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 Chair has read the journal from the preceding day and approves the same. Are there any introductions this morning? Senator Keohokalole.

Thank you. Mr. President. In the gallery, we have a friend I'd like to introduce. He's a Bears fan, comes to us from Chicago, where It is currently 26 degrees. Zach Shartag. Please rise and be welcomed by the Senate.

Well, he's properly attired for the Hawaii climate. Any further introductions? If not. Madam Clerk.

On page one, governor's message number two. Transmitting proposed changes to the fiscal biennium 2025 to Executive supplemental budget.

File.

On page two. Standing Committee report numbers 2107 to 2109 for adoption.

Senator Wakai.

Mr. President, I move for the adoption of Standing Committee reports numbers 2107 to 2109.

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.

Referrals and re. Referrals.

Referrals and re. Referrals are made in accordance with any supplemental orders of day that may be filed later today.

No further business.

Mr. President, are there any announcements today? If not, the chair has. Senator Wakai.

Mr. President, if you don't mind, I'd like to rise on a point of personal privilege. Please proceed. Members, there was a recent article that came out in a blog that questioned the abilities of one of our colleagues here in the Senate.

And I just wanted to just kind of convey my thoughts about some of the discussions that are swirling in political circles about my esteemed colleague from Mililani. And, you know, many of us here have great respect for that Senator from Mililani. And I am a believer in her.

And I'm a believer that dementia isn't a death sentence for your brain.

And I wanted to convey that I took Alzheimer's dementia training for an hour last week, and I hired someone with dementia in my office to be with me every Wednesday here at session I want to introduce you to Maria and her husband Chris, because I believe that dementia. You can function perfectly with dementia.

Maybe the memory is not as sharp as it once was, but that doesn't mean that you discount people with the early signs of dementia.

Yesterday in the EDT hearing, we heard a bill, Senate Bill 2259, with regard to establishing a Hawaii Dementia Initiative, Business Recognition Program within the Department of Business, Economic Development Tourism, to encourage the greater public to have an understanding of dementia, what it means to how it affects the body, how it affects the brain, and that people with these early signs have full functionality and can still prosper in the job that they are given.

So, you know, I really am perturbed by the media accounts that says that somehow if you get the beginnings of this illness, that you are incapable of functioning in whatever capacity your job task may entail. So I just wanted to convey my love and.

And support for our colleague here from Mililani that, you know, things might be a little bit different today than they were yesterday, but that doesn't make her any less valuable to all of us here in the Senate and to the public. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you. Before recognizing you, Senator Fevella, if I got it correct, Maria, I just want to say thank you for being here and allowing Senator Wakai to share your story. And it's brave of you to come forward and help bring awareness and attention to what you're going through and many others in our community.

So on behalf of the Senate, thank you, Senator Fevella.

Thank you, Senator. President, personal privilege, Please proceed. Thank you. For my colleague, Glenn Wakai saying these beautiful words, I was very disturbed yesterday. She's one of my mentors. Not taking anything away from her and how mean and vicious people can be because they want to sell papers or they want to do news, I am very offended.

I handle things a little bit different now. I had a conversation with her in the room. You know, jokingly, I told her that I could go to Holbush and I grab a few guys and go visit this person. Jokingly, I love this lady from the bottom of my heart.

She only gave me a lot of love and respect since I've been here eight years ago. But I went to see her yesterday, and it's something that we talked about because I did and I didn't share this with her.

I took care of my grandmother from dementia to then later on getting Alzheimer's, and everybody in my family on my dad's side wrote her off. That was the best life, quality of life that My daughter got to spend with her great grandmother. None of her cousins or family Members ever had that special time with her.

So, again, this is a time to reflect on our own human strength and our abilities to do things here in this square building. But it should not take away from certain things that we slip up because you want to go ahead and highlight something negative like that. I didn't read the article, colleagues.

I was told by Senator DeCoite about the article. I could not read it. Only hearing about it made me angry and hurt because, again, guys, they attacked one of our loved ones when they attacked one of you guys here. I take it seriously. But I wasn't gonna say anything because it's very emotional for me.

But again, at the end of the day, I love this lady with all my heart and I'm sad that people attack me when attack her in the media. But again, thank you, Senate President. Thank you, colleagues. Again, Michelle, I love you. God bless you, and I always stand by you. Aloha.

Thank you. Any further announcements, Senator Lee?

Thank you, Mr. President. Rise on a point of personal privilege. Please proceed. I think in light of the discussion that we've been having in this moment, it's important to point out from my perspective, that none of us serving here, none of us serving in any level of government, in any place around the country are perfect.

We all come with our own experiences, our own pros, our own cons, our own views of the world. But that's what makes us, as a body, more reflective of the overall public. It makes us able to connect with those folks who share the experiences some of us do.

It lets us relate to those folks, understand their issues, and take stronger action as a result. I share this because my own family, my mom, has similar issues that have been raised by some news outlets in this discussion. These are things that I've learned secondhand.

I don't know what some of these experiences are like myself, but having folks, and not just with this issue, but any number of other things, able to experience those things firsthand and bring those discussions forward as part of the public discourse and be able to take action on that is what makes us effective and makes us strong.

The question is how we use our time and experiences to help inform those decisions going forward. That, I think, is something that often gets overlooked.

So I really want to share my admiration for our colleagues and to the work that they've done, continue to do, and the benefit they bring, not just to this body, but to the work that. That we do for everyone here in this state, including those Folks who share the experiences that we all do here.

Thank you very much.

Thank you. Any further announcements? Senator Dela Cruz, then Senator Kim, thank you.

Point of personal privilege, please proceed. Thank you, Mr. President. My grandmother also had dementia and it was really hard on my family initially. Back then, they didn't have the medicines and technologies, the research that they have now. And I called the Alzheimer's association recently to ask about more information as how it affects Hawaii.

And approximately 31,000 to 35,000 people age 65 plus are living with Alzheimer's in Hawaii, A number projected to rise as the state has one of the highest life expectancies. Roughly 16.8% of adults report cognitive decline that are around 45 years old and above. And Alzheimer's is at top five leading causes.

It's supported by 60,000 plus unpaid caregivers throughout the state. And this is something that we're having to deal with. When I spoke to Senator Kidani, it made me think that everyone I know can relate to this story. We know of an auntie, an uncle, a cousin. We're all dealing with this.

And it is a good opportunity so that as a state, we can recognize what we have to deal with, how we're going to take care of our kupuna. And as Senator Wakai said, the technology has changed so that people, even if they have the diagnosis, they're still capable of contributing to society, they're still capable of working.

And as long as we give them the support they need, they can continue to be the best that they can be, not just for themselves, but for their community, their families, and for our state. Thank you.

Thank you, Senator Kim.

Thank you, Mr. President. I too, rise on a point of personal privilege. Please proceed, Mr. President. You know, many of us go on seminars and conferences on the mainland and we are normally invited.

And the National Foundation of Women Legislators, which many of us have attended, have had health conferences and we've talked about dementia, Alzheimer's at these conferences. It is at these conferences that I learned about that they had a new medication that was approved by the FDA last year to detect early dementia.

And so that made me, prompt me to go and get tested early dementia. But what I'm trying to say is that, you know, we all need to become more familiar with dementia. Last year, this body passed a bill that we had in our Committee, we for the University of Hawaii, to positions for dementia.

And we have other bills that we're hearing this year as well to help the community understand this disease. Also, we also found that doctors are not willing to discuss this with patients and you know, they feel that they vilify, they vilify them and people don't want to talk about it.

So one of the things in the bill is that the doctors at least mention that there is an assessment and whether or not the patient would like to volunteer. So. So again, these are all measures that we are taking. We are learning more and more.

And I think that this is just another example of the media vilifying someone because we all have health issues, we all forget things. You know, I forget stuff. I'm always wondering whether or not I have dementia, which is why I went and took the test.

And by the way, they said that I don't have dementia, but that doesn't mean that I don't forget where I put my car keys sometimes or why I walked into the room and can't remember why I walked into the room.

So, you know, these are things that I think that our body and I thank all of you folks for being sensitive to this issue and that more and more that we learn about it.

And again, you know, we don't put people out to pasture because you have cancer or because you have heart disease or because you have any other ailments that might affect you. And again, with the new medication that's involved now, we're finding that people are really learning to live with dementia and Alzheimer's. So thank you.

I support my colleague that I have been her vice chair for so many years on the Education Committee. Mahalo.

Thank you. Senator Moriwaki. Then Senator Inouye.

Thank you, Mr. President. I too would like to have a point for personal privilege.

Please proceed.

As the KUPUNA Caucus co convener, we've been working on these issues for a number of years.

It really affects all of us and I think that it's important for us to see that a lot of things are going on with the University of Hawaii Medical School now having a real view on how we can address not just all of long term care, but all of the issues that come up.

But also I think the Alzheimer's association is now putting together training so our first responders that it's really become a community issue. And it's really important for us to get the word out that the screening that's done to prevent, to assess and also to treat is really very much in our view.

But we need to expand that and let our whole community know because this is an important area because all of us are getting old. So I really appreciate us really focusing in on long term care. On not only Alzheimer's and dementia, but really our health and wellness. Thank you.

Thank you. Senator Inouye.

Thank you. Good morning. Thank you, Mr. President and I too would like to share the discussion we're having here this morning. My brother has had dementia. We lost him a year ago.

Actually, not even a year ago, but for him, he lived a good life because he started his dementia at the early 90s and so he had a good life. However, for the point of personal privilege, Mr. President and colleagues, I was very disturbed, as had mentioned by the Senator from Ewa, that there was an article that appeared.

But I'd like to say though that to attack a colleague in a position that she is a well loved person. When I returned to the Senate in 2014's election, I was here 10 years prior. But I was welcomed to the Capitol by Michelle.

And I've never known her, but I've read about her because she was in the city and county of Honolulu. However, it was a welcoming sight to return back to the capital. And I'm sure not many of you have had that experience. You were here, you're gone and you return.

And I was welcome and we have had a very, very good relationship. However, I must say, the disturbing factor about that article, I didn't want to read it as well. Like the Senator said from Eva, that it's very disheartening to read something like this.

However, I just want to say to the press, I think there's a just something that there is no sympathy or pathetic of people that would advertise an article. And to say that the person is going to be leaving in a week, you know, I think it's the wrong thing to do.

And to make that kind of announcement publicly, I believe it's very hurting to one who has to read it on her own because it's affecting her, but it affects all of us. And I think the press, whoever gave them the information, should be put in a place of bad publicity as well. It's just hurting.

And Michelle has been with us for all the years she served here, since she came here to the Senate. And she has been a person of one that does the lots of work in this building as well as the fellowship she's had with her colleagues. Thank you, Mr. President, and good luck. Michelle, we are all with you.

Love you too.

Thank you. Any further announcements, Senator Decoite?

Thank you, Mr. President. I too rise on a point of personal privilege. Please proceed. I'd like to echo all the sentiments of my colleagues. Probably not gonna come out as elaborate as most of you, but. And I don't plan on going to the principal's office like you, Senator Fevella.

But you know, I'd just like to say, and I'm sure I speak for most of the women or all of the women on behalf of the Women's Legislative Caucus. You know, an attack on one is an attack on all. Having to be put in a write up such as this is just unacceptable.

Michelle, you've been there for everybody. And when media takes something like this and decides to run with it, you know, shame on them. And I will say it, find the good things to write about people and all the good things that they have done.

And if there is something that is affecting that individual, offer your help, not put them in write up and do stuff like this. I mean these are people that we care about. But in regards to the media, maybe those people need to go out to pasture. You know, I just cannot say enough about this woman.

Which is why this year the Women's Legislative Caucus package was dedicated to Michelle Kidani. Of all the great things that she has done, all the great things that she plans on doing going forward. And I will always be supportive of you. Senator Kidani. Mahalo.

Thank you. Senator San Buenaventura.

Thank you. Senate President. I also rise from a point of personal privilege. Please proceed. I do not know our colleague as well as some of the people here who have spoken, but I do admire her. I mean she showed up every day since that article was published. She did not hide. It shows her courage.

I was with her at a conference in October and frankly it surprised me what I read because we are all forgetful like what Senator Kim said. And I have been a caregiver of, well really my husband primarily of his parents at time when they went through, through dementia. I did not see any of these.

The implication in that article I did not see in Michelle at the time when I've seen I dealt with her and at that conference we were at there.

I do admire and I do appreciate all of the sentiments that's being said because it does rise to, it gives power to the idea that just because you're labeled with dementia doesn't mean that you are unable or unfit. And I really do appreciate our colleagues for pointing that out.

And she is frankly the very model of somebody who we are going to reach that point when we're going to forget more and because we're in the limelight, it's going to be in the paper that we forgot something. I mean I turn at the end of every One of my hearings to my Committee Clerk.

Did I forget something? Because I know it's going to be to that point and it's going to be published and it's going to be on YouTube.

And again, I don't have as many things to say as my colleagues, but I do admire her courage and I do admire her tenacity and continue to come every day to the state Capitol and continue to do the people's work. Thank you.

Thank you. Any further announcements? If not, I'll simply say, two weeks ago, on opening day, Senator AWA spoke on behalf of the minority caucus. And I have no reason to doubt that he will work with his colleagues to carry out their duties and support what they feel are important to their constituents.

And part of what he said is how hard they will work every day for the people of Hawaii. I chose to speak about every one of our Members in the majority caucus individually and talk about the team that we had put together and to describe each Member and strengths that each Member brought and why.

I believe in our new lineup for this session that we also, like the minority, were going to come to work every day, do the best job we can for the people of Hawaii, and we would be able to deliver a great product.

In the process of trying to convey my message, I forgot and went right over Senator McKelvey.

And before I could adjourn or end my speech and omit him, four or five of you on the floor were all pointing and trying to help me to make sure that I did not see the mistake all the way to the end and I had an opportunity to correct the mistake, apologize and talk about Senator McKelvey as well.

I think between today's comments and how you helped me on opening day, when our Members need help, you are all there to help them. I still stand by what I said on opening day, that we have a team that's put together that is prepared to get the job done for the people of Hawaii.

The only announcement I have is, will the majority Members please assemble in the caucus room at the end of the session. Senator wakai.

Thank you, Mr. President. Let's all continue to make positive contributions. I move that the Senate stand adjourned into 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.