Senate Floor

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

[Roll Call] Present. 23 present, two excused.

Here.

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

Thank you, Mr. President. I'd like to introduce the guest visiting, the state capital today with today's moment of contemplations speaker, Colette Miyamoto Kajiwara. With her is Kim Hamasaki, Nate Komata, Jody Fujimoto, and an alumni Nelson Sua. Please stand and be recognized. Just a quick story if you don't mind, Nelson is, you know, he's he's an alumni from from Storefront and as as Colette said, she's been there for 46 years.

When I was in high school, I used to work for her. I used to correct papers. I did that for about two years, so she was she was my boss. She doesn't she hasn't aged. So I'm very familiar with the alternative learning program, which is why it was so important that I support Senator Kidani's efforts in making sure that ALCs went statewide.

So previously we only had storefront and we had Olamana. And because of the Senate's priorities the past several years, we were able to fund alternative learning centers and programs, one per complex. And it is not it's now in the base. Previously, school principals or complex principals had Tuhui money to try to fund alternative programs.

And so now that we have that secured, we're starting to see AOCs throughout the state with with facilities of their own and with teachers of their own that are dedicated for the specific population that Colette talked about.

So she's she's definitely had an impact. So much so that when we had the the opening or the groundbreaking of the new facility for Storefront, Nelson spoke and Nelson had mentioned that his story at Storefront is one of resilience and transformation. He was raised alongside his seven brothers in a home marked by domestic violence. The impact on the family was profound. Collectively, the brothers would go on to serve more than 200 years in prison.

Yet, Nelson chose a different path. Through the support of the storefront program, he was able to turn his life around and become an example of how intervention, guidance, and opportunity can break cycles of violence and incarceration. So let's give them another hand. I'd also like to, introduce, as many of you know, our my the the bill's chief, David Cho. He's he's with, Jeeha and their son, Noah.

You can stand. And with them, our friends, Ka'olu and her son, Dwayne. Thank you for visiting the Capitol. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you, Senator Dela Cruz. I think you missed an alumni of the program. Senator DeCorte, did you have, something to say?

Point of personal privilege, please. Please proceed. Yes. Thank you so much. For those of you who may not know this, I also am an alumni of the storefront program, class of '97.

Yeah. And I do wanna give a huge to Colette. You know, at the time, we go to these programs because there are no other chances left for us. And as my parents was trying to figure out what my problem was, why I kept coming out of school, why I kept running away, why I kept getting into fights, and so on and so forth, they found this program and they thought that it was the best fit for me.

But because I was so rebellious back in the day, I continued to try to run away, try to cause trouble, try to, you know, just make everything so complicated.

And I'm gonna share this real quick story with you guys since it's just us. While I was going to the program, I was pregnant at the time. And I was cutting out of school, and I was going to my boyfriend's house, who's my husband at the time. Okay. No.

Who's my husband now? Sorry. Sorry. So who's my husband now? So I was cutting out of school and I had my husband call the school.

He would call Colette and be like, oh, this is Sam's mom. I mean, Sam's dad. She's not feeling well today. She has to like she has to stay home. Well, I got away with that for about a week, and my parents didn't find out.

Everything was going as planned until my husband, who was my boyfriend at the time, called the school and, like, hey, this is Sam's dad. She's not feeling well. And it was Colette who answered the phone, and she said, Tommy, I know this is you. You better get Sam to school right now. There were some exciting words to that conversation, but I'll leave that between us.

And so my husband now looked at me and he said, oh, I gotta I gotta drop you off. And I was like, no. No. No. No.

No. It's okay. It's okay. Like, I can stay. He was like, no.

No. No. She said she can call your dad. I gotta drop you So, anyway, so we go to the school. I walk into her office that was a portable at the time, and, you know, she is just screaming at me.

Right? So anybody who's been in that portable, you can hear Colette from different portables. Like, there's nothing discreet about it. There's nothing PC about it. She was like, but you wanna do something with your life?

Why do you keep messing up and screwing up? And I remember telling her, I said, why don't you just kick me out already? I said, otherwise, we're just gonna keep doing this. But she never gave up on me. And she told me, she said, I don't care what you do after you graduate, but you are going to walk.

And at the time, I was pregnant. I was out of options, and I just wanted to to escape, but she wouldn't let me. She fought for me. She believed in me. She held my hand through the process.

When everybody gave up on me, including my family, she is the she is the one that said, I'm gonna get you your diploma. You're going to walk, and you're gonna make it to the finish line. So I just wanted to thank you, Colette, for just your endurance and your perseverance and seeing me at my best when I didn't see myself at my best. And I can honestly say that I am here today serving in a public capacity because you never gave up on me.

So thank you.

And it's not, normal for me to comment, but, you know, what I think is important. The reason why they cobbled money together around the complex. The program started with federal dollars, and that's how the program was run. My brother taught the alternative learning center for Waimea High School in '86 and '87 while it was federally funded. And as we tried to make priorities, about how to use limited dollars in the schools, then this didn't rise to the top of the priority list.

Fortunately, you had that experience of working with Colette. Senator Kidani had that vision. I was aware of what it did because of my brother. Now we have Senator DeCorte here sharing her personal story. But these are generational changes that are being made, not, just the change in Senator De Court's life, but to her children, to her community as a role model about what can be done.

And with Nelson and sharing his story, I believe it was two hundred forty two years of incarceration in his family and for very serious crimes committed. So much so that reporters covering the event immediately recognize the Sua name and also said that we had heard that one of the siblings got out and went forward into the community and not to jail. We didn't know who it was and, you know, they were really glad to hear the story.

And I shared what happened at the groundbreaking when we had the press conference and they want to, delve deeper into the difference, Colette, that you've been making. And, Cheryl, who was a reporter at the time covering some of the crimes of the Sua family, talked to Nelson after he spoke.

And his daughter either is attending or went to Harvard, I believe. And so what a generational change. And from the example of violence, domestic violence in the home that he and his siblings witnessed and the 242 years of incarceration. The example they now see in his daughter. The example they now see in him.

Again, going back to generational changes. And so we may argue and we may fight in some of the hearings, but we understand the education that we want for our children here in Hawaii can be a generational change if we achieve the goals. We all want the same thing. So it is my sincere hope that we are going to find a way to get on the page to work together for the children of Hawaii. But when you say, how come we fight so hard?

This is a shining example of why the Senate fights so hard for the education of our young people here in Hawaii. Further introductions. Senator Kidani?

Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to welcome to the gallery today DOE superintendent Keith Hayashi and his team, assistant superintendent, office of talent management, Sean Bacon, and leadership institute executive director, Stacy Kunihisa, as well as his wonderful team and members of the leadership institute that helped us put together yesterday's student showcase. Mahalo and welcome. Thank you. It was a great event.

Thank you very much. Senate President, I respectfully request that the names of all the team members be added to the Senate journal today.

So ordered.

As we conclude the fifth and final day of senate education week, I'm honored to recognize the top four outstanding Oahu teams who competed in this year's life smarts consumer education competition. These students demonstrated remarkable teamwork and real world knowledge in a fast paced game show dynamic, testing their knowledge of personal finance, health and safety, the environment, technology, and consumer rights. I'd like to warmly welcome to the gallery the sponsor of the competition sponsors of the competition, the staff of the department of commerce and consumer affairs.

Welcome. Thank you.

Please stand. Thank you. Senate President, I respectfully request that the names of all DCCA staff to be added to the Senate journal today.

So ordered.

Thank you. I now yield the floor to the Senator from District 10 to introduce the first place winners of the annual life smart competition.

Senator Ihara.

Mr. President, at the statewide finals held at the Neil s. Bezos Center, one team rose to the top. This year, the team from Iolani school earned the first place title, distinguishing themselves in an incredibly competitive field. Please join me in congratulating the outstanding students of Iolani School for their well deserved victory in the Lifesmart's consumer education competition. Unfortunately, team members, Donovan Quan and Henry Lee, are not able to join us this morning.

However, we are pleased to have team captain James Chen join us on the floor today. Could you stand to be recognized? And joining us in the gallery are his parents, Jennifer and Eric and brother Jacob. Also team coach Kit Yoo Hwang. Could you stand and congratulations and, and team members, Dominique Nakama and Inseo Kim.

Congratulations to you all. Mr. President. I now yield the floor to the Senator from District 9.

Senator Chang.

Thank you very much, Mr. President, and from one Raider to another. Congratulations. Next, I am excited to recognize the second place winners of the 2026 LifeSmarts competition, Kalani High School. Unfortunately, they were unable to join us today due to the weather, but please join me in celebrating the second place winners.

They were coached by Susan Hori and Mike Zane and also include team captain, Brandolyn Tran, as well as team members, Michelle Kabaseawa, Nicole Du, Zachary Lee, and Christian Matache. Congratulations, Kalani High School. I now yield the floor to the Senator from District 19 to introduce this year's third and fourth place winners.

Senator Lamosao.

Thank you, Senator President. Maha today, I have the honor of recognizing two winning teams who placed third and fourth place from Waipahu High School. Today, joining us on the floor from the third place team is team captain from Waipahu, Waipahu's team two, Jericho Augustine. And in the gallery, team member Caleb Daugio as well as Waipahu High School principal Zachary Sheets. Although unable to join us today, I would also like to recognize team members Kyle Baldovi, Chase Litchfield, and Felix Oxa and coach Cindy Takara.

Congratulations Waipahu High School team two. I I also have the honor of recognizing the fourth place team from Waipahu High School team five. Joining us on the floor today is team captain Angelina Alcantara Powell and joining us in the gallery is team members Keisha Lay Arellano and Monica Velasco. And unable to join us today, I would like to also recognize team members, Chara Daley and Sophie Yamamoto. Congratulations, Waipahu High School's team five for coming in fourth place.

And although, she was unable to join us this morning, I would also like to recognize a resident of District 19, Lori Misaka, the 2025 Hawaii Library Association, employee of the year. Lori is a librarian of Waipahu Intermediate School and a and a twelve year educator with DOE. As a former English language arts teacher, she earned her master's of library and information science degree during the pandemic and transitioned into her current role in 2022.

Lori collaborates with teachers to support student literacy and research skills while creating a welcoming library space where students can explore their academic and personal interests. Congratulations, Lori.

I now yield the floor to the Senator from District 24.

Senator Keohokalole.

Thank you, Mr. President. It is my pleasure to introduce three awardees from my district today. Although unable to join us this morning, I'd like to recognize Kathleen Trofonovich, the Windward District's Kailua Kalaheo Complex Area Teacher of the Year. An elementary educator with over 35 years of experience, Kathleen currently teaches fourth grade at Manuili Elementary. She's a she is dedicated to fostering well rounded, culturally grounded learners and intentionally connects students with their Aina and community.

Recognized as a lifelong learner, Kathleen continually develops her skills through professional development and serves as a math mentor for other teachers launching a school based math cohort to support colleagues in implementing new instructional strategies. The next awardee of District twenty four who was unable to join us this morning is Caitlin Ramirez, the twenty twenty four Hawaii Association of School Librarians Golden Key Award recipient. Caitlin is a librarian and an instructor for DOE online courses.

She earned her BA in English literature from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and her Master of Education and Secondary English and Master of Library and Information Science with a focus on school librarianship from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Her career also included serving as a seventh and eighth grade English language arts teacher and literacy coach at Kalakaua Middle School from 2005 to 2011.

And finally an exceptional student from my district the 2024 US Presidential Scholar Ariana McGurk. The first from Kalaheo High School, Ariana represented students statewide as a Board of Education student representative and in 2024 became the first student from Hawaii to be named a Jefferson Scholar at the University of Virginia, selected from over 2,500 nominees. She's previously held leadership roles with the Hawaii State Student Council, founded her own school's Wish Club, and is pursuing a private pilot license through the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum.

At UVA, Ariana is studying public policy and global studies to address issues like affordable housing and educational equity. Congratulations to Kathleen, Caitlin, and Ariana.

I now yield the floor to the Senator from District 13.

Senator Rhoads.

Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to introduce recognize two awardees who reside in District 13 who are unable to join us this morning, two complex area teachers of the year. First, it's Honolulu District's Farrington Keiser Kalani Complex Area Teacher of the Year, Jessica Canyon. Jessica has served as a fifth grade teacher at Fern Elementary for the past seventeen years, where she creates supportive and engaging learning environments.

And Jessica established the school's annual career week and career fair, which builds school culture by expanding students' horizons, connecting learning to real world applications, and fostering aspirations.

Additionally, Jessica served as the fifth grade level chair and has been a mentor teacher for the past seven years, helping to foster the new gen new generation of Hawaii public school educators. Another resident of District 13 is Chris excuse me, is Chris Tajima, Honolulu District District's Kaimuki McKinley Roosevelt Complex Area Teacher of the Year.

A veteran educator with over twenty eight years of experience, Chris currently serves as the English language teacher and coordinator at Ka'uluella Elementary where her inclusive teaching strategies have helped countless multilingual learners exceed their academic goals. Chris also serves as a positive behavior as the positive behavioral intervention and sports coordinator, helping launch the student store where positive behaviors work with Bulldog Cash. She builds strong relationships with families through consistent advocacy, including initiating parent engagement programs such as the school's family literacy night.

Mahalo, Jessica and Chris, and congratulations. I'd I would now like to yield the floor to the Senator from District 21. Mahalo.

Senator Gabbard.

Mahalo, Mr. President. Thank you. I would like to recognize a resident of my district, Emily Mendoza as Central District's Aiea Moanalua Radford Complex Area Teacher of the Year. Although she was unable to join us this morning, I would like to recognize Emily's achievements. Emily has been the culinary arts teacher at Aiea High School for the past three years.

Her interactive lessons not only teach students essential cooking skills, but also challenge them to develop collaboration, communication, and critical thinking abilities vital for the real world. Emily provides mentorship opportunities with industry professionals and her students regularly give back to the school community, applying their culinary skills to bake sales, snack fundraisers, community cooking competitions, and catering for school events. Aloha, congratulations, Emily. I now turn the floor turn the floor over to the Senator from District 25.

Senator Kidani. Oh, I'm sorry. Senator Lee.

Thank you, Mr. President. Although not although unable to join us this morning, I have the privilege of recognizing a resident of my district, the 2025 Milken teacher of promise, Kylie Nakano. As one of only three educators in the DOE implementing a dual language model that delivers the full curriculum in both English and Japanese. And as a certified international baccalaureate primary years program educator, Kylie integrates bilingual instruction with global perspectives to foster academic excellence and cultural appreciation.

Kylie enhances learning through music, cultural immersion, and interdisciplinary projects offering students experiences such as Japanese performances and speech contests that build cultural understanding and global mindedness. Let's give a warm congratulations to Kylie. And I'll just, give one more shout out to the Iolani team. I didn't realize one school was not only academically book smart, but also real world street smart. So congrats, guys.

I now yield the floor to the Senator from District 18.

I think the correct response is they are now. Senator Kidani.

Thank you. Today concludes our week long senate education week celebration at our state capitol. Mahalo nui for the support of administrators, staff, parents, and community members whose efforts empower our teachers and our students to reach their full potential every day in our schools. It was a pleasure to cochair this year's senate education week with our education chair, Senator Kim, and we thank everyone who helped make this year's celebration a great success.

It is a special time of the year that I look forward to the most and am proud to help recognize the accomplishments of our students, our teachers, and our administrators.

Mahalo to all.

Senator Kim?

I just wanna extend, appreciation for Senator Kidani's work, on Education Week and her staff. They do a lot of work, and we just appreciate all that you've done. So thank you.

So to our honored guests, if you sit patiently, maybe two minutes, we'll finish the short agenda, adjourn. And the sergeants, we will invite their, family and guests to come down. And the members would like to congratulate you in person and have some pictures. Madam Clerk.

Governor's message number 775 withdraws a nomination to the Hawaii Teachers Standards Board. File. Governor's message number 776 to 791, Transmit nominations to various boards and commissions.

Governor's message numbers 776 to 791 are referred in accordance with the referrals listed on the order of the day.

Referrals and re referrals.

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

No further business, mister president.

Are there any announcements today? If not, the chair has two. All Senate conferees for 2025 carryover bills in conference are hereby discharged and may be renamed at a later date. Second, after we congratulate our guests on the floor and get our pictures, I would like all of the members of the Senate to convene in the majority caucus room to discuss, developing situations with the current weather. Senator Wakai.

Mr. President, I move that the Senate stand adjourned to 11:30AM on Monday, March 23.

Senator DeCorte.

Mr. President, I second the motion.

It's been moved and seconded. If there are no objections, the Senate will stand adjourn until Monday, March 23.