House Floor

Will the House come to order? Mr. Clerk, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Madam Speaker, 49 Members are present. Two are excused.

Item number two. Reading of the journal. Representative Morikawa.

Madam speaker, may this matter be deferred?

So ordered. Item number three. Messages from the Governor. Mr. Clerk, are there any messages from the Governor?

Madam speaker, there are none.

Item number four. Senate Communications. Mr. Clerk, are there any Senate communications?

Yes, Madam speaker, we are in receipt of communications. Returning House Concurrent Resolution numbers 1 and 2, both having been adopted in the Senate Members.

Any introductions? Representative Kitagawa.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Members. The Future Leaders Exchange, or FLEX, program is a highly competitive program that provides opportunities for high school students from 22 different countries to live and study for a year in the United States.

There are thousands of students who apply to be a part of the program each year, but only about 50 are accepted. I am happy to introduce Sharisa Hashimova, a FLEX student who is currently residing in my district in Ahuimanu with her host family and spending the day with my office.

Shariza is from Uzbekistan and is an 11th grader and will be graduating from high school this year. She is currently studying at St. Andrews Priory while here in Hawaii and is interested in international relations.

Shariza can speak four different languages and in addition is learning Spanish at school this year and has enjoyed her time here, hiking and and exploring different places on Oahu. Please help me welcome Sharisa. I'd also like to introduce Sergei Plukci who is spending the day with Senator Keoho Kalole and his staff.

Sergei is from Moldova and is currently living in Kaneohe and attending Castle High School. Sergey is interested in marketing and design and also speaks for languages. He has been enjoying his experience Here and was even a part of the Castle Performing Arts Center's production of Legally Blonde this past fall semester.

Please help me in welcoming Sergey to the House of Representatives. I'd also like to introduce and welcome my staff, my office manager Wendy and my session staff, Kristin and Rich. Welcome to your House of Representatives. Thank you.

Members, any further introductions? Okay. Seeing none, we're going to turn to the. Oh, Representative Matsumoto, thank you.

I also have a FLEX student with me today. We have Zoya Ovetisan if you can stand up. She is from Armenia and she's also attending Saint Andrews Priory. When we got to talk about some of her interests, she's very interested in graphic design. She has hobbies of chess, working out, reading and watching movies.

And she plans to major in the English language. If we can please welcome her to the House of Representatives. I'd also like to acknowledge my staff, Kiana. Kiana Akana, who is my ledge aid. If we can also welcome her.

Members. Any further introductions? Representative Iwamoto.

Thank you. Madam Speaker, I'd like to introduce my FLEX student for the day. Her name is Sasha. She's 16 years old from Ukraine and currently a student at Kailua High School. Welcome to our House of Representatives. And I also want to recognize my office manager, Kate Ozawa. Thank you so much for escorting Sasha. Thank you. Thank you.

Members, any further introduction? Representative Gideon

Aloha, Vice Speaker. I also have a FLEX student like to recognize. Hayek. Meet Hayek. He's an ambitious, outdoorsy and community focused teen from Armenia. We can't wait to be part of our family here in Hawaii. Hayek is open minded and enthusiastic and a social butterfly and friend. Has friends from all corners of his life.

They all have special places in his heart. He's visiting us from Kaiser High School, my alma mater. He's a junior and he joined me earlier today for a tour of the Capitol. Hayek. Welcome to our House of Representatives.

There are no further introductions. Members will turn to the order of the day. Item number five, introductions of bills. Representative Morikawa.

Madam Speaker, I move that all bills laying on the Clerk's desk pass first reading by title and be referred to print.

Representative Garcia.

Speaker, second the motion.

All those in favor say aye. All those opposed say no. The motion is carried. Said bills pass. First reading. Item number six, introduction of resolutions. Mr. Clerk, are there any resolutions for action?

Madam speaker, there are no resolutions for action. May all others be referred to print.

So ordered. Item number seven, announcements. Members, are there any announcements? If there are no announcements, I'd like to remind the Members that on Monday we will convene at 9am for our regular session, then convene in joint session at 10am in this chamber for the Governor's State of the State address. So we'll see you all 9am Monday.

Representative Morikawa for the motion to adjourn.

Madam Speaker, I move that this House stand adjourned until 9 9am Monday.

Representative Garcia

Madam Speaker, I second the motion.

All those in favor say Aye. All those opposed say no. The motion is carried. The House stands adjourned until 9am.