Senate Floor

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

Senator Awa? Here. Senator Chang? Here.

Senator Dela Cruz? Here. Senator Elefante?

Here.

Senator DeCoite?

Senator Fevella?

Here.

Senator Fukunaga? Yes, sir.

Here.

Senator Gabbard? Yes. Senator Hashimoto? Yes. Senator Ihara?

Present.

Senator Inouye?

Excused.

Senator Kanuha? Here. Senator Keohokalole? No. Senator Kidani?

No. Senator Kim? Here. Senator Lamosau?

Here.

Senator Lee? Here. Senator McKelvey? Aye. Senator Moriwaki?

No. Senator Rhodes? No. Senator Richards?

Here

Senator San Buenaventura? No.

Senator Wakai? Present. Present. Mister president?

Present.

24 present. One excused.

Thank you. The chair has read the journal from the preceding day and approves the same. Are there any introductions this morning? Senator Hashimoto.

Thank you, mister president and colleagues. You heard today from my staffer, session staffer, Brennan Lee. He is, as you heard, a recent, he's gonna graduate from the University of Hawaii Medical School, John a Burns Medical School, and you know how tough that is to get into that school. So he has a little bit of time before he's gonna go off to his residency at Tufts University in in Massachusetts. So he decided to come work for us here at the legislature.

So thank you, Brandon, for for that great moment of contemplation. Joining Brandon is his father, Herbert Lee, who works for the US Department of Labor. Thanks for being here. And Tiffany Farias, she is the advisor of the Hawaii State Student Council. And she was Brandon's student council advisor back in high school because Brandon also served on the Hawaii State Board of Education as the student member.

So welcome to your senate. And I also do wanna recognize my staff, Anna Matsunaga and Ally Giketa, who are here with also this, and then they'll be helping with the youth of the year. So thanks for being here.

Before getting back to Senator Hashimoto, do we have any other introductions, Senator Keohokalole?

Thank you, mister president. In the gallery, up above behind me are students, parents and and chaperones, and faculty from Le Jardin Academy in Kailua here to advocate for literacy and dyslexia. I'd like to introduce them. Students and parents, when I call your name, can you please rise and be recognized by everyone? Miara Marsden, Coco Behe, Joni Nagle, Easton Culver, Nathan Richter, Tegan Murray, Chloe Lau, and chaperone Serena Marsden, Megan Garcia, and Lauren Farasati.

Third, fourth, and fifth graders who came, to lobby me today, in which I was taught that 1,500,000,000 people on the planet have dyslexia. And, many, many in Hawaii that could use our help. Thank you so much for joining us. Welcome to the Senate.

Mister President.

So, Senator, given the topic that they came to discuss with you, I would let you know that, at Koloa Elementary School on Kauai, we are in the second year of piloting a reading program called AMIRA, which is AI generated and individualized on the laptop with students. And among the learning, tools that they use, it is to work with dyslexic students who wind up in one on one opportunities.

So if you see me after we adjourn, I'll try to get you some information that you could share with, Le Jardin and, the constituents who visited you. Senator Kim?

Thank you, mister president. I also would like to add to that introduction. These students were actually came to our hearing. We had a hearing on last Monday in the twenty third for House Bill 1891. They were advocating, and this requires dyslexia screening, effective interventions, and teacher training in structured literacy.

And I have to admit the students that that came and testified, I believe there's eight of them, they were excellent, they were articulate, They knew their stuff. Some of them didn't even have notes. They testified better than some adults that have come before our committees. And so I really wanna acknowledge their good work, and they came to see me this morning as well. So thank you, students and and chaperones who are here today.

Thank you.

Senator Elefante.

Thank you, mister president. Joining us in the gallery, I have one of my constituents, Keiko McKellen, in the back there. If you could just raise your hand. And then also, a long time resident of Pro City who is just right above me. We all know him when he was on the news, Marvin Buencon Sejo.

If you could just wave. Yep. And then lastly, another dear friend of mine who's also in the gallery and also here for today's presentation, we have Rob Washington. If you could please stand so you could be recognized. Thank you, mister president.

Further introductions, Senator Fevella and then Senator McKelvey.

Thank you, Senator president. Not sure where they at. Hale Pono Club, we have a Beach Boys and Girls Club. Alright. We got the director Oscar Oscar Harris, Savannah Reed, Tadeo, team director, Savannah Silva oh, sorry.

Shaina Silva, a club member, and Jakiya Ofana. Did I get that right? Alright. God bless you guys, and welcome to the state senate.

Senator McKelvey?

Thank you, mister president. I'm happy to be joined with my one of my very own constituents for the boys and girls club who's here with, other boys and girls club member, and I see her in the audience. If you could please stand. Welcome to your state Senate, and thank you for being here representing Lahaina. Aloha.

Senator DeCoerc.

Mister president and colleagues, I would like to recognize our, boys and girls club clubhouse. We've got two of our clubhouses, but first, I'm gonna introduce our Wai'anae clubhouse with mentors if you can stand to be recognized. Ray Burden, Jeffrey Jones, Libby DeFries, Taylor Left, Kavika Richard, Veronica Rich. We have our students, Matthew Messiah, who's on the floor, but we have Orianna Kaalua, if you could stand. And then we also have Nanakuli, mentor Kamaha'o White and student Uriah Aranes.

And I do see a lot of other students. So if you can stand, if you're with Wai'anae or Nanakuli Boys and Girls Club, please stand and welcome to your state senate. Also, I see in the gallery my constituent, Y nine, Amanda Mahelona, and I believe she's with her son. Alright. If you could please stand to be recognized.

Thank you so much for joining us. Thank you.

He he was very reluctant to stand. That was a good job to get him up there with his mother. Further introductions. If not, I guess, nobody scripted the majority leaders. So we have from the Kauai Boys and Girls Club, the staff, Tina and Bryden, who is a former youth of the year.

And then we have, two students from Kapaa, Anthony and Cohen, and from Kauai High School, we have January. Will you please stand? Senator Hashimoto?

Thank you mister president. Colleagues, every year the boys and girls club of America holds their youth of the year competition which recognizes and honors exceptional teen clubhouse members for their outstanding leadership, service, and academic excellence along with dedication to health and well-being and commitment to their club and community. Today is our pleasure to welcome our Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii Youth of the Year finalists who are on the floor with us and candidates who are in the in the gallery of the Senate Chamber.

First off, I would like to make sure we introduce our candidates who have competed in the Youth of the Year. So they are seated in the gallery.

So when I call your name, I know some of you have already been called but recognize you again nevertheless. From Maui, we have Naale Oliveria of the Accenture Clubhouse, Catra Rantak of the Kahakili Clubhouse, Kieran Fernandez Irate of the Haiku Clubhouse, and Kaimana Iloa of the Lahaina Clubhouse. Representing Oahu, we have Amaya Sprout of the Spalding Honolulu Clubhouse, Orianna Kaaloa of the Wai'anae Clubhouse, Uriah Araines, and Promise Jellings Villatago of the Nanakuli Teen Center.

From Kauai, we have Jeneri Remingio of the Ilihui Clubhouse, and Anthony Long Silva and Cohen Langley of the Kapaa clubhouse. Congratulations on competing for the for the youth of the year.

You may be seated. I now yield the floor to my colleague from Senate District 7 to introduce our first of four finalists.

Is that you Senator DeCoite?

Yes. Oh, Senate president. I was waiting for you to acknowledge me. Thank you. Thank you, Mr.

President. Our first finalist for Hawaii Youth of the Year award is Leah Williamson of the Makawao Clubhouse. Leah is a freshman at Kamehameha Schools Maui and is a dedicated student athlete maintaining a 3.8 GPA while playing on the soccer team. Born on Oahu and raised in upcountry Maui, Leah has learned about forming strong connections to Ka'aina and practicing upkeeping her kuleana to her community through her relationship with friends family and greater community including the boys and girls club.

She's also involved in her school sports photography and lei and poo poo's club outside of school and sports.

Leah also enjoys playing the guitar ceramics playing the guitar ceramics and writing. Leah, please thank you for standing to be recognized. Mister president, I now yield the floor to my colleague from Senate District 23.

Senator Awa.

Our second finalist, I'm only gonna do this once for this school, from Senate District 23, a senior with a 3.76 GPA from Lelehua High School, Dylan Tibbles. If If he was from Kahuku, you would have had more long, but through this fundraising down there, next next Dylan is an avid fundraiser for charitable causes and has assisted with planning and hosting of boys and girls club events for his peers as well as events honoring first responders and military veterans.

He's also served as Pacific team panel member consisting of teenage delegates from Okinawa, Japan, Korea, Alaska, and Hawaii. Pacific team panel enables children of service members to voice their concerns to army Pacific region leadership and army teen panel to help improve army teen programs. Dylan's all already standing.

One more time, a round of applause for his efforts. Thank you. And now, mister president, I yield the floor to my colleague representing Senate District 15.

Senator Wakai.

Thank you, mister president. I love the youthful exuberance in this chamber today. Our third finalist for the youth of the year award is Omari Spinks from the joint base Pearl Harbor Hickam teen center. Omari is a freshman at Radford High School. Omari serves her community not only through her activities at the teen center, but with her JROTC group at school, taking a leadership position in event planning, fundraising, and various other initiatives.

A diligent student with a 3.5 GPA, she also plays saxophone as a member of the school band. In her free time, Amari has been working to develop teen mental health program called Komari Chat, a platform where teens are able to share their stories, support one another, and gain access to resources promoting positive mental health. Congratulations, Omari. Mister President, I'd now like to yield the floor to the Senator from District 22. Senator DeCorte.

Thank you, mister President. Our fourth finalist here with us today is Matthew Messiah Cargill. I'll have you stand for a round of applause. Thank you. Matthew is from our Wai'anae Clubhouse.

However, he is a junior at Nanakuli High School where he has earned placement on both honor roll and principal's list for his academic excellence. At the boys and girls club, Matthew gives back to his community by serving as the vice president of the leaders in training program, and has led a variety of impactful community service projects, including beach cleanups, canned food drives, and feeding the homeless.

He has also become a mentor to many of the younger boys in the teen center, offering guidance, encouragement, and leading by example through his exemplary actions and character. Senate colleagues, another round of applause for Matthew Messiah Cargill. Mister president, I now return the floor back to the Senator from District 5.

Senator Hashimoto.

Colleagues, it is with great pride that we recognize these exceptional youth leaders who embody the best of the Boys and Girls Club here on the senate floor today. The leadership, dedication, and compassion these individuals have embodied as members of their clubs through their volunteer efforts and outreach work has made long lasting impacts among their peers and communities that they serve. Later this afternoon, a winner will be selected to represent Hawaii in the regional boys and girls club youth of the year event.

We would like to send our congratulations to all of this year's candidates, and we wish the best of luck to the finalists as they move forward in the competition. I yield the floor, mister president.

Thank you, madam clerk. I guess before we go to you, I would say to our honored guests, we are going to quickly finish, adjourn, and then the members will individually congratulate you, and we will pose for some pictures. Madam clerk.

Governor's message number 796797 transmit nominations to the circuit courts of the second and fifth circuits for terms of ten years. File.

Got ahead of myself. Governor's message numbers 796 and 797 are referred to the committee on judiciary.

Governor's message numbers 798 and 799 withdraw nominations to various boards and commissions.

So let's file this one.

On page three, standing committee report numbers 3399 and 3,400 for adoption.

Senator Wakai. Mister president, I move for the adoption of standing committee reports numbers 3399 and 3,400. Senator Decourt.

Mister 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 the day that may be filed later today.

No further business, mister president.

Are there any announcements today, Senator San Buenaventura?

Thank you, mister president. I rise to request a waiver of the public notice requirement pursuant to Senate rule 21 to hold a hearing on general on governor's message 710. This waiver is ensure is to ensure the nominee may attend their hearing as they will be out of the country for the remainder of the legislative session.

Waiver is granted, Senator San Buenaventura.

Thank you. Your committee on health and human services will hold a public hearing on governor's message 710 on Wednesday, April 1at 1PM in Room 225. The notice was filed in the clerk's office yesterday afternoon.

Thank you. Any further announcements? If not, the chair has two. The deadline to file standing committee reports on Senate Concurrent Resolutions that need to move laterally to the final committee is 5PM this afternoon, and there will be a Senate leader leadership meeting immediately after session in Room 409. Senator Wakai?

Thank you, mister president. I move that the Senate stand in recess, leaving the journal open until 5PM for the receipt and adoption of standing committee reports on Senate Concurrent Resolutions and Senate resolutions moving laterally for the final their final committees. I further move that the Senate reconvene at 11:30AM tomorrow.

Senator Descartes? Mister president, I second the motion.

It's been moved and seconded. If there are no objections from the members, the Senate will stand in recess, leaving the journal open until 5PM for the receipt and adoption of standing committee reports on Senate Concurrent Resolutions and Senate resolutions moving laterally to the final committee, and we'll reconvene at 11:30AM tomorrow.