Senate Floor

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

[Roll Call]

Thank you. The Chair has read the journal of the preceding day and approves the same. Are there any introductions this morning? If not, Madam Clerk. Oh, Senator Awa. Senator Wakai.

Thank you, Mr. President. Members, we know that our number one economic engine in the State of Hawaii is tourism, and I would like to introduce a man who has been very helpful for all of us, having our neighbors be employed. His name is Tomohiko Nishi. He runs a Japanese travel agency out of Nagoya.

He himself has been here 160 times over the past 50 years, so he himself has been helping our economy and having his neighbors over in Nagoya come to visit with us frequently. So, Mr. Nishi, if you could please rise to be recognized. And also today, he's joined by Cindy Nakagawa, his longtime assistant here.

She lives in Hawaii and, again, helps bring Japanese nationals to our seat. Thank you, Cindy.

Any further introductions? If not, Madam Clerk.

Beginning on page one, Governor's message number 798, makes a correction to the position title In Governor's message 697 and Governor's message numbers 1119-1123, inform the Legislature that the Governor signed various measures into law. Starting on page two, House communication numbers 799 to 802 and 804 to 805.

Inform the Senate that the House has appointed conferees for various bills, and house communication number 803 informs the Senate that the House has discharged conferees for various bills. On page five, Conference Committee report numbers 1 and 2 for 48-hour notice.

So ordered.

On pages 5 and 6, Standing Committee report numbers 1971-1975 for one day notice.

So ordered.

Beginning on page six, advise and consent.

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

Standing Committee report numbers 1964-1970, on governor's messages for adoption.

Is there any discussion? If 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.

On page nine of...

Oh, Madam Clerk. Senator McKelvey.

Thank you, Mr. President. May I be permitted to make a late introduction?

Please proceed.

We're so honored to be joined by Mr. Reed, with Mr. Reed Mahuna, who has been just reelected to the 911 board. He's been a member of the Hawaii Police Department since 1998. He's demonstrated a tireless dedication to serving his community.

Throughout his career, Mr. Mahuna has risen to the ranks of the Hawaii Police Department as currently Deputy Chief of Police where he oversees critical operations for the Department. I thank him for his commitment and desire to serve another term on the 911 board and thank my colleagues, especially those from the Big Island, for your support in his confirmation.

Please stand and be recognized, sir.

Senator Inouye.

Thank you, Mr. I rise for a personal privilege as well, just to speak on GM 70, please.

Please proceed.

Thank you, Mr. President. GM 770, Hannah Kehalani Springer, who unfortunately was unable to attend today's floor session, is a highly qualified cultural practitioner who has the experience and knowledge to qualify her for the appointment to the Commission on Water Resource Management.

She is the Commissioner who possesses substantial experience and expertise in traditional Hawaiian water resource management techniques and traditional Hawaiian riparian usage. A native of Kaupulehu in North Kona, Ms. Springer has deep ancestral and generational ties to the lands and waters of Hawaii Land, Hawaii Island.

She has long served as a respected voice in policy discussions and community-based efforts focused on protecting the state's natural and cultural resources, demonstrating a deep commitment to sustainability, collaboration, and the integrity—integration—of Hawaiian values and practices into resource management decision making.

More than 300 individuals and numerous organizations sent in testimony supporting Ms. Springer's nomination. Typical of a lot of the submitted testimony, people stated Hannah embodies the role of Kahu Vai, a guardian of water. She holds vai as sacred, not merely a resource, but a relative to be protective. We have known Ms. Springer for many years and have observed that she is reasoned, thoughtful advocate for wise management of island resources.

In our view, she can be counted on to provide pragmatic, balanced, and fair assessments of all matters that come before the Water Commission and is the kind of Commissioner that this particular panel needs.

Auntie Hannah, as she is fondly known, is a lineal descendant of Kaupulehu and Kuki'o, grounded in the Ike Kupuna of her ancestors who understood how to not just survive but thrive within the highly variable rainfall conditions of the Hawaii Ahupua'a.

The Governor made the right choice in appointing Auntie Hannah Springer to the Commission on Water Resource Management. She will be a valuable member of the Commission as water issues come up in the weeks and months to come. Mr. President, I'd like to take this time to honor Ms. Springer, and we thank our colleagues for her vote. Mahalo.

Thank you. Madam Clerk.

On page nine, adoption of resolutions. House Concurrent Resolutions 91 and 102, House Draft 1, for adoption.

Senator Wakai.

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

Senator DeCorte.

Mr. President, I second the motion.

It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Any objection, well, any reservations? Any no votes? Senator Awa on HCR 102, a no vote. Any other no votes? If there are no other objections, the motion is carried. Said resolutions have been adopted.

On page 10, final reading.

If here are no objections from the Members, we will be taking final reading on consent.

Final reading of Senate Bill 1369, House Draft 1, relating to Title 24, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

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

25 ayes.

Thank you. SB 1369, HD 1, passes final reading.

Final reading of Senate Bill 1402, House Draft 2, relating to vessels in state commercial harbors.

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

25 ayes.

Thank you. SB 1402, HD 2 passes final reading.

Final reading of Senate Bill 1411, House Draft 2, relating to Medicaid third party liability.

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

25 ayes.

Thank you. SB 1411, HD 2 passes third, I mean final reading.

Final reading of Senate Bill 1511, House Draft 2, relating to Hanalei Bay.

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

25 ayes.

Thank you. SB 1511, HD 2 passes final reading.

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.

Beginning on page 11, miscellaneous business.

Senator Inouye.

Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Senate reconsider its previous action in disagreeing to the amendments made by the House to SCR 4, SR 5, Senate Draft 1. SR—SCR—54, Senate Draft 1, and agree to said amendments.

Senator Wakai.

Mr. President, I second the motion.

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

Thank you, Mr. President. On SCR 4, House Draft 1 and SCR 5, House Draft 1, the Senate notes that these resolutions both have importance in relation to easements into portions of state submerged lands. The House made technical, non-substantive amendments for the purpose of clarity, consistency, and the style on both of these.

SCR 54, House Draft 1 is a measure to request the DLNR to convene and provide administrative assistance to a desalination planning test force to determine whether the use of desalinization for large scale water consumption in the state is feasible.

The Senate agrees to the amendments made by the House, extending the year from 2026 to 2027, in which the test force is to report its findings and their date of dissolution. The Senate also agrees to the technical, non-substantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style to this measure. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you. Any further discussion? Any objections? The motion is carried. One day notice is hereby given for final adoption of SCR 4, HD 1, SCR 5, HD 1, SCR 54, HD 1. Senator McKelvey.

Thank you, Mr. President. I move the Senate reconsider its previous action in disagreeing to the amendments made to the House—by the House—to SCR 53, SD 1 and reluctantly agree to set amendments.

Senator Wakai.

I happily second that motion.

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

Thank you.

Or, Senator McKelvey.

Thank you, Mr. President. The changes made to the measure were accepted by the author who urged our reluctant agreement.

Thank you. Is there any further discussion? Any objections? If not, the motion is carried. One day notice is hereby given for final adoption of SCR 53, HD 1. Senator Wakai.

Mr. President, I move that the Senate reconsider its previous action in disagreeing to the amendments made by the House to Senate Concurrent Resolution 136, SD 1, and agree to set amendments.

Senator DeCoite.

I second the motion.

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

Members, as we raise to 100% renewable, this Bill creates a working group to look at the idea of adding nuclear power to our tool of opportunities and would be helpful in our aspirations to get to 100% by 2045.

Is there any further discussion? Any objections? If not, the motion is carried. One day notice is hereby given for final adoption of SCR 136, HD 2.

No further business, Mr. President.

Are there any announcements today? Senator Gabbard.

Yes, Mr. President, colleagues, staff, and guests, I just want to take a moment to recognize Jay Stone, who's here with us in the gallery today. If you stand, Jay. Jay is now officially confirmed to the Environmental Advisory Council.

He's a Kailua boy and Environmental Engineer with over 30 years under his belt designing wastewater and stormwater systems and teaching the next generation about water tech. Jay, aloha. Congratulations and mahalo for stepping up to serve. Let's give him a hand.

Any further announcements? Senator San Buenaventura. Then, Senator Awa.

Thank you, Mr. President. Just want to remind my colleagues that this today is the is the day for Massage Awareness Day. We have about an hour after session to take part on massage. Thank you.

If the line is not as long as it was as I was coming down to session, it appears to be quite popular. Senator Awa.

Mahalo Pelekena. Late introduction.

Please proceed.

We have students from District 23, specifically Waiahole Elementary School with their teacher, Crystal M. Palmato, and academic coach, Donna Kawasaki. Welcome to the Hawaii Senate. If you can all stand.

Any further announcements? If not, the chair has one. All the majority Senators, please report to the majority caucus room immediately after intercession. Senator Wakai.

Mr. President, I move that the Senate stand adjourned until 6:30 PM tomorrow.

Senator DeCorte.

Mr. President, I second the motion.

It's been moved and seconded. If there are no objections, the Senate will reconvene—will stand adjourned until 6:30 PM tomorrow.