Video & Transcript Research : 'Hawaii National Distinguished Principal'

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HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

HSH Public Hearing - Tue Feb 17, 2026 @ 9:30 AM HST

Human Services & Homelessness

Transcript Highlights:
  • Substance Abuse Coalition, Hawaii Food Bank, Hina Malca, Hawaii Appleseed, Hawaii Community Foundation
  • </c> Hawaii Food Bank, Hina Malca, Hawaii Hawaii Food Bank, Hina Malca, Hawaii Apple<00:12:02.399><c>
  • > Apple Seed, Hawaii Community Foundation, Apple Seed, Hawaii Community Foundation, Hawaii<00:12:04.000
  • </c><00:36:28.160><c> Food</c> from Hawaii Food Bank, from Hawaii Food from Hawaii Food Bank, from Hawaii
  • Hawaii continues to face the third highest rates of youth homelessness in the nation, and most readily
Summary: The committee heard testimony on several measures related to human services, homelessness, transit, and family supports. HB 2116 HD1, concerning grants from the Office of Community Services to nonprofits providing training and volunteerism opportunities, drew strong support from Catholic Charities Hawaii, Hawaii Children’s Action Network Speaks, and multiple organizations in written testimony. Supporters said the bill would help vulnerable people affected by federal program changes and cuts by connecting them to reintegration and support services. HB 1879 HD1, establishing a subsidized youth transit program coordinated with counties, received extensive testimony in support from the Department of Health, Department of Taxation, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, Aloha United Way, Hawaii Bicycling League, Hawaii Appleseed, Hawaii State Youth Commission, Hawaii Public Health Institute, Greenpeace Hawaii, Hawaii Youth Transportation Council, and others. Testifiers emphasized equity, school attendance, reduced transportation costs, climate benefits, and broader access for youth. Several witnesses urged amendments to make the program universal rather than means-tested, and committee discussion noted implementation questions for neighbor islands and rural areas. HB 2214, creating a refundable diaper tax credit for low-income families with children age four and under, was supported by the Hawaii Diaper Bank, Hawaii Children’s Action Network Speaks, and several other organizations. The Department of Taxation recommended making the credit non-refundable and clarifying definitions to aid administration, while supporters argued refundability was important for low-income families who may owe little or no income tax. HB 2310, an emergency appropriation to replenish DHS funds used to provide SNAP benefits during a federal shutdown, also drew broad support from DHS, Catholic Charities, Hawaii Public Health Institute, Hawaii Children’s Action Network Speaks, Hawaii Food Industry Association, Aloha United Way, and others; witnesses praised the state’s rapid response and said the appropriation would prepare DHS for future emergencies. The committee also heard HB 2168 HD1 and HB 2427 HD1 on education for students experiencing homelessness and unaccompanied homeless youth; the Attorney General recommended technical amendments to avoid conflicts with existing law and to clarify McKinney-Vento-related definitions, while advocates stressed the need for school access, transportation, meals, and other supports for homeless and runaway youth.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

CPC Public Hearing - Tue Feb 24, 2026 @ 2:00 PM HST

Consumer Protection & Commerce

Transcript Highlights:
  • Natural hair requirements in Hawaii.
  • Um first up is Hawaii State Okay.
  • Hawaii Oral Health Coalition.
  • </c> bill in Hawaii. Thank you. bill in Hawaii. Thank you. &gt;&gt; Thank<01:10:10.239><c> you.
  • </c> Hawaii Funeral and Cemetery Association. Hawaii Funeral and Cemetery Association.
Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 1697, which would exempt natural hair braiders from licensing requirements under certain conditions. The DCCA Board of Barbering and Cosmetology said it recognizes braiding as within the scope of cosmetology practice but warned that a broad exemption could create consumer protection gaps, especially around sanitation training, tool use, and enforcement. Supporters from the Institute for Justice and the Grassroots Institute of Hawaii argued the current licensing regime is overly burdensome and unrelated to braiding, citing the 1,250-hour training requirement, high tuition costs, barriers for low-income entrepreneurs, and the fact that many other states already exempt braiders. Committee members asked whether a standalone sanitation course or similar training could address the board’s concerns, and the board said it would bring that idea back for discussion. The committee also noted 16 written testimonies in support and 2 in opposition. The committee then took up HB 1678, relating to condominium and planned community association elections using cumulative voting. Supporters, including the Hawaii State Association of Parliamentarians, said the bill would clarify that cumulative voting applies to all candidates, including write-ins, and would help resolve confusion in association elections. One testifier urged the committee to remove proxy voting, calling it an abuse of power in some associations, while another asked whether cumulative voting and proxies could be manipulated to stack votes. In response, the parliamentarian explained that cumulative voting and proxy voting are different, that proxies simply allow someone to vote on another’s behalf, and that existing deadlines and counting procedures reduce opportunities for abuse. Testimony also emphasized that electronic or mail voting can be secure and efficient, and that the bill would make the process clearer and more democratic. Finally, the committee heard testimony on HB 1679, which would clarify an association board’s authority over electronic meetings, electronic voting, voting without a meeting, and mail voting without a meeting. Supporters said the measure would clean up statutory language, make electronic voting optional, and fix problems created by a 2024 change that made written-consent timing rules difficult to use for association actions. They also said the bill would clarify that proxies are only used at meetings, not for actions taken without a meeting. One opponent argued the bill needs further amendment because electronic voting is not well defined and could be abused, and questioned the neutrality of parliamentarians testifying on condominium bills. No votes were taken on any of the measures during the portion of the meeting provided.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

AEN-WLA, AEN Public Hearings 02-11-2026

Agriculture and Environment

Transcript Highlights:
  • U we provided Hawaii Farm Bureau.
  • :04.559><c> Hawaii</c><00:20:04.880><c> Reef</c> Climate Protectors Hawaii, Hawaii Reef Climate Protectors
  • Hawaii, Hawaii Reef Ocean<00:20:05.440><c> Coalition.
  • Hunter Helen, Hawaii Farmers Union. >> Ramoto, Hawaii Farm Bureau. >> Thank you, Chair Farming.
  • </c> unregistered in Hawaii. unregistered in Hawaii.
Summary: The committee heard several measures related to agriculture, invasive species control, trees, reef protection, and land use. SP 2489 would require Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity leases to include access, invasive-species control, and termination provisions; DAB and DLNR supported it, as did several outside groups, while the Hawaii Farm Bureau and Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council raised concerns about notice, cooperation with lessees, and placing penalties on leaseholders for preexisting infestations. The chair noted six testifiers in support, one opposed, and three with comments. SP 2310 would appropriate funds to remove overgrown vegetation from the Kohola stream. DAB supported the bill but explained that the work already completed by its contractor stopped at a DOT boundary, and that the affected parcel appears to be a DOT highway segment on ceded lands; the committee discussed whether the appropriation should instead go to DOT. SP 2372, on exceptional and significant trees, received support from DNR and Outdoor Circle, with testimony describing trees as critical infrastructure and suggesting technical amendments to committee membership and the process for recommending trees to county councils. SP 2426, which would authorize DNR to contract with private parties to maintain sunscreen dispensers at state beaches and promote mineral-based sunscreen as reef-protective, drew support from DNR and reef advocates, while another witness questioned the science behind claims about mineral versus chemical sunscreens and urged broader environmental solutions. SP 2334 would impose a land conversion fee on agricultural land converted to other uses, create a fee fund for programs including healthy soils, and require state agricultural lands to use a conservation metric. DAB offered comments, and testimony from climate and farm groups generally supported the conservation goals but questioned references to programs not yet in place and objected to language excluding solar and wind uses, with one witness urging that agri-voltaics remain allowed. SP 2925, concerning coconut trees, would recognize them as food, water, and cultural resources, require signage for landscape palms, set labeling standards, and create a tax credit for naturally managed consumable coconut trees. DAB shifted from opposition to comments, DNR supported, and testimony from cultural and subsistence advocates strongly backed the bill as a response to coconut rhinoceros beetle impacts; committee questions focused on enforcement of signage, inspection resources, and the proposed tax credit.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

CPC Public Hearing - Tue Feb 10, 2026 @ 2:00 PM HST

Consumer Protection & Commerce

Transcript Highlights:
  • Next up, we have DCCA's Hawaii<00:11:05.680><c> uh</c><00:11:05.839><c> Hawaii</c><00:11:06.240><c> Real
  • </c><00:11:06.480><c> Estate</c><00:11:06.720><c> Commission</c> Hawaii uh Hawaii Real Estate Commission
  • Hawaii uh Hawaii Real Estate Commission with<00:11:07.360><c> comments.
  • </c><00:11:28.160><c> Real</c> in for Derek Ymani with the Hawaii Real in for Derek Ymani with the Hawaii
  • </c> Pride at Work Hawaii in support. Pride at Work Hawaii in support.
Summary: The committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce met on February 10, 2026, and heard testimony on several bills. HB 1849 relating to licensing drew comments from DCCA’s Professional and Vocational Licensing Division and the Hawaii Real Estate Commission, both of which stood on written testimony. The Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights testified in strong support, emphasizing that some immigrants, including DACA recipients, are already contributing in Hawaii and that the state should help create pathways for them to remain and advance professionally. No vote or final action was taken on HB 1849 during the portion shown. The committee then heard HB 2000, the wheelchair right-to-repair bill. Encart opposed the measure, arguing that repair delays are largely driven by insurance prior authorization and that wheelchair repairs involve FDA-regulated medical devices where improper repairs could create health risks. Peter Fritz testified in support, saying the bill was modeled on similar laws in other states and that he had personal experience through his sister’s use of a wheelchair. Members questioned whether repairs done outside insurer networks might not be reimbursed, and Fritz said that was a concern but that the need for timely repair outweighed it. The committee also discussed HB 1753 on social media, where DCCA’s Office of Consumer Protection supported the bill but suggested an amendment to the definition of personal information. On HB 1511 relating to consumer protection, DCCA’s Insurance Division supported the bill, while the Alliance for Automotive Innovation and the Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association offered comments seeking to preserve legitimate manufacturer and dealer communications about vehicles, warranties, recalls, and related services. The committee also took up HB 276 HD1 and HB 1513 on condominiums. The Hawaii Real Estate Commission offered comments on HB 276 HD1. For HB 1513, the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority supported the bill, but DCCA’s Insurance Division opposed it, warning that diverting HHRF funds could weaken reinsurance arrangements and raise premiums for consumers who rely on the fund. Members questioned whether the proposed condo loan program would need HHRF money and whether the amounts in the bill were necessary, and the division said it opposed using HHRF for that purpose. The committee also heard HB 2188 on housing, where OCP supported the measure and the Hawaii Association of Realtors raised concerns about conflicts with the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the use of tenant screening reports, noting that a working group is already addressing landlord-tenant issues. Members asked OCP to research how other states handle similar laws and whether additional language is needed to avoid federal conflict. Finally, on HB 1876 relating to mental health, the Department of Health’s Adult Mental Health Division supported the bill but said it remains opposed to harmful, non-evidence-based treatment modalities; Pride at Work Hawaii also testified in strong support. No final votes or committee decisions were reported in the excerpt.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • It's just being recognized for the labor of the people of Hawaii who actually built Hawaii.
  • who actually of the people of Hawaii who actually built<00:21:12.960><c> Hawaii.
  • </c> Hawaii in support. Hawaii in support.
  • of Hawaii Professional Assembly, Hawaii Primary Care Association, and Indivisible Hawaii Healthcare
  • </c> currently have in Hawaii? currently have in Hawaii?
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

CPN-HHS Public Hearing 03-20-2026

Commerce and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c><00:04:22.040><c> Public</c> Hawaii, a program of Hawaii Public Hawaii, a program of Hawaii Public
  • COPD Hawaii Coalition, in support. Valerie Chang, Hawaii... Dr.
  • Um my spouse grew up here in Hawaii. We Um my spouse grew up here in Hawaii.
  • </c> Hawaii in support. Hawaii in support. Elizabeth<00:45:15.000><c> Dr.
  • with the Hawaii Tobacco-Free Hawaii with the Hawaii Public<00:59:55.120><c> Health</c><00:59:55.360>
Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 1573, which would create state enforcement authority over unauthorized e-cigarette products and related tobacco enforcement. Supporters including SHPDA, the Department of Health, the Attorney General’s office, Hawaii Public Health Institute, and others said the bill would help protect youth from unauthorized vaping products, give the state tools to enforce an FDA-authorized product list, and add penalties and inspection authority. A committee member asked whether enforcement staff were available and what penalties would apply; the response was that existing tobacco investigators would take on the work, and the bill includes civil penalties, seizure authority, and possible license revocation referrals. The measure drew both support and opposition testimony, but no vote was taken in the portion provided. The committee then took up HB 1645, relating to liability for child welfare service providers. The Insurance Division said it was aware of the insurance-cost problem, had raised the issue with the NAIC, and was exploring a captive insurance option, while suggesting the legislature consider additional appropriations to DHS to cover higher contract costs. Supporters, including Parents and Children Together and Hawaii Insurance Council, argued the bill would help child welfare providers obtain insurance and continue critical services. Opponents, including the Hawaii Association for Justice, warned that removing joint and several liability could leave victims undercompensated and might not actually lower premiums. The insurance commissioner said other states have done tort reform in this area, but the committee was told it is not clear the bill would reduce insurance costs. Finally, the committee heard extensive testimony on HB 1875, which would protect access to gender-affirming care in Hawaii and shield patients and providers from out-of-state legal actions. Support came from the Hawaii State Youth Commission, LGBTQ+ and public health groups, medical professionals, ACLU Hawaii, Planned Parenthood, and others, who said gender-affirming care is evidence-based, medically necessary, and important for patient privacy, provider stability, and continuity of care. Several witnesses asked for amendments to the bill’s definition language. Opposition testimony came from individuals and groups including Hawaii Christian Coalition, Leeward Republican Women’s Club, and others, who argued the bill could expose children to irreversible decisions and that more research is needed. The chair noted roughly 176 supporters and about 40 opponents testified. No final action or vote was reported in the excerpt.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

RM 411 Conference PM - Fri May 1, 2026

Hawaii House Floor Meeting

HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

House Chamber - Fri May 1, 2026, 6:30PM HST - Day 56

Hawaii House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • So, in the gallery, we also have Chris Caufield from the Hawaii Public Health Institute.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

RM 325 Conference PM - Fri May 1, 2026

Hawaii House Floor Meeting

HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

RM 329 Conference AM - Fri May 1, 2026

Hawaii House Floor Meeting

HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

RM 325 Conference AM - Fri May 1, 2026

Hawaii House Floor Meeting

HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

RM 329 Conference PM - Fri May 1, 2026

Hawaii House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • This is the Hawaii Farm to Families program.
  • It requires health insurers and other health maintenance organizations in Hawaii to cover the cost of
  • This is the Hawaii version of Laie, which we're hoping to at least revive on the Senate side for the
  • state of Hawaii because it died in the federal.
  • </c> force within the University of Hawaii force within the University of Hawaii Manoa<04:10:25.280><
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

RM 309 Conference AM/PM - Fri May 1, 2026

Hawaii House Floor Meeting

HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

RM 309 Conference PM - Thu Apr 30, 2026

Hawaii House Floor Meeting

HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

RM 309 Conference AM - Thu Apr 30, 2026

Hawaii House Floor Meeting

HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

RM 329 Conference PM - Thu Apr 30, 2026

Hawaii House Floor Meeting

HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

House Chamber - Thu Apr 30, 2026, 12:00PM HST - Day 55

Hawaii House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Madam Speaker, a measure like this allows our working families here in Hawaii to be told that they don't
  • our potential school bus drivers, and anyone who can get a CDL safely and legally in the state of Hawaii
  • It gives young people in Hawaii a chance to enter the workforce sooner, to earn a livable wage, and to
  • </c> talent, we strengthen Hawaii as a whole. talent, we strengthen Hawaii as a whole.
  • </c> state of Hawaii. state of Hawaii.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

RM 411 Conference AM - Thu Apr 30, 2026

Hawaii House Floor Meeting

HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

RM 411 Conference AM - Fri May 1, 2026

Hawaii House Floor Meeting

HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

RM 325 Conference AM - Thu Apr 30, 2026

Hawaii House Floor Meeting