The Hawai‘i State Senate honored five Hawaiian language kumu for their leadership in reviving and teaching ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i in our schools statewide. These ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i kumu are Dr. Larry Lindsey Kimura, Dr. Ku‘uipolani “Ipo” Kanahele Wong, Dr. Papaikanī‘au Kai‘anui, Kananinohea Kawai‘ae‘a Māka‘imoku, and Lolena Nicholas. Dr. Larry Lindsey Kimura is a pioneer of the ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i movement and he has worked tirelessly for its revitalization for almost 50 years. Dr. Kimura is an Associate Professor of Hawaiian language and Hawaiian Studies at Ka Haka ‘Ula O Ke‘elikōlani College at UH Hilo. He founded the Ka Leo Hawai‘i Hawaiian language radio talk show in the 1970s and 80s, during which time he also co-founded ‘Aha Pūnana Leo and wrote curriculum for Papahana Kaiapuni Hawai‘i (the Hawaiian Immersion Program) in the public schools. Here he developed the course material and trained teachers to teach their subjects in Hawaiian language statewide. Dr. Kimura is also a well-known songwriter and ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i activist. Dr. Ku‘uipolani “Ipo” Kanahele Wong is born and raised on Ni‘ihau and she was the mānaleo (native Hawaiian language speaker) resource kumu at the Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language at UH Mānoa. She is the first person from Ni‘ihau to receive her doctorate degree in education and she currently serves as an Associate Professor at UH Mānoa and as the Director of Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language. Lolena Nicholas is also a native speaker from Ni‘ihau. She was a co-host for the radio talk show Ka Leo Hawai‘i, and she has also served as the mānaleo at Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language. Known fondly as “Auty Lolena” to thousands of ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i students statewide, Kumu Nicholas is an icon in the Hawaiian language revitalization movement. A film was produced in 2014 about her life’s work. Dr. Papaikanī‘au Kai‘anui graduated with the first Hawaiian immersion class on Maui in 2001, and she is the first immersion student to complete a doctoral degree. Today she is an instructor of Hawaiian at Maui College. Kananinohea Kawai‘ae‘a Māka‘imoku is the first immersion graduate to return as a Hawaiian immersion teacher and she is now helping to prepare new immersion teachers across the state. She also sits on the faculty of Ka Haka ‘Ula O Ke‘elikōlani College of Hawaiian Language. #yearofthehawaiian #hawaiisenate #PapaikanīauKaianui #KananinoheaKawaiaeaMākaimoku #KaHakaUlaOKeelikōlaniCollegeofHawaiianLa #LolenaNicholas #AutyLolena #DrKuuipolaniIpoKanaheleWong #DrLarryLindseyKimura

HONOLULU – Gov. David Ige today proclaimed 2018 as the Year of the Hawaiian with a proclamation signing ceremony at Washington Place. The Hawai‘i State Senate passed Resolution 74 during the 2017 legislative session, requesting that 2018 be designated as the “Year of the Hawaiian.” The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has agreed to assist in bringing the Hawaiian community together this year, for various cultural and educational events. There is much to celebrate in. 2018, starting with the 40th anniversary of the creation of the Hawaiian Language immersion programs that have brought the Hawaiian language back from the brink of extinction. Hawaiian language is now thriving, spoken by more than 20,000 people,” said Gov. David Ige. This year also marks the 25th anniversary of the formal apology from Congress and the President of the United States to the Hawaiian people, for America’s role in the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom on January 17, 1893. It is also the 40th anniversary of the creation of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs by the 1978 Constitutional Convention, and the 100th anniversary of the first Hawaiian Civic Club by Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana‘ole – an association and movement which continues to this day. “It is important to me to continue to remind Hawai‘i and kānaka of our collective movements, successes and goals we have yet to achieve. Our stories may have impacts across the globe, but holds the most meaning nowhere else in the world but here in Hawai‘i,” said Sen. Brickwood Galuteria. “The ingenuity, knowhow and brilliance of the Kānaka Hawai‘i has a legacy of creating great change, not just in Hawai‘i, but around the world. Designating 2018 as the Year of the Hawaiian is a good opportunity for the state to continue to recognize this and remind ourselves of our commitments to the Hawaiian community,” said Sen. Kaiali‘i Kahele. Former Gov. John Waihee, First Lady Dawn Amano-Ige, OHA Chair Colette Machado and Hawaiian language students also took part in the signing ceremony and festivities. ###

Mililani Senators Schedule Town Hall Forum Emergency Preparedness – Are You Ready? WHO: Sen. Michelle Kidani, Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz WHAT: Town Hall Forum WHERE: Mililani Middle School cafeteria 95-1140 Lehiwa Drive WHEN: Tuesday, February 27, 2018 7:00 p.m. Central Oahu residents are invited to a town hall forum to hear from leaders of the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) and the Hawai‘i Department of Education (DOE) as a follow-up to the missile alert transmitted in error to nearly everyone in Hawai‘i on January 13. The meeting is being sponsored by Mililani Senators Michelle Kidani and Donovan M. Dela Cruz. It is scheduled for Tuesday, February 27, at the Mililani Middle School cafeteriabeginning at 7:00 p.m. Hawai‘i residents and visitors were subjected to more than a half-hour of totally unnecessary terror and unspeakable anxiety through a series of avoidable errors using our alert system,” said Senator Kidani. “While it is hard to admit that anything good came out of the false alarm, the incident brought home most vividly that there are things we can do to prepare for these kinds of events. Now that alert system deficiencies have been identified and are being remedied, our forum this month will be an opportunity for residents to focus on emergency preparedness.” The forum will include presentations from HI-EMA and the DOE. Both agencies will be available to answer any questions. “The false alarm really amplified how unprepared we were as a State,” said Senator Donovan M. Dela Cruz. “I want to ensure that the community has adequate information so they are prepared and safe in the event of a real missile alert.” Senators Kidani and Dela Cruz will also discuss their proposed legislative remedies to improve the warning system, including specific proposals to mandate that alerts for incidents such as missile attacks should be the responsibility of the U.S. Departments of Defense and Homeland Security rather than a State of Hawai‘i agency. # # # #michellekidani #donovandelacruz #emergencypreparedness #HIEMA #hawaiisenate #MissileAlert

In an effort to protect abused children, Senator Kaiali‘i Kahele (Dist. 1- Hilo) had worked with the Hawai‘i County Prosecutors office to introduce Senate Bill 2323 that would have established procedures for a parent or legal guardian to obtain authorization to home school a child. However, understanding the strong concerns about the measure, Sen. Kahele requested the bill be withdrawn during the joint hearing of the Senate Committees on Education and Human Services. In his request, he offered this explanation: “Senate Bill 2323 was never meant to not allow loving, caring, families from homeschooling your child and from infringing on your constitutionally protected rights. It was meant to protect children that live unimaginable lives, and are abused, neglected at the hands of the very parents and guardians that should be nurturing them and forgotten by a system that should be protecting them. Today is Valentine’s Day and many of us will get to share this special day with our loved ones. But that is not the case for Peter Boy Kema, Shaelyn Lehano Stone and many other children across Hawai‘i and America, who do not have a voice and live their lives in fear. This is a conversation we need to have. It is a conversation we need to have in other States throughout our country and it is a conversation we need to have here in Hawai‘i. Due to the overwhelming testimony in opposition and the overwhelming turnout today at the Capitol, as the introducer of the bill, your voices have been heard by me and my colleagues and I would like to request that this bill be withdrawn and deferred. In the interim, I am committed to work in collaboration with stakeholders, the Home School Network, Department of Education and other agencies to address this issue and return next Session with a bill that protects all keiki of Hawai‘i.” The Senate Committees on Education and Human Services deferred action on SB2323. #KAIKAHELE #hawaiisenate #valentinesday #peterboykema #shaelynlehanostone #homeschoolnetwork #sb2323 #kaialiikahele

Local companies creating cutting-edge science and technology-based products were on display at the State Capitol as part of The Hawai‘i Innovation Products Exhibition, sponsored by the Hawai‘i Technology Development Corporation (HTDC). Many of these companies have benefited from the Hawai‘i Small Business Innovation Research (HSBIR) program that provides matching grants to enable companies further the development of new products to meet a range of needs in the state, from healthcare solutions to agriculture. Among the companies that have benefited from the HSBIR program include Hawai‘i Biotech, Inc., which used genetically engineered virus proteins to induce immunity to the West Nile Virus and Dengue virus in clinical trials and has produced vaccines for each virus, which are now on the market. The exhibit also included innovative local companies like 3D Innovations, 3SRM, Akabotics, Algorithm Hub, Cardax, Inc., Diagenetix, Experiad, Forever Oceans, HNU Photonics, IBIS, Jun Innovations, Kampachi Farms,LLC, Kinection, Kuehnle, Makai Ocean Engineering, Nalu Scientific, Navatek, Oceanit, Pacific Biodiesel, Premier Solutions, Small Kine Farms, Tea Hawaii, Tissue Genesis, and Terasys Technologies. Since 1988, the Hawai‘i Technology Development Corporation has been providing matching grant funds to Hawaii companies who received Federal Small Business Innovation Research Grants. These companies are recognized for advancing technology to solve critical challenges for the nation. The Hawai‘i SBIR matching grant program is the longest state funding SBIR matching program in the U.S. The HTDC is a state agency, attached to the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT). HTDC’s mission is to facilitate the development and growth of Hawai‘i’s high technology industry.

The Senate Committee on Labor today voted to advise and consent on gubernatorial nominee, Leonard Hoshijo, as the Director of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR). Hoshijo has served as DLIR’s deputy director since 2015 and became acting director in December 2017, when former DLIR Director Linda Chu Takayama was appointed by Governor Ige to head the Department of Taxation. Hoshijo’s appointment now goes before the full Senate for confirmation.

Kalani Vierra and Krystl Apeles were honored today on the Senate floor for winning the 2017 International Tandem Surfing Association (ISTA) championship at Kuhio Beach, Waikiki on August 24-25, 2017. This tandem duo won the World Tandem Surfing Championships award in 2015 and they have a long history of successfully competing in the sport together. A documentary is currently being completed about their tandem surfing journey. Besides tandem surfing, both surfers are highly regarded in their communities. Kalani Vierra is a champion surfer and paddler, the Operation Chief of the Kauai Fire Department Ocean Safety Bureau, and the recipient of the Quiksilver Waterman of the Year Award in 2004. Krystl Apeles is the owner of Puka Surf Company and the Manager/Brand Developer of Executive True Blue, Inc. Besides surfing, Krystl is an accomplished free diver, spear fisher, and hula dancer.

The Senate Committee on Transportation and Energy today voted to advise and consent on the nomination of Jade Butay as the Director of the state Department of Transportation (DOT). The Committee also voted to advise and consent on Roy Catalani as the Deputy Director of the DOT. Butay has served as the Deputy Director for DOT from January 2015 until he was appointed as Director in November 2017 when Ford Fuchigami was selected as the administrative director for Governor David Ige. Roy Catalani was appointed to serve as Deputy Director for the DOT in January 2018. Catalani fills the role previously held by Butay. The appointments of Butay and Catalani now go before the full Senate for confirmation. ### #hawaiiisenate #roycatalini #DeputydirectorDOT

The State Senate today honored members of the Hawai‘i Adaptive Surf Team (HAST) who represented the 50th state at the International Surfing Association Adaptive World Surfing Championships held in La Jolla, California during November 29 through December 3 of last year. The HAST competitors honored on the floor placed fifth in the world out of 26 countries and proudly brought home six medals in their individual divisions. The goal of HAST is to guide and mentor adaptive surfers towards their highest possible potential. HAST also supports and sponsors participation in surfing championships including the local Hawai‘i Surfing Association competitions and world competitions. HAST is one of the programs of AccesSurf which is a local nonprofit organization founded in 2006 to assist individuals with disabilities enjoy the ocean with free beach and ocean access programs. The six water men and women recognized today were Ann Yoshida, Ava Heller, Meira Durate, Darian Haynes, Rich Julian, and Buster Kawasaki. # # # #accessurf #hawaiisenate #HAST #Hawaiisurfingassociation #InternationalSurfingAssociationAdaptiveWorld

Democracy Reform Task Force to Advance Legislation on Redistricting, Government Accountability and Voting Access. Senator Stanley Chang is among twelve young state legislators from across the country who have launched the Democracy Reform Task Force to advance legislation on redistricting, government accountability, and access to voting. The lawmakers are reaching across state and party lines with the goal of finding innovative solutions to government reform and sharing their findings with lawmakers across the nation. The legislators have joined Millennial Action Project’s (MAP) national effort to support young elected officials as they work to break through partisan gridlock and reestablish political cooperation on issues that millennials care about. “Partisan gridlock has caused millennials to lose trust in our government and civic institutions, and has caused them to check out of the political process,” said Steven Olikara, Founder and President of Millennial Action Project. “The Democracy Reform Task Force is made up of trailblazers who have shown they will prioritize progress over party. Working together, these young lawmakers will lead the nation in finding innovative, legislative solutions to make our government more accountable, transparent, and functional. The Democracy Reform Task Force was born from MAP’s initiative to rebuild trust in our government in order to encourage civic engagement, particularly amongst younger generations. According to Harvard IOP's 2017 survey, 67 percent of Millennials are fearful of America's future, and just 14 percent believe our nation is headed in the right direction. However, a counter-movement is emerging – led by Millennials – that seeks to disrupt the status quo in government. “Access to government, accountability of elected officials, and increasing the ability of eligible voters to exercise that right shouldn’t be a partisan issue,” said Sen. Chang (Dist. 9 - Hawai‘i Kai, Kuli‘ou‘ou, Niu, ‘Aina Haina, Wai‘alae-Kahala, Diamond Head). “I look forward to being a part of the Democracy Reform Task Force and help increase the number of young voters in Hawai‘i and boost our generation’s trust in government and our democracy.” A complete list of Democracy Reform Task Force members is below: Rep. Shevrin Jones (D-FL) Rep. Warwick Sabin (D-AR) Rep. Stephanie Clayton (R-KS) Senator Frank LaRose (R-OH) Rep. Amanda Stuck (D-WI) Senator Art Linares (R-CT) Rep. Caroline Simmons (D-CT) Senator Stanley Chang (D-HI) Rep. Chaz Beasley (D-NC) Rep. Jonathan Brostoff (D-WI) Rep. Michael Caldwell (R-GA) Rep. David Olsen (R-IL) The Millennial Action Project (MAP) is a national, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to activating young policymakers to bridge the partisan divide and lead a new era of collaborative governance. In 2013, MAP organized America’s first-ever bipartisan caucus for young members of Congress, the Congressional Future Caucus. Shaping the next generation of leadership, MAP's Future Caucus Network has expanded into fifteen state legislatures and grown into the largest nonpartisan organization of millennial elected officials in the U.S. More info available at: www.millennialaction.org. # # # #stanleychang #shevrinjones #warwicksabin #millennials #MAP #MillennialActionPlan #DemocracyReformTaskForce #StevenOlikara

Those addicted to drugs would get a boost in their fight to combat their illness under Senate Bill 2010, which was advanced by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health (CPH) on February 1. SB2010 would appropriate $1 million to healthcare providers, vendors and contractors to treat dependents of prescription drugs, opioids, methamphetamine, heroin, and other habit-forming substances. SB2010 contends that drug treatment is a cost-effective way to reduce drug abuse when compared to the costs of law enforcement, interdiction, and source control, due to lower costs per offender and lower recidivism rates. "It complements everything that we're doing now to give addicts another chance at life," said SenatorWill Espero (Dist. 19 – Ewa Beach, Ocean Pointe, Ewa by Gentry, Iroquois Point, portion of Ewa Villages), who introduced the bill and is a member of CPH. The majority of the testimony was in support of SB2010. "Drug abuse is not a criminal issue, but rather a disease of the mind," according to testimony submitted by Muhammad Talha Quadri, a University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa student studying social work. "I believe this bill is a step in the right direction, because it focuses on treating the problem rather than trying to prevent it through strict punishments. The evidence is all around us: prevention through scare tactics does not work, but treatment does." According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drug overdose deaths in Hawai‘i have increased by 83 percent from 2006 to 2014, a growth rate more than double the national average, and a majority of those deaths are a result of prescription opioids and heroin. SB2010 now goes before the Senate Committee on Ways and Means for consideration. # # # #willespero #hawaiisenate #opiod #healthcare #sb2010muhammadtalhaquadri #CDC #CenterforDiseaseControlandPrevention

HAWAI‘I WOMEN’S LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS STATEMENT ON SEXUAL HARASSMENT We do not condone any form of sexual harassment. We cannot comment on the current situation but this highlights the fact that there may not have been safeguards in place to assure that women are able to report their complaints without the fear of retaliation. This is an opportunity for us to review our procedures to ensure that any person who has a complaint can report such claim with confidentiality. We request that the administration do the same. # # # The Hawai‘i Women’s Legislative Caucus is a bi-partisan organization comprised of women legislators in the House and Senate, as well as the County level, who support an agenda designed to improve the lives of women, children, and families in Hawai‘i. #SexualHarassment #Hawaiiwomenslegislativecaucus