The Hawaiʻi State Legislature, led by Senate President Ronald D. Kouchi
(District 8 – Kauaʻi and Niʻihau), hosted the Council of State Government’s (CSG) National Convention in Waikīkī from December 7 – 10, 2022.
The annual event attracted a record number of participants, with over 1,200 attending the four-day convention. This was the first time since 1997 that Hawaiʻi was selected as the host site for the national convention, which attracts state leaders from across the country and from all levels of government.
The convention began with opening protocols, hula, and oli conducted by the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA) and the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA).
“CSG delegates received a rare opportunity at opening day breakfast by experiencing authentic hula kahiko and chanting with powerful visuals of the Maunaloa eruption,” said John DeFries, CEO and president of the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority. “We’d like to sincerely thank Senate President Kouchi and CSG organizers for enabling us to set the tone with our opening protocol
and messages of aloha and mālama.”
Several Hawaiʻi legislators also served as panelists for the various breakout sessions that took place during the convention. These legislators include:
• State Senator Lynn DeCoite
• State Representative Greggor Ilagan
• State Representative Justin Woodson
• State Representative Linda Ichiyama
• State Representative Troy Hashimoto
In addition, State Representatives Greggor Ilagan and Troy Hashimoto received recognition for their leadership, achievements, and participation in CSG programs.
Representative Ilagan received the CSG 20 Under 40 Leadership Award. This award recognizes the outstanding work of 20 up-and-coming elected and appointed officials from across the country who exemplify strong leadership skills and have demonstrated a genuine commitment to serving the citizens of their state/territory.
Representative Troy Hashimoto was recognized as a Henry Toll Fellowship graduate. This highly selective, premier annual leadership development program for elected and appointed officials from across the country showcases the best and brightest of state government officials.
Hawaiʻi’s newly-elected Governor, Dr. Josh Green, and Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke also attended the convention and provided keynote addresses.
"The 2022 CSG National Conference in Hawaiʻi was one of the most successful events in the ninety-year history of our organization,” noted David Adkins, executive director and CEO of The Council of State Governments. “Because of its diversity and uniqueness, Hawaiʻi was the perfect place for state officials to come together to learn from each other and to leave empowered and inspired to put those lessons learned into practice in their states.”
“I am very proud of our host committee and the work we accomplished in putting our best foot forward to welcome our CSG colleagues to Hawaiʻi,” said Senate President Kouchi. “We strived to provide CSG with an authentic visitor experience rooted in language, culture, and, most importantly, aloha and mālama.”
Founded in 1933, The Council of State Governments is the nation’s largest nonpartisan organization serving all three branches of state elected and appointed officials. For more information, visit https://www.csg.org/.
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