measure give judges the discretion in a repeat circumstance where someone has repeatedly violated the law and excessively speeded, causing dangers to everybody, to have the discretion for that judge to remove a vehicle when appropriate, taking into account, I think, some of the considerations when you have other family members who might use a vehicle.

At the end of the day, vehicles can be forfeit, but what this is really about is stopping those situations when there's a forfeiture of life, and that is not a choice that is given to those drivers who are killed each and every day on our roads. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Senator McKelvey.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. I also--first I have to, unfortunately, not support this measure. Would first like the words of the Senator from Puna entered in the record as if it were my own. Definitely don't want the words of the good Senator from Ewa into the record as if they were my own.

But the other reason why I have serious concerns with the measure--and again, saving lives is critical--but it's the fact that you're talking about automatic things that take away discretion from judges. The other thing is it doesn't allow you to break up the sentencing. It's 30 days continuous.

A lot of people are going to lose their jobs as well as their cars. So we need to be tough. One life is one life too many but we also need to be smart about it as well. So thank you.

Thank you. Further discussion? Senator DeCoite.

Thank you, Mr. President. You know, in opposition.

Please proceed.

I'd like to thank the chair from Public Safety for all his hard work, and I do have a problem with the seizure. I live on an island that I, I get a hard time getting one plane there, let alone the existing cars that are there. Exactly the same situation. I'd like the words of the Senator from Puna be inserted in the Journal as if they were my own.

So ordered.

And it's a huge challenge. You know, while we can walk across the island because we don't have the mass but it's taking that car away that has served its purpose and I'd like to punish the people that are the ones that are in the act of it. I would not want a life to be taken, but the rest of the family suffers. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you. Further discussion? If not, do we have unanimous consent? Any reservations? Any no votes? No votes: Senator Awa, Senator DeCorte, Senator Fevella, Senator Hashimoto, Senator San--I haven't recovered from, from Wednesday--Senator San Buenaventura, Senator DeCoite, and Senator McKelvey.

Eighteen ayes; seven noes.

Thank you. SB 97 CD 2 passes final reading.

On page 61, final reading of Senate Bill 1434 Conference Draft 2, relating to Universal Immunization Funding Program.

Is there any discussion? If not, do we have unanimous consent? Any reservations? Any no votes? No votes: Senators Awa and DeCorte.

Twenty-three ayes; two noes.

Thank you. SB 1434 CD 2 passes final reading.

Final reading of House Bill 1026 Conference Draft 2, making emergency appropriations for public employment cost items.

Is there any discussion? If not, do we have unanimous consent? Any reservations? Any no votes?

25 ayes.

Thank you. HB 1026 CD 2 passes final reading.

Final reading of House Bill 1483 Conference Draft 2, relating to fireworks.

Is there any discussion? If not, do we have unanimous consent? Any reservations? Any no votes? No votes: Senators Awa and DeCorte.

Twenty-three ayes; two noes.

Thank you. HB 1483 CD 2 passes final reading.

Final reading of Senate Bill 1396 Conference Draft 2, relating to economic development.

Is there any discussion? Senator McKelvey and then Senator Inouye.

Okay, thank you, Mr. President. I stand on this measure. I am supporting this measure now, but I was in strong opposition to this measure when it was first heard.

I have a lot of concerns because right now, tourism on Maui, which is still the number one economic engine--like it or not, it is the existing engine--is dying badly thanks to a lot of things that are beyond our control, especially with what's happened to our neighbors to the north. Tourism has taken an unexpected dive.

So this increase is going to be very impactful to an area that is already detrimentally suffering. That being said, when it was heard by the committee originally, I said if I know that this money can be there for us to protect the kids, protect our programs, protect all the other things that will be taken away by this federal government and administration, I said I would support it.

I think even though that is not in the bill, I'm doing that today because I honestly think given what we've heard and what to expect, that coming in the fall, if we come back, we will be needing that money. So I think I can say that this is indeed the case.

But also, it's a very responsible changes of putting projects forward to us to approve and to the governor, and I'm very hopeful that his administration will use these monies and these projects to showcase the very vulnerable areas, particularly in Maui and other communities, so that they know that this will go to mitigate wildfire, go to mitigate environmental damages, to mitigate all of the things that will cause future disasters.

So with that, I do support this bill, I have a lot of reservations, but I think we to need to move forward because of the very reasons that I state. Thank you.

Thank you. Senator Inouye.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. I'm voting yes with serious reservations on SB 1396 Senate Conference Draft 2. Senate Bill 1396 Conference Draft 2 increases the tax burden on our tourism industry, particularly harming neighbor island markets dependent on the cruise ship trade. The bill raises the TAT from 10% on all lodging, including hotels, vacation rentals, and timeshares.

Additionally, it introduces the TAT on the cruise ship industry to 11%. This measure regarding TAT increase was introduced by governor for specifically just the TAT on the hotels, vacation rentals, and timeshares. Additionally, during the conference, we decided we're going to tax the cruise ships.

I supported the governor and told him, normally, as many of you know in my 20 years, I am very, very serious concerns with raising taxes onto our people. This cruise ship tax will negatively impact communities like Hilo, Kona, Maui, and Kauai.

Cruise lines may reduce neighbor island stops, limiting their itineraries to Honolulu for refueling. The Pride of America, our only U.S. flagged inter-island cruise ships that base in our state might scale back its weekly island cruises, harming local businesses in Hilo, Kona, Maui, and Kauai.

At the very least, US-flagged cruise ships should have been exempted from this text. However, I have no problem with the increases to the foreign cruise lines which already arrives in our state. Let's not forget that local residents will also pay these taxes when booking hotels or other accommodations for vacations, medical reasons, or business within the state.

With that, Mr. President, thank you for allowing for me to share my serious reservations on SB 1396 Conference Draft 2, regarding the cruise lines that give our state some businesses that we can thrive on our neighbor islands. Mahalo.

Thank you. Further discussion? Senator Gabbard.

Mr. President, I would like to rise in strong support of SB 1396 and I would like my remarks entered into the Journal. Thank you.

So ordered. Further discussion? Senator Richards.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise in support with strong reservations.

Please proceed.

Thank you. The words coming from my colleague on the Big Island, Senator Inouye, I echo those same concerns. We're looking at a time when we're unsure of our financial future and we have to make some tough decisions. That being said, I am concerned we are hitting a ceiling here and we'll be discouraging tourism as we go forward.

I am going to support this with reservations because I am looking to the future but I think we have to be very mindful that we may have to come back and revisit this. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you. Further discussion? Senator DeCoite.

Thank you, Mr. President. In support.

Please proceed.

Mr. President, this bill identifies what we've gone through in the past years. The bill addresses climate change, mitigation, restoration, you name it. At the point of us taxing residents, it is fair, I believe, that it is a fair tax across the board in tourism.

While many of us across the U.S. and across the country have our challenges with tourism, we have vowed that we would not want to increase taxes in regards to our residents. I think at the end of the day, as the prioritization of these issues come back, it is this body that will also decide and agree or not to agree of the prioritization.

As change, we must all understand, do we continue to tax our residents and force them out of this state or do we look towards other sources, again acknowledging that tourism is our economic driver?

We must also make sure that the carbon footprint of those that are coming here are also supported by a tax of which wanting to come here and spend their time here in Hawaii. So thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you. Further discussion? Senator Wakai.

Mr. President, I rise in support of this measure.

Please proceed.

You know, the sky is not falling on tourism. We had a similar opportunity a dozen years ago when we increased the tourism tax by 1% at that time to fund the rail, and the same arguments were used back then: tourism was in jeopardy, things were going to go down.

Back then, I think tourism numbers were eight million when we had that discussion, and then in 2019, it went to 10.5 million visitors. The 1% increase in the tourism tax a dozen years ago had absolutely no effect on the growth of tourism in this state, so the, the--that's a total fallacy to think that somehow tourists are not coming because of a 1% increase in tourism.

Now, when you look at tourism today, the largest beneficiary of the growth of tourism in the state is the hotel industry. Hawaii has the highest ADR--average daily rate--of any state in the nation.

Our rates are close to $300 a day night. So if the tourism industry, particularly the hotels, are not happy with this 1% increase, well, maybe they should decrease their rates by 1% and make it net-neutral for the public. I really don't think this 1% increase is going to have any significant impact on the tourism industry as well as the benefits of the State of Hawaii.

Thank you. Further discussion? If not, do we have unanimous consent? Any reservations? Reservations: Senator Richards, Fevella, Inouye, McKelvey. Any no votes? No votes: Senator Awa, Senator DeCorte.

Twenty-three ayes; two noes.

Thank you. SB 1396 CD 2 passes final reading.

On page 62. Miscellaneous business usual and customary resolutions. Senate Resolution numbers 216 and 217 for adoption.

Senator Wakai.

Mr. President, I move for the adoption of Senate resolutions number 216 and 217.

Senator Decort. Mr. President, I second the motion. It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Any objections? If not, the motion is carried. Said resolutions have been adopted. No further business. Mr. President, are there any announcements? Senator DeCorte.

Mr. President, point of personal privilege.

Please proceed.

As I conclude my very first session here in the Senate, in the Hawaii State Legislature, I just wanted to really take the time to thank all of my colleagues. Everybody that is sitting here on the floor has been responsible of some kind of lesson learned. A lot of you have welcomed me with open arms.

Some of you, you took a little time to come around, but I believe that you have and you are continuing to come around. Waianae has not had a strong voice here in the Senate for quite a while.

And if my passion came before me, if I seemed a little bit ambitious, it's because we're antsy for change out there. It's because resources have been lacking in the 96792 for a while, and we're just talking basic things. And I'm thankful for your guidance. I'm thankful for your help.

I do want to especially thank the chairs of the committees that I have been assigned to. The Chair of the Education Committee, thank you for fighting for Waianae. Thank you for bringing all the resources and extra resources that I didn't know about, that I found out later on. But thank you for being a voice for Waianae.

I appreciate that. Mahalo. And thank you to the Chair of Hawaiian Affairs, Senator from Big Island, I wanted to thank you for keeping your word to our community, to our families. You said you were going to do something and you did it. And we find that not very common in our community.

So I wanted to thank you for that. Chair of Public Safety, thank you for bearing with me and all my questions and all of my losing my place. Obviously, I'm still learning that. But thank you for taking. Taking the time to teach me. I appreciate that. Chair of Transportation, thank you very much for bearing with me.

Thank you for helping me along the way and all the time that you have taken to also share with me just some tips on how I can speed up the process with learning. Chair of Water and Land, thank you very much for also opening me with welcome, welcoming me with open army arms.

You have really taught me a lot. You hold a lot of wisdom, a lot of ike. And just to be able to sit with you has been really a privilege and an honor.

To the Chair of Ways and Means I want to thank you very much for giving Waianae the resources and the funding and appropriation that it needs to continue to thrive.

I want to say on behalf of our teachers, our students, our non profit organization, our hospitals, our families, we just really thank you for the great work that you're doing to be able to appropriate funds to the Waianae Coast. So thank you very much. I would like to say a special mahalo to the Senator from Ewa Beach.

Thank you. He's ran to my office in a couple of attempts to rescue me from a bad decision. I still made my own decision, but, you know, you got to give the guy the credit. Sam, don't do it. Don't do it. But I did it anyway. So I want to thank him, you know, for that.

He has been instrumental in helping us on the Waianae coast, too. And he was responsible for a lot of the resources that we have there on the Waianae Coast.

And last but certainly not least, I want to thank our minority leader, Senator from Kahuku, for mentoring me not just during my elected session, but also as I was working in his office. He is definitely a man who stands on his word, stands on his values. He has a vision for our caucus.

And I was excited to see that vision come to pass. And I believe that there is more to come for our minority caucus. And so thank you, Senator, very much for believing in me taking a girl from Waianae and giving me a shot. And I just wanted to say thank you very much, Senate President. I appreciate you.

Thank you for the time that you have taken with the questions that I've had and just helping to guide me in the right direction to the Clerk's office. Carol, I've cried in her office many times, but she was able to really just pick me back up and throw me back in there.

So I really wanted to thank you very much. I'm still learning. And I want to say, even though for those that I have not been able to personally sit with, that I may not have had time to be with you. I'm not on your committees. Please know that I watch each and every one of you.

And I can honestly say that as we are closing the last day of session, I have taken something good from every single one of you.

And I'm going to use that to continue to fight for Waianae in the resources that we need, because we are being elevated in a way in the 96792 that the state has never seen before. And that is because of you folks being who you are and just allowing me to sit in the room, listen in and learn.

So I look forward to forming greater relationships with you all during the interim, and then also next session as well. So, with that, I just wanted to say my hollow. And thank you very, very much. Thank you. Thank you, Mr.

Any further announcements?

President.

Senator Gihar, can I request this brief recess?

No objection. Short recession.

[Recess].

Will the Senate please come back into order? Any further announcements? Senator Inouye.

Thank you, Mr. President. Point of personal privilege?

Please proceed.

And we'd like to add and congratulate you as well for our Miss Aloha Hula that won the prestigious 67th annual Merrie Monarch Festival Miss Hula contest, and she is from your island, Mr. President, and we're all proud of her gain in coming back to Hilo, as maybe some of you don't know, but she also attended UH Hilo campus with a degree in nursing and so at least we can say congratulations to you as well with your constituents, Mr. President, and we congratulate Jaedyn Janae Puahaulani Pavao for capturing the Miss Aloha Hula title on April 24 in Hilo at the Merrie Monarch Festival. Mahalo.

Thank you. She's about to be honored on Kauai by Mayor Kawakami at 2:00 p.m. I did not think that a 1:00 flight was in my future and instead chose to spend my time here honoring all of you and the passion that you brought to this final session, but thank you. Senator San Buenaventura. I'm getting better.

Point of personal privilege.

Please proceed.

Thought I had it on. Sorry. Point of personal privilege. I also want to thank Debbie Wanda, Senator from Waianae, as pointed out, but a small shout out to Pahoa High School Daggers. We finally won the baseball Division II championship two days ago. So go Daggers.

Congratulations. Senator DeCorte.

Okay, a point of personal privilege again. I would also like to introduce my staff. We've done this before, but I want to do it again, so if you could please stand. I have my Chief of Staff Office Manager Malia Agustin, a legislative aide, Nia Tatofi, and a legislative assistant, Brian Bronson Myers.

Yes, if you give them a round of applause? Thank you very much. And please remain standing because I want you all to see that this was the team and the staff that really helped me to keep it together and they were able to see me at my best and at my worst and they continue to show up every single day, not because of their loyalty to me, but because of their loyalty to the 96792.

They believe in the residents of Waianae, they believe in our community, and what you see here is the most resilient bunch of people who not only love our community, but they love the Lord, and they are willing to give their time, their extra talent.

I want to give a shout out to Nia, actually, Tatofi, who is now Katha. Okay. So she just recently got married during the first session of mine and so this is a girl I just want to share. Girlfriend got married at 9:00 a.m., and at 10:00 a.m., she was back in the office digesting bills. So talk about dedication right there.

Malia is also a mom of two young kids who have have been sick, who have had to drop off at school, so she has just been juggling everything and doing it with excellence, with grace, and with an impeccable professionalism, so I wanted to thank her as well.

Bronson Myers, who is Waianae Valley Homestead at its finest, this is Mr. Aloha, so if you've seen him in the hallways, you have felt that aloha, and we hope that you take that with you when you go back to your community. So, thank you all very much for your awesome work and welcome to your State Senate.

Any further announcements? If not, the chair has a few remarks. I didn't realize that the physical, mental, emotional fatigue of Wednesday's passionate floor session was going to carry over into today in calling Senators Representatives and not getting everybody's name right, so I'm sorry. I am doing something different today too.

I've actually written something down which I don't normally do when I speak, but before I get to my written remarks, I think the discussion on 1396 underscores the challenges and passion that has been evidenced not just through this session, but in this line of work that we're in.

The greatest thing that we have to sell is the people of Hawaii and the aloha spirit, but what makes our people so special is the beautiful landscape with which we stand, and it's challenging in finding the ways to protect our natural resource, but without the quality of the natural resource, then the beauty of our people will not shine as brightly as it has and it is imperative that we find ways to ensure that we take care of our natural resources, and there are no easy choices, so I appreciate all of the discussion, the debate, you know--we'll see going forward if that works.

To the written remarks, I realized, you know, I did talk to the press after we adjourned and they asked me some questions and I didn't really answer in a way that I thought put the Senate in its best light for the work that everybody did for the previous 58 days, and I have noted down just a few things.

So if you're not mentioned, that doesn't mean that you haven't done great work because you all have, but when we adjourned on the opening day on January 15, the most talked about subject in the press availability was what were we going to do with illegal fireworks and the tragedy of New Year's Eve just two weeks ago?

And yet when we got to the end of the session on Wednesday, that wasn't even in the conversation. To Senator Elefante, Senate Bill 222, 1483, 506, you know, he has been able to work with his committee, the rest of his colleagues, and our counterparts in the House to get several bills through, addressing an issue that resulted in such an incredible tragedy in our community just four months ago or a little over four months ago.

I took a shot and I put Senator Keohokalole's name on the list, hoping that I would not be too fatigued to mispronounce it, but in the interim, one of the biggest issues we were discussing is stabilization of our insurance rates, and as the insurance rates have skyrocketed, and in Senate Bill 1044, he's done the work again with his committee, with colleagues.

He has reached out into the private sector working groups during the interim and his colleagues in the House, and this is an incredibly important piece of legislation that will have tremendous impact on every resident and our ability to keep people here and not have them leave and yet there was very little discussion about all of that important work. Senator San Buenaventura had worked on House Bill 712.

Again, not much fanfare, but she has worked diligently on trying to keep the cost of prescription drugs down, and this is going to be an important piece in helping that and I'm not even listing the rest of the bills that come under Health and Human Services.

She has done a tremendous amount of work, but wanted to talk specifically about that one. For the past year, it has been contentious in our community on what are we going to do in protecting water, one of our most valuable and precious resources.

And Senator Inouye is the Water/Land Chair, has held out for nothing less than the best representative of the cultural and Native Hawaiian community expert. And finally, before the end of this session, she brought forth to the floor the name of Hannah Springer, and in what had been contentious previous nominees that never got to the floor for a vote, she received a unanimous vote of approval for the skills that she brings, her expertise, her unquestioned credentials, and her heart.

Senator Chang, in House Bill 1409, Senate Bill 38, House Bill 1298 are a few of the bills in housing, and we all acknowledge--and I talked about it on opening day--the cost of housing is our greatest impediment to recruiting, to retaining employees, to simply keep our citizens here in Hawaii, and there has been a lot of work in the housing space and I appreciate his efforts and his collaboration, again, with the colleagues here in the chamber and across the way.

I don't have time to read the list and I have a flight that I'm hoping to catch later this afternoon, so I'm going to simply say to Senator Dela Cruz and Moriwaki, in House Bill 300, the state budget, you can get his newsletter.

There are numerous press releases from the Senate on the Ways and Means budget about the impacts on our economy, the tax benefits that are contained in the bill, and again, tremendous work. And the last thing I want to talk about, because you know, I would not leave without bragging about Kauai in some way, I watched Hawaii News Now this morning and saw a story about an incredible young lady, Veronica Bonnie Nagahisa.

She will be receiving her four-year college degree from Chaminade University before getting her high school diploma on May 23 as a senior at Kapaa High School. She started taking classes at Kauai Community College with the Early College Program that Senator Kidani and others in this chamber have championed for more than a decade.

She then went to Chaminade because they were a partner at Kapaa High School but she went above and beyond the limited amount of credits that she could have gotten through the program and enrolled, and she and her family paid out of pocket the rest of the cost to attain this degree.

It doesn't surprise me because her principal, Tommy Cox, was on the Senate floor during Education Week and he was the Tokioka Principal of the Year last year. The first cohort of the partnership with Chaminade at Kapaa High School in Early College were 11 students, eight native Hawaiian, and all 11 went on to secondary or higher education opportunities.

And we make these investments and we don't know what the outcome will be, and it warms my heart to see these stories, the Waipahu students several years ago who got their associate degrees before their diplomas, and this investment in our students is truly what will allow them to compete on a national scale.

To each and every one of you for the work you've put in, I want to thank you to all of our staff members in our personal offices and the support offices, thank you so much for everything that you have done to get us to the finish line today.

Unfortunately, with the news of reductions in the proposed budget from the president, I think we may be back here in November dealing with a new set of problems but I know that you will be energized, you'll be ready to come back, and especially for those of you that I didn't mention, I look forward to seeing your newsletters and your social media posts about all the great work you did this session. So, with that, we are ready to adjourn sine die. Senator Wakai.

Mr. President, mahalo for your message and your enduring leadership. Colleagues, it's time. Happy Interim. I move the Senate of the 33rd Legislature regular session of 2025 adjourn sine die.

Senator DeCorte.

Senate President, with pleasure, I second that motion. Mahalo.

It's been moved and seconded. If there are no objections from the members, the Senate of the 33rd Legislature regular session of 2025 adjourned sine die.