House Floor

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

[Roll call]

[Roll call]

[Roll call]

[Roll call]

[Roll call]. Madam Speaker, 49 members are present.

One is not present.

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. Mister Clerk, are there any messages from the governor?

Madam Speaker, there are none.

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

Yes, Madam Speaker. We are in receipt of a communication transmitting the noted Senate Concurrent Resolution having been adopted in the Senate.

Members, are there any introductions? Representative Matsumoto.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. In the gallery, I see a good friend, former miss Hawaii Kehaulani Takanishi, if you can please rise. If we give her a round of applause and welcome her to the House of Representatives.

Representative Shimizu.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'd like to introduce, two special women in my life. My beautiful wife, Joy, and my precious daughter, Taryn. Would you please rise? Welcome to your house of representatives.

Representative Takayama.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'd like to introduce members of the Alzheimer's Association of Hawaii who are in the gallery. Gonna you'll notice they're wearing a distinctive Pearl City Purple and they represent all counties of the, state of Hawaii, so I'll ask them to please rise. They're here today as part of their, advocacy day activities to meet with all of us, as well as hold a news conference this in the rotunda at 03:45 this afternoon.

So please join me in welcoming them to their state house of representatives.

Representative Woodson.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Joining us in the gallery today, we have our Maui police chief, John Palletier. If you could please stand. We appreciate we appreciate you, police chief. We also have Lieutenant Mike.

Here joining us and Melissa Palbicek.

Thank you for being here with us today.

Representative Gideon.

Madam Speaker, I'd like to introduce a dear friend of mine, who I've known since I was, oh, probably 12 years old, mister David Livingstone. Past president of the Waikiki Rotary Club, Navy League, and probably about 20 other organizations. But this man exemplifies service, and it's an honor to have him in the gallery today. Welcome to your House of Representatives.

Representative Takayama.

Sorry, Madam Speaker. I forgot to ask if their names of the, Alzheimer's Association members can be entered into the journal.

So ordered. Representative Woodson.

Same request, please, Madam Speaker.

Thank you.

So ordered.

K. If are there any further introductions? If not, let's move on 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 two one three, recognizing Hawaiian council for twenty five years of dedicated service, impactful leadership, and steadfast advocacy on behalf of the native Hawaiian community. This resolution is offered by representatives Keila and Kahaloa.

Representative Keila.

Madam Speaker, I move to adopt a resolution.

Representative Kahaloa. Madam Speaker, I

second the motion. It has been moved and seconded

that the resolution be adopted. Any discussion representative Kahaloa.

Mahalo Madam Speaker in support. Please proceed. Madam Speaker I rise in support of this resolution recognizing the Hawaiian Council for twenty five years of dedicated service, impactful leadership, and steadfast advocacy on behalf of the native Hawaiian community. Founded in 2001, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, the organization was established to support cultural, economic, and community development of native Hawaiians. Over the past twenty five years, the Hawaiian Council has grown into one of the most influential native Hawaiian organizations in Hawaii and across the country.

Through strong leadership and a deep commitment to community, The organization has expanded its work across housing, economic development, workforce training, and cultural preservation. Creating a comprehensive approach to uplifting native Hawaiian communities. As a native Hawaiian community development financial institution and a HUD certified housing counseling agency, the Hawaiian Council has increased access to capital, financial resources, and housing opportunities for native Hawaiian families. It has also supported small business and workforce pathways that continue to strengthen local economies across the state.

And previously to my work here at the legislature, I personally benefited from collaborating with the Kuhanna business program to help support small businesses across the pie.

This twenty five year milestone of the native Hawaiian council reflects not only the organization's growth, but the trust it has built and the impact it continues to make. At this time, I would like to yield to my colleague from Nanao Kuli. Representative Kila.

Madam Speaker in support.

Please proceed.

Madam Speaker, what is to be said about Hawaiian council is that they have never stayed in one lane. They have understood early about advancing our lahui. It includes housing, economic opportunity, workforce development, and also keeping culture at the center of it all. They've helped families access housing, financial counseling, and provide them stability to keep them afloat in Hawaii. Throughout the programs like Kuhana, they've also invested their work their workforce through a Hawaiian Trades Academy.

Madam Speaker, and through the Hawaiian Way Fund, they've supported grassroots organizations, creating career pathways and supporting our non profits as a non profit themselves. The culture that leads this organization is the foundation that sets it. But most recently, you also have seen them challenge and take on one of our biggest industries which is tourism.

Hawaii's visitor industry has reflected for the longest time a call for authentic experiences, and the Hawaiian Council has led that shift to challenge us to do regenerative tourism where culture is not performed, but it is instead the intention and the fundamental shift to show Hawaii to the world. At the same time, they've also continued amazing work repatriating our e v kupuna and cultural artifacts across the state and reclaiming them from the world to bring home.

But most importantly, Madam Speaker, Hawaiian council has served one of the lifelines during the COVID nineteen pandemic. They serve thousands of households deploying resources across the state, and they also responded amidst the Maui wildfires through Kaukaku 0, Maui. We're also seeing it now again today, and they would probably be busy this weekend as well helping us get our families prepped and prepared for the incoming weather occurrences. But Hawaiian council thrives in disaster, madam speaker. They never hesitate and they've consistently shown up.

It is an organization that has challenged Lahue to come together by convening native Hawaiian conventions for the last several years across the continent and even here in Hawaii. And today, Madam Speaker, at 1,400 members and 400 employees, May the employees of Hawaiian Council please stand. But also for me Madam Speaker, this organization has a special place in my heart. When I first moved home in 2020, this is the place where I first started my employment.

And I always think about the work that I did there and the great relationships that I still continue to this day.

And I owe a lot of that to the leadership of the CEO, Kuhio Lewis, for challenging me and allowing me to think that age is not a barrier, but instead a great asset. Native Hawaiians belong in these rooms and in these positions and in the spaces of decision making. So for the twenty five years of existence, they've built something phenomenal. And even in that same time, they've also challenged government and bucked us to do better.

But even amidst all of that, I think Hawaiian Council's work is tangible and impactful.

And to think what the last twenty five years, I look forward to the next twenty five years of service. So to the leadership of Hawaiian Council, their board of directors, and every single person that we do, from your native Hawaiian caucus, Madam Speaker, and the chamber, we like to mahalo the work of the Hawaiian Council, mahalo for their leadership, and mahalo them for continuing to stand with the communities when it matters most. Congratulations, Hawaiian Council, and happy twenty fifth birthday.

All those in favor of the resolution, say aye. Aye. The motion is carried. Representative Keila, 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. The house come to order item number six reports of standing committees representative Kahaloa.

Adam speaker I moved to adopt standing committee reports numbers one eight one one dash 26 through one eight one three dash 26 as listed on page two and that the accompanied Senate bills as amended pass second reading and be placed on the calendar for third reading representative Morikawa

I'll speak. I second the motion.

Any discussion on these items beginning with HSCR number 18111812, 1813. Okay members, we will be taking a voice vote. All those in favor say, Aye. Aye. All those opposed say, no.

The motion is carried. Members, please note the forty eight hour notice for HSCR number 1814Dash26. Item number seven. Members, are there any announcements? Representative Baladi.

Thank you Madam Speaker. Your committees on public safety and water and land request a waiver of the forty eight hour advance notice requirement for the purpose of conducting a public hearing with decision making to follow on house HCR 200 and HR 190, urging the United States Department of Defense to reassess prior determinations and closure decisions under the comprehensive environmental response comprehend compensation and liability act in light of evolving scientific understanding of per and polyfluorocool substances and recent federal hazardous substance designations.

So ordered.

Thank you Madam Speaker the public hearing will be held on Wednesday 04/08/2026 at 11AM in Conference Room 411.

Representative Takenouchi. Thank you, speaker.

Your committee on finance request a waiver of the forty eight hour advanced notice requirement for the purpose of conducting a public hearing with decision making to follow on HCR 93 HD one and HR 85 HD one, requesting the Hawaii State status on the requesting the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women in collaboration with the Legislative Reference Bureau to establish a working group and provide a report to the legislature on ways to strengthen prevention, interventions, and protections for survivors of image based sexual abuse, as well as HCR 14, authorizing the issuance of a perpetual nonexclusive easement covering a portion of state submerged lands at Waialae, Honolulu, Oahu for existing drainage purposes and for use, operation, repair, and maintenance of the existing improvements constructed thereon.

So ordered.

Thank you, speaker. The public hearing will be held on Thursday, April oh, Wednesday, April 8 at 01:55pm in Conference Room 308.

Representative Mateoschi.

Thank you, speaker. Members, as you may have seen from the flyers in the elevator and my house email blast, there is a blood drive coming up on May 7. It's the last day before Cine Die and not much is going on, so I'm hoping everyone will have time to come down to donate blood. If you've never donated blood, it's really not that bad. You just don't look at the needle.

You can save three lives by each donation. We need about 200 donors every day in Hawaii to supply enough blood. And because we're an island, we can't just truck it over from the mainland. So it really is upon us to take care of our own here. So I'm hoping that everyone, House members, House staff, sergeant at arms, everyone can kind of contribute to, giving blood.

You can sign up very easily. There's a QR code in the, elevator. We're gonna email one out and my office is also gonna come around with a flyer for the QR code to sign up. After the Senate announcement, we got a couple of Senate donation or Senate, people signing up. I'm I'm hoping that we can do the same here.

So thank you.

Thank you for organizing this event. Any further announcements? Representative Martin.

Aloha. I'd like to invite, everyone to stop by the basement foyer, the entrance from the parking garage where you can see some beautiful art by our Keiki, about the benefits of trees to inspire all of us to support our tree legislation.

Representative Capella.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Just a quick shout out. Art at the Capitol is coming up. Please keep your offices open. Please encourage your staff to stay for Art at the Capitol.

It is on Friday, April 17. It's gonna be a really great time. We have, some fashion things, art, food. But with the Art at the Capitol, we also have the revival, our second year of the Art at the Capitol Talent Show. And I'm excited to be working with a representative from Hawaii Kai.

And like a good freshman representative, his office is taking the lead. So if you have talent and you would like to participate in the talent show, please contact his office or take a look at the email that's in your inboxes. Encourage your staff to participate, and I also believe that we are gonna be having a revival of the Le Chiclets who will be performing and potentially judging. So that's gonna be on April 14 from 05:30 to 06:30 right here at the capitol in the auditorium.

So staff, please come join us, sign up, and thank you again, speaker.

Thank you. Thank you for organizing this as well. If there are no other announcements, representative Morikawa.

Madam Speaker, I move that this house stand adjourned until 12:00 noon tomorrow. 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 twelve noon tomorrow.