House Floor

Will the house come to order? Mister Clerk, please call the roll.

Yes.

Present.

Miss Amato?

Mister Alcos?

Miss Belotti?

Present.

Yes.

Mister Chun?

Miss Cochran? Mister Evesland, mister Garcia, mister Garrett, mister Gedian, miss Grandinetti, miss Hartsfield, mister Hashem, mister Hussey, mister Iligan, miss Iwamoto, miss Kahaloa, miss Capella, miss Kohokapuliloy, mister Kila, miss Kitagawa, mister Kong, mister Kush, miss La Chica, mister Lee, miss Loewen, miss Martin, mister Matayoshi, miss Matsumoto, mister Miyake, miss Morikawa, mister Muraoka.

He's present.

Miss Peruso?

Yes.

Here.

Here.

Miss Nakamura,

Mister Olds?

Mister Pierrick? Here. Miss Poiapoi? Here. Miss Quinlan?

Here.

Miss Reyes Oda? Here. Mister Sayama?

Here.

Mister Shimizu? Here. Miss Souza? Present. Mister Takayama?

Here. Miss Takenouchi? Here. Mister Tam? Here.

Mister Tarnas? Present. Miss Templo? Here. Here.

Mister Todd? Here. Mister Woodson? Yes. Mister Yamashita?

Here. Madam speaker, all 50 members are present.

Item number two, reading of the journal, representative Morikawa.

Madam speaker, I move we distance with the reading of the journal of the twenty third and twenty fourth days and approve the same as they read throughout.

Representative Garcia.

Madam speaker, I second the motion.

It has been moved and seconded that journal days 23 and 24 be approved. Any discussion? K. If not, we'll be taking a voice vote. All those in favor, say aye.

All those opposed, say no. The motion is carried. Journal days 23 and 24 are approved. Item number three, messages from the governor. Mister Clerk, are there any messages from the governor?

Aye.

Madam speaker, there are none.

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

Yes, madam speaker. We are on receipt of a communication returning the noted house bill having passed third reading in the Senate.

Representative Kahalua. Madam speaker, I move to disagree to the amendments made by the Senate to the noted house bill.

Representative Morikawa.

Madam speaker, I second the motion.

Any discussion? Members will be taking a voice vote. All those in favor, say aye. All those opposed say no. The motion is carried.

Any introductions? Representative Martin.

Thank you, madam speaker. I'd like to introduce in the gallery with us today. If you'll please stand after I call your name, some of the supporters for our honoree this morning on the floor presentation. Keala Quan, Mark Crabby, Darius Cook, Kiana Pike, Ali Choi, Eric Kiave, Momia Khanna, Tiffany Kaainoa, Oren Kupau. And I think we had a couple more trickle in.

Please also stand. Welcome to your House of Representatives. Thank you for being here today.

Members representative Reyes Oda.

Thank you, speaker. I'd like to introduce the Kahu of Kamehameha Schools, but he is here in his personal capacity today as my best friend, Manu Naiole. Welcome to the House of Representatives.

K. Members, if there are no further introductions, we'll turn to the order of the day. Item number five, floor presentations. Mister Clerk, are there any floor presentations?

Yes, madam speaker. We have one floor presentation today. House Resolution number 210 honoring Earl Kavah'a for dedicating his life to preserving Hawaiian language and culture, mentoring future generations, and strengthening communities throughout Hawaii. This resolution is offered by representatives Martin and Hussey.

Representative Martin.

Madam speaker, I move to adopt the resolution.

Representative Hussey.

Madam speaker, I second the motion.

It has been moved and seconded that the resolution be adopted. Any discussion? Representative Martin.

Thank you, madam speaker. Today, we're honoring, Kumu Earl Kaba'a, who I met when I knocked on his door campaigning. In support? Somehow in the conversation what? In support.

Oh, in support. Thank you. Somehow in the conversation, I discovered that he is a traditional hale builder, and I couldn't believe my luck as I was thinking about building a shelter like that for our little foresters who come on field trips to med with my nonprofit at the nearby Hamakua Marsh State Wildlife Sanctuary. Uncle Earl invited me to check out the magnificent 80 foot long hale at Keikioka Aina, which used the same materials he thought I should use.

When I visited, by chance, Kumu Earl was teaching a board and stone class, so I stayed to listen.

Many families sat in clusters across the Hale floor with their carving projects, listening to uncle Earl as he discussed the importance and power of names in Hawaiian culture. He was very dramatic, and even the keiki were entranced as he told stories of real people whose success or tragedy was connected to their names. With this in mind, the families were tasked with finding the right names for the Pohaku and Papakuye ai that they were carving before bringing them into their own homes to use.

Kumu Earl launched this cultural revitalization initiative to have a board in stone in every home during the two thousand twelve TEDx talk and has still taught and has since taught over 10,000 people in Nanakuli, Papakolea, Waimanalo, and on his home island of Molokai, as well as for the last ten years, people from everywhere who gather at Kikioka Aina Family Learning Center. The classes span several sessions and are a deep learning of culture as well as strengthening family bonds and communication.

My neighbor who took the class with his family shared how it changed the way he related to his teenagers for the better. Kumu Earl is pure Hawaiian manaleo or native speaker from Halawa Valley on Molokai where he learned how to carve, build hale, rock wall, farm, play music, and tell stories. He also learned ho'oponopono from his parents, Walter and Georgina, who were practitioners. He built on those skills with a bachelor in psychology and a master in social work.

He took all these things that he had learned as well as his incredible work ethic and his creative knack for problem solving, and he used them over a long and continuing career to serve others.

He served in the Molokai National Guard for six years. He's a veteran in the Vietnam War. He did development work with Molokai homesteaders. He served in the domestic peace corps on the Acoma Indian Reservation in New Mexico for two years. At every stop, it seems Kumu Earl went above and beyond.

In college, he was student body president, coached three sports, and organized seven small colleges into an athletic association. In New Mexico, in addition to development and early childhood education, he built two days baseball fields and organized the first all Indian Little League tournament and found a wife. He has been a cultural specialist at Kamehameha Schools for eighteen years, supporting teachers, teaching students directly, and working with families.

Similarly, has worked with many public schools on Oahu as well with our youth to involve them, and as well as our youth involved with the criminal justice system to do based and cultural projects. When Kumu Earl came to see our site, he already knew a lot of my staff.

They had previously helped him build a hale at Hohoku Aina. He had my site manager, Ladd, take a leadership role this time around, building skills for the next generation. Has also been doing an intensive level of training of the next generation of or leaders in and other Hawaiian cultural practices. Some of them are here today, and we all have the privilege of meeting them.

Keoni, I'd like to mention, who is from Kailua, was a big part of our Hale project, and I really appreciate him for that.

I'll now turn to the representative from Kalihi to introduce those accompanying Earl today.

Representative Hassy.

Thank you, madam speaker, in favor of the motion of the, of the resolution.

Please proceed.

Thank you. It is my pleasure at this point to introduce some of Kava'a's, that have that have joined us here today. So first I'd like to introduce Kikiki Imamoto, who lives in Papa Collea with his wife, daughters, and grandchildren. He's a retired combat soldier with three tours in Iraq and who leads a team of seven others teaching the art of carving rocks into poi pounders and slabs of wood into poi boards with hand tools only. Thank you very much.

Congratulations. I'd also like to introduce Kaheo Pike who's a 2025 Kamehameha Schools graduate, is enrolled at the Windward Community College, and works with other students at Ho'oko Aina, which by the way is my favorite place to get poi, which is a nonprofit sustainability organization in Mauna Wili. She has a strong command of the Hawaiian language and, is an Ala Kai'i in the board in stone class. Congratulations, Kaia Malo.

I'd like to also introduce Keone Peters who was a Kailua High School graduate and is one of the high level Hawaiian Hale builders.

He led the building of the representative Waimanalo's hale as she mentioned on Hamakoi Street in Kailua, and he he is building a third with very little supervision. His fourth hale build build is centered around refinement of skill knowledge and teaching others and becoming a kumu like Earl. And finally, I'd like to introduce Janna Umiamaka who is an assistant to Momi Akana who is in our gallery today from Keiko Keiki O Ka Aina in Kalihi.

Board and Stone is based out of Keiki O Ka Aina with other satellite regional classes held at Papakolea, Nanakuli, Waimanalo, and Molokai. Jenna has had six years of Alakai training and four years leading as Alakai Nui.

Jenna and Keiki Oka Aina will become the protector of the cultural e k and standard of board and stone classes taught by regional Alaka'i. Thank you very much and please welcome our honorees.

K. Members, if there is no further discussion, all those in favor of the resolution, say aye. Aye. The motion is carried. Representative Martin, please proceed with the certificate and lay presentation.

The chair will call a recess to allow the members of the house to meet and congratulate the honorees. Recess. Will the house come to order item number six reports of standing committees representative Kahalua.

Adam speaker I moved to adopt standing committee reports numbers 1663 dash 26 through 1777 dash 26 as listed on pages two through 37. And that the accompanying House Resolutions and house Concurrent Resolutions as may be amended be referred to their designated committees.

Representative Morikawa.

Madam speaker, I second the motion.

Members will be taking up discussion of companion measures in tandem beginning with House Standing Committee Report numbers 1663 and 1664. Any discussion? Sixteen 65 and 16661667 and 16681669 and 1670. Representative Garcia.

Reservations.

So ordered. Representative Pierrick.

So ordered. Representative Moraoka.

Reservations.

No vote.

So ordered. Sixteen 71 and 1672. Sixteen 73 and 16741675 and 16761677 and 167081679 and 1680. Representative Pierrick.

With reservations.

So ordered. Representative Cochran. Same. Reservations. So ordered.

Standing committee report 1681 and 1682. Representative Garcia.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Moraoka.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Cochran. With reservations. So ordered. Representative Shimizu.

Reservations, please. So ordered. Standing committee report 1683 and 168416805 and 1686. Representative Garcia. Oval.

So ordered. Representative Pierrick.

Reservations.

So ordered. 1687 and 1688168916901691169216903 and 16941695 and 169616971698. Representative Souza.

Madam speaker, I rise in strong support.

Please proceed.

I rise to be in strong support of house Resolution 64 and house Concurrent Resolution 70, urging the city and county of Honolulu to establish a Makakilo Drive extension task force. These are measures I introduced on behalf of my constituents in Makakilo. Makakilo has one way in and one way out. For the families who live there, that is not just an inconvenience. It is a serious public safety concern.

For decades, residents were promised an additional access point to the mountain. And for just as long, they have advocated consistently and persistently for that second route, not as a luxury, but as a necessity. When I was five years old, I remember moving to Kapolei and hearing conversations about the Makahilo Drive extension. Even then, it was being discussed as something that was needed, something that was coming. Decades later, we are still having that same conversation.

Because when you only have one way in and one way out, every emergency becomes more dangerous. If there is a brush fire, if there is a medical emergency, or if there is a need to evacuate quickly, congestion can become life threatening. First responders face delays getting in and residents face delays getting out. That is a vulnerability we cannot continue to ignore. We have seen in the most devastating way what can happen when communities are left without adequate access.

During the Lahaina wildfire, limited evacuation routes and rapidly changing conditions contributed to chaos and tragedy. It was a painful reminder to all of us that redundancy in infrastructure is not optional. It is essential. We cannot wait for a similar situation to expose these same risks in

Makakilo. HR 64 and HDR 70 moved this effort forward in a meaningful way by urging the city and county of Honolulu to establish a dedicated task force, one that brings together key agencies, identifies delays, improves coordination, and ensures transparency and accountability in advancing this long overdue project. Just as importantly, this task force includes voices from West Oahu, residents who understand firsthand the daily challenges and the urgency of this issue. This is about more than planning. This is about coordination.

This is about finally following through on a promise made decades ago. Members, the people of Makahilo have waited long enough. I respectfully ask for your support for my constituents and their safety. Mahalo.

Standing committee report number 169917001701 and 17021703 and 17041705. 1706 and 1707. Representative Cochran. With reservations. So ordered.

Representative Garcia.

With reservations.

So ordered. Standing committee report 1708 and 1709. Seventeen ten and 1711. Seventeen twelve and 1713. Representative Pierrick.

Reservations.

So ordered. Representative Cochran. No votes. So ordered. Seventeen fourteen and 1715.

Seventeen sixteen and 1717. Seventeen eighteen and 1719172017211722 and 17231724 and 17251726 and 1727. Representative Cochran.

Sorry. For 1724 and '25?

Okay. We'll go back. Standing committee report 1724 and 1725. Representative Cochran.

Yep. Thank you very much. I completely, support the intent here. My only issue with these is in reference to the statewide office of homelessness and housing solutions, h o h h s, which, currently has been it's under audit and investigation, and has, done some negative work in Haina since the wildfire. So these are just my reasons for

with reservations on these two items. With reservations. Yes. So ordered. Okay, members.

We're back on 1728 and 1729. 1730 and 17311732 and 17331734. Representative Garcia.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Perrick.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Alcos.

So ordered. Representative Moraoka.

No vote.

No vote, please.

So ordered. Representative Shimizu. No vote. So ordered. I could make a comment, but I won't.

Thank you. Thank you. Standing committee Report17351736 and 17371738 and 17391740 and 17411742 and 17431744 and 17451746 and 1747 Seventeen 48 and 1749. Seventeen fifty and 1751. Seventeen 52 and 1753 are brazempiric.

No vote. So ordered. Representative Garcia.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Alcos.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Moraoka.

No vote, please.

So ordered. Representative Shimizu. No vote. So ordered. Representative Cochran.

Same vote. No vote. So So ordered. Representative Gideon.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Matsumoto. No vote. So ordered. Standing committee reports numbers 1754175517506 and 17571758 and 17591760 and 1761.

Representative Garcia.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Pierrick.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Alcos.

So ordered. Representative Cochran. Sorry. Chair

No vote.

madam speaker. Is it the 1760?

Seventeen sixty and 61. No vote. So ordered. Representative Moroka.

No vote, please.

So ordered. Representative Shimizu. No vote. So ordered. Representative Gideon.

No vote.

So ordered. Standing committee report number 1762 and 17631764 and 1765176061767. Representative Garcia.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Alcos.

So ordered. Representative Moroaca.

No vote.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Pierrick.

No vote.

So ordered. Standing committee reports 1768 and 17691770 and 17711772 and 17731774177517761777. Okay. Members, we'll be taking a voice vote. All those in favor, say aye.

All those opposed say no. The motion is carried. Representative Kahalua.

Madam speaker, I move to adopt standing committee reports numbers 1778 dash 26 through 1802 dash 26 as listed on pages 37 through 44, and that the accompanying House Resolutions and house Concurrent Resolutions as may be amended be adopted.

Representative Morikawa. House speaker, I second the motion.

Members will be taking up discussion of companion measures in tandem starting with standing committee reports seventeen seventy eight and seventeen seventy nine. Seventeen eighty and seventeen eighty one. Seventeen eighty two and seventeen eighty three, seventeen eighty four and seventeen eighty five, seventeen eighty six, seventeen eighty seven, seventeen eighty eight, seventeen eighty nine, seventeen ninety, and seventeen ninety one, seventeen ninety two, seventeen ninety three, seventeen ninety four, seventeen ninety five, seventeen ninety six, seventeen ninety seven, seventeen ninety eight, and seventeen ninety nine.

Standing committee report 1,818 o one, 18 o two. K.

Members will be taking a voice vote. All those in favor, say aye. Aye. All those opposed, say no. The motion is carried.

Members, item number seven. Are there any announcements? Seeing no oh, representative Takayama.

Yes, member madam speaker. Thank you. I just wanted to with a long weekend again approaching, I wanted to remind members once again that our collection drive of gently used women's clothing will begin April 13. That's not this coming Monday, but the following Monday. So this gives you ample opportunity to collect your gently used women's clothing, gather them up for either sale or use by women who are seeking a new start in life.

And last year, we set a new record for our collection and are looking forward to our doing so again this session. Thank you very much.

Representative Moraoka.

Thank you, madam speaker. Just wanted to invite everybody this weekend, Friday and Saturday, out in Waianae at the Waianae Intermediate School field. The Arc of Safety, our Christian fellowship out there does the annual largest Easter egg event. It's invited for everybody to come out, bring your families, a lot of vendors, a lot of food, fun, and a great time, and the kids get to go hunt Easter eggs on a huge field. It's super fun for everybody, and everybody's welcome.

K. There's no further announcements for the motion to adjourn. Representative Morikawa.

Madam speaker, I move that this house stand adjourned until 12:00 noon, Monday. Representative Garcia.

Madam speaker, I second the motion.

All those in favor, say aye. Aye. All those opposed, say no. The motion is carried. The house stands adjourned until 12:00 noon, Monday.