Transcript Highlights:

• &gt;&gt; Aloha.<02:02:23.280><c> My</c><02:02:23.520><c> name</c><02:02:23.599><c> is</c><02:02:23.760
• </c><02:02:27.199><c> Council</c><02:02:27.599><c> or</c><02:02:27.840><c> PAC.
• In the face<02:02:29.119><c> of</c><02:02:29.280><c> cuts</c><02:02:29.599><c> to</c><02:02:29.840><c
• Now more<02:02:51.840><c> than</c><02:02:52.080><c> ever,</c><02:02:52.639><c> it's</c><02:02:52.960>
• programs not only<02:02:55.679><c> endure</c><02:02:56.320><c> but</c><02:02:56.719><c> expand</c><02

Summary: This joint informational briefing on Act 310 grants and aid focused on organizations describing how federal funding cuts, Medicaid/SNAP changes, and related policy shifts are affecting their services and budgets. Committee members explained there would be no Q&A, testimony would be limited to one minute, and in-person participants would be heard before Zoom callers. Members repeatedly asked testifiers to identify the amount of federal funding lost or at risk. Testimony came from a wide range of nonprofits and community providers, including Aloha Care, Hawaii Bicycling League, Hawaii Literacy, Hawaii Youth Symphony, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii, the Tsunami Museum, The Kohala Center, West Hawaii Community Health Center, West Hawaii Region Hospital Foundation, Sounding Joy Music Therapy, Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii, Dynamic Community Solutions, Feeding Hawaii Together, Girl Scouts of Hawaii, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Hawaiian Lending and Investments, Homana, Honolulu Theatre for the Youth, Kids Hurt Too Hawaii, and Kokua Kalihi Valley. Most described reduced or threatened federal support and requested state funding to maintain services such as health care access, food security, disaster preparedness, literacy and digital inclusion, youth mentoring, arts education, housing, and climate or agricultural resilience. Several speakers emphasized direct impacts on vulnerable populations, including kūpuna, low-income families, immigrants, homeless youth, and people with disabilities. Requests ranged from relatively small planning or program grants to multi-million-dollar stabilization asks, with some organizations citing specific losses such as reduced Medicaid or USDA funding, canceled EPA or FEMA support, or expiring federal grants. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• And<02:02:00.480><c> I</c><02:02:00.639><c> know</c><02:02:00.800><c> that</c><02:02:00.960><c> you've
• :02:04.239><c> million</c><02:02:05.119><c> um</c><02:02:05.280><c> for</c><02:02:05.520><c> the</c><
• :02:48.639><c> Uh</c><02:02:48.960><c> I</c><02:02:49.280><c> remember</c><02:02:49.599><c> being</c>
• <02:02:49.920><c> on</c><02:02:50.159><c> a</c><02:02:50.320><c> small</c> mixtures.
• :02:57.040><c> a</c><02:02:57.280><c> gentleman</c><02:02:57.679><c> from</c><02:02:58.080><c> Jefferson

Summary: The meeting opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then moved into committee and floor reports. Several measures received favorable committee reports and were ordered to first reading and placed on the calendar, including Current Resolution 9, Senate Joint Resolution 23, House Bill 145, House Bill 567, and House Bill 506 with House Committee Substitute 1. The chamber also noted that House Bills 500 and 504 had already received two readings and were sent to the Rules Committee before House Bill 500 was brought up for final consideration. Most of the discussion focused on House Bill 500, the executive branch budget bill. Members described it as a “good first draft” and emphasized a budget process they said was more transparent than in prior years. The bill was presented as a restrained two-year operating budget with spending growth kept at a little under 2% annually, while setting aside about 2% of projected revenues, or roughly $614 million, in the Budget Reserve Trust Fund for future needs. The budget also used base reductions in some areas while exempting others such as Medicaid benefits, SEEK, corrections, behavioral health, and veterans programs. Subcommittee chairs then outlined major spending areas. Education provisions included a 2% annual increase in base SEEK funding, transportation funding held flat, equalization for recallable nickel funding, continued retirement contributions, and major support for postsecondary access, dual credit, asset preservation, and workforce training. Health and family services provisions held Medicaid steady while adding waiver slots, behavioral health and substance use support, public health investments, and funding for rural health and laboratory capacity. Other sections covered personnel and pensions, veterans services, infrastructure, public safety, economic development, tourism, and environmental projects. The only recorded action on the floor was adoption of House Committee Substitute 1 to House Bill 500, followed by a motion for final passage of the bill as amended. The transcript ends as discussion on final passage begins, before any final vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• we should<02:02:08.080><c> be</c><02:02:08.240><c> wise</c><02:02:08.600><c> to</c><02:02:08.720><c>
• Please<02:02:29.640><c> vote</c><02:02:29.880><c> in</c><02:02:30.040><c> favor</c><02:02:30.520><c>
• Any<02:02:35.840><c> questions</c><02:02:36.440><c> for</c><02:02:36.600><c> the</c><02:02:36.800><c>
• </c><02:02:39.600><c> Um</c><02:02:39.960><c> and</c><02:02:40.040><c> there</c><02:02:40.120><c> was
• <02:02:41.320><c> do</c><02:02:41.520><c> members</c><02:02:41.880><c> of</c><02:02:41.960><c> the</c

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• 02:09:26.239><c> funeral</c><02:09:26.639><c> mass</c><02:09:26.880><c> at</c><02:09:27.040><c> St.
• 02:20:00.479><c> had</c><02:20:00.720><c> a</c><02:20:00.880><c> cup</c><02:20:01.040><c> of</c><02:20
• </c><02:38:38.240><c> It</c><02:38:38.479><c> is</c><02:38:38.640><c> a</c><02:38:38.880><c> lot.
• <02:39:25.280><c> vote</c><02:39:25.439><c> for</c><02:39:25.520><c> it</c><02:39:25.760><c> as</c><02
• 02:52:48.960><c> but</c><02:52:49.920><c> you</c><02:52:50.080><c> know</c><02:52:50.319><c> it</c><02

Transcript Highlights:

• Recognizing<00:02:13.520><c> the</c><00:02:13.680><c> Deputy</c><00:02:14.120><c> Majority</c><00:02:
• So,<00:02:52.440><c> it's</c><00:02:52.560><c> going</c><00:02:52.720><c> to</c><00:02:52.800><c> be<
• Just<00:02:55.800><c> wanted</c><00:02:56.080><c> to</c><00:02:56.200><c> let</c><00:02:56.400><c> you
• </c><00:02:56.520><c> know</c><00:02:56.760><c> so</c><00:02:56.960><c> that</c><00:02:57.200><c> you
• ><c> plan</c><00:02:58.000><c> ahead</c><00:02:58.360><c> with</c><00:02:58.520><c> your</c><00:02:58.640

Transcript Highlights:

• taken.<02:02:00.320><c> His</c><02:02:00.719><c> story</c><02:02:01.040><c> is</c><02:02:01.199><c>
• 02:35.440><c> do</c><02:02:36.040><c> so</c><02:02:37.040><c> who</c><02:02:37.280><c> threaten</c><02
• doing<02:02:38.800><c> so</c><02:02:39.760><c> knowing</c><02:02:40.159><c> that</c><02:02:40.560><c
• </c><02:02:52.159><c> Duke</c><02:02:52.560><c> was</c><02:02:52.719><c> more</c><02:02:52.960><c> than
• a</c><02:02:54.400><c> pillar</c><02:02:54.719><c> of</c><02:02:54.960><c> the</c><02:02:55.119><c> wii

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><02:02:01.599><c> That</c><02:02:01.920><c> is</c><02:02:02.080><c> where</c><02:02:02.320><c> the
• know,</c><02:02:11.119><c> they</c><02:02:11.280><c> think</c><02:02:11.440><c> a</c><02:02:11.679><c
• ><c> gosh,</c><02:02:12.560><c> it</c><02:02:12.800><c> was</c><02:02:13.280><c> just</c><02:02:13.599
• </c><02:02:16.320><c> It</c><02:02:16.560><c> was</c><02:02:16.880><c> five</c><02:02:17.440><c> miles
• And,<02:02:20.960><c> um,</c><02:02:21.520><c> the</c><02:02:21.840><c> Germans</c><02:02:22.239><c>

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><02:02:17.280><c> And</c><02:02:17.480><c> so,</c><02:02:18.320><c> like</c><02:02:18.440><c> I</
• information on it.<02:02:20.640><c> I</c><02:02:20.720><c> would</c><02:02:20.880><c> hate</c><02:02
• ><c> add</c><02:02:23.560><c> an</c><02:02:23.800><c> additional</c><02:02:24.480><c> fee</c><02:02:25.160
• The<02:02:32.760><c> clerk</c><02:02:33.160><c> will</c><02:02:33.320><c> take</c><02:02:34.240><c> the
• clerk</c><02:02:54.200><c> will</c><02:02:54.320><c> read</c><02:02:54.440><c> the</c><02:02:54.520><

Transcript Highlights:

• all funds spent<02:02:01.560><c> I</c><02:02:01.719><c> answer</c><02:02:02.159><c> all</c><02:02:02.520
• </c><02:02:08.880><c> of</c><02:02:09.000><c> the</c><02:02:09.119><c> use</c><02:02:09.280><c> of</c
• 02:02:24.400><c> at</c><02:02:24.639><c> risk</c><02:02:24.880><c> for</c><02:02:25.119><c> fraud</c>
• ><c> most</c><02:02:30.840><c> importantly</c><02:02:31.800><c> at</c><02:02:31.920><c> the</c><02:02
• </c><02:02:41.000><c> right</c><02:02:41.159><c> to</c><02:02:41.320><c> know</c><02:02:41.760><c> what

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• &gt;&gt; Oh,<02:02:00.080><c> where</c><02:02:00.239><c> is</c><02:02:00.400><c> the</c><02:02:00.719
• <02:02:02.480><c> They've</c><02:02:03.040><c> um</c><02:02:03.199><c> I</c><02:02:03.520><c> believe
• They just<02:02:12.400><c> give</c><02:02:12.560><c> you</c><02:02:12.880><c> what</c><02:02:13.040><
• I'd have<02:02:16.639><c> to</c><02:02:16.719><c> check</c><02:02:16.880><c> with</c><02:02:17.040><c
• &gt;&gt; So,<02:02:17.920><c> how</c><02:02:18.320><c> you</c><02:02:18.480><c> guys</c><02:02:18.639

Bills: SB1 , SB4 , SB6 , SB9 , SB16 , SB17 , SB20 , SB22 , SB28 , SB29 , SB36 , SB41 , SB45 , SB77 , SB85 , SB87 , SB96 , SB98 , SB110 , SB126 , SB139 , SB143 , SB164 , SB167 , SB171 , SB186 , SB188 , SB195 , SB197 , SB198 , SB204 , SB205 , SB206 , SB207 , SB209 , SB210 , SB211 , SB217 , SB219 , SB220 , SB225 , SB231 , SB237 , SB238 , SB241 , SB244 , SB246 , SB247 , SB272 , SB294 , SB315 , SB346 , SB364 , SB366 , SB367 , SB386 , SB392 , SB403 , SB415 , SB427 , SB431 , SB437 , SB457 , SB459 , SB469 , SB471 , SB478 , SB484 , SB489 , SB502 , SB503 , SB507 , SB508 , SB510 , SB516 , SB517 , SB518 , SB519 , SB521 , SB535 , SB543 , SB550 , SB564 , SB568 , SB570 , SB575 , SB577 , SB578 , SB590 , SB607 , SB616 , SB621 , SB634 , SB644 , SB647 , SB649 , SB652 , SB655 , SB656 , SB663

Transcript Highlights:

• And<01:02:05.119><c> when</c><01:02:05.280><c> you</c><01:02:05.440><c> look</c><01:02:05.520><c> at<
• .<01:02:10.240><c> However,</c><01:02:10.799><c> what</c><01:02:10.960><c> about</c><01:02:11.200><c>
• And<02:08:26.960><c> I</c><02:08:27.119><c> I</c><02:08:27.280><c> do</c><02:08:27.440><c> just</c><02
• <02:43:55.120><c> to</c><02:43:55.439><c> me</c><02:43:55.920><c> as</c><02:43:56.240><c> a</c><02:43
• </c><02:46:04.800><c> I</c><02:46:04.960><c> I</c><02:46:05.279><c> see</c><02:46:05.680><c> I</c><02

Committee: Joint Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration

Transcript Highlights:

• I<02:14:03.440><c> recognize</c><02:14:03.760><c> gentleman</c><02:14:04.159><c> for</c><02:14:04.320
• &gt;&gt; House<02:14:07.840><c> resolution</c><02:14:08.320><c> number</c><02:14:08.639><c> 75</c><02
• <02:28:43.280><c> on</c><02:28:43.680><c> on</c><02:28:44.319><c> um</c><02:28:44.640><c> what</c><02
• 02:39:36.479><c> we</c><02:39:36.640><c> need</c><02:39:36.800><c> to</c><02:39:37.040><c> be</c><02:
• I<02:58:13.520><c> I</c><02:58:13.920><c> pay</c><02:58:14.160><c> my</c><02:58:14.399><c> fee</c><02

Transcript Highlights:

• :02:03.000><c> yeah</c><02:02:03.159><c> so</c><02:02:03.400><c> our</c><02:02:03.760><c> our</c><02:
• </c><02:02:05.199><c> own</c><02:02:05.440><c> land</c><02:02:05.920><c> and</c><02:02:06.079><c> not
• you<02:02:10.079><c> know</c><02:02:10.599><c> we</c><02:02:10.760><c> only</c><02:02:11.119><c> we</
• ><c> land</c><02:02:13.040><c> in</c><02:02:13.199><c> h</c><02:02:13.560><c> and</c><02:02:13.679><c
• ><c> to</c><02:02:27.960><c> invest</c><02:02:28.440><c> in</c><02:02:28.639><c> the</c><02:02:28.960

Transcript Highlights:

• :02:43.360><c> I'm</c><02:02:43.679><c> understanding</c><02:02:44.639><c> I</c><02:02:44.880><c> want
• </c><02:02:48.560><c> So</c><02:02:48.800><c> if</c><02:02:49.040><c> at</c><02:02:49.199><c> the</c>
• So if at the point<02:02:49.520><c> of</c><02:02:49.760><c> application</c><02:02:50.239><c> there</c
• </c><02:02:54.159><c> that</c><02:02:54.880><c> hey</c><02:02:55.199><c> I</c><02:02:55.440><c> have<
• a job<02:02:55.920><c> or</c><02:02:56.159><c> I</c><02:02:56.480><c> have</c><02:02:56.560><c> these

Summary: The House Committee on Human Services held an informational briefing on the impacts of federal funding cuts, inflation, labor shortages, and chronic underfunding on Hawaii’s nonprofit social safety net. Hawaii Community Foundation opened with a story about a federal worker family relying on food pantry support, then described a “perfect storm” facing human services nonprofits: historically high demand, rising costs, staffing challenges, federal cuts, and state and county contracts that do not cover true service costs. The foundation said it has reactivated its Hawaii Resilience Fund, launched strengthened service grants, and is tracking policy changes and data to help nonprofits respond. Trey Gordner of UHERO presented research on the vulnerability of Hawaii’s nonprofit sector, explaining a framework that assessed political, financial, and structural risk. He said about 8,200 501(c)(3) nonprofits are active in Hawaii, but only about 200 receive direct federal funds; 74 grants to 59 organizations were flagged as politically at risk, totaling about $126 million in unpaid obligations. He said about 68 of the direct-funding recipients rely on federal funds for more than 20% of annual revenue, and that human services nonprofits are among the most exposed subsectors because they serve vulnerable populations and depend heavily on federal support. Catholic Charities Hawaii and the Hawaii True Cost Coalition said community-based organizations were already under strain before the current crisis, with most contracts not covering full costs and many groups depending on private philanthropy to fill gaps. They reported that half of surveyed organizations expect to reduce programs, more than a third may decline future contracts, and some are waiting months for reimbursements. Examples included reduced shelter admissions, fewer case management hours, and cutbacks in kūpuna services. The coalition urged higher contract rates, regular inflation and cost-of-living reviews, and timely reimbursement; no votes or formal actions were taken. Partners in Development Foundation described the loss of Native Hawaiian education funding as especially damaging, saying the federal Department of Education has zeroed out support that creates a roughly $46 million gap, including about $20 million for early childhood programs. The speaker shared a family story from the Nā Pono program to illustrate how early learning services support both children and parents, and warned that the organization’s federal funds make up 72% of its budget. The briefing ended with a call for continued emergency funding and longer-term structural changes to sustain nonprofits statewide.

Transcript Highlights:

• c> it</c><02:02:00.480><c> up</c><02:02:00.639><c> so</c><02:02:00.800><c> it</c><02:02:01.040><c> is
• "<02:02:04.800><c> So,</c><02:02:05.119><c> it</c><02:02:05.280><c> is</c><02:02:05.440><c> an</c><02
• Its time<02:02:07.199><c> has</c><02:02:07.440><c> come</c><02:02:08.159><c> and</c><02:02:08.400><c>
• Sorry,<02:02:37.119><c> we're</c><02:02:37.280><c> on</c><02:02:37.520><c> this</c><02:02:37.599><c>
• </c><02:02:39.199><c> Ask</c><02:02:39.440><c> that</c><02:02:39.679><c> it</c><02:02:39.840><c> be</

Transcript Highlights:

• House<02:09:51.800><c> side,</c><02:09:52.440><c> um</c><02:09:52.640><c> myself</c><02:09:53.160><c>
• I<02:15:25.200><c> can</c><02:15:25.400><c> see</c><02:15:25.480><c> your</c><02:15:25.560><c> face.
• /c><02:29:37.280><c> is</c><02:29:37.840><c> 4</c><02:29:38.680><c> 4</c><02:29:39.360><c> 4</c><02:29
• > I</c><02:29:41.640><c> have</c><02:29:42.240><c> a</c><02:29:42.280><c> 4</c><02:29:42.560><c> 5.
• 02:30:13.560><c> the</c><02:30:13.640><c> manager</c><02:30:14.080><c> of</c><02:30:14.200><c> law.

Bills: SB2053 , SB2494 , SB2851 , SB3073 , HB1678 , HB1721 , HB2475 , HB2246 , HB1667 , HB1516 , SB2532 , SB3131 , SB3154 , HB2297 , HB1737 , SB2143 , SB2398 , SB2623 , HB1740 , HB1920 , HB1682 , SB2153 , SB3140 , HB1515 , SB2835 , HB2282 , SB3083 , SB2031 , SB2519 , SB2667 , SB3096 , SB99 , SB2138 , HB2289 , HB2319 , HB1711 , HB2270 , SB3138 , SB3076 , HB1642 , HB2338 , HB2171 , HB1785 , SB2881 , HB2505 , SB2552 , HB1518 , HB1815 , SB3125 , SB3234 , HB2158 , HB1718 , HB2207 , HB1801 , SB3229 , SB2338 , SB3069 , SB2600 , HB2300 , HB1800 , HB1960 , SB2999 , SB2060 , SB2866 , SB2239 , HB1741 , HB1713 , HB2023 , HB2417 , SB2877 , SB2598 , SB2921 , SB2645 , HB2547 , HB2275 , HB2452 , HB2329 , HB2339 , HB1838 , HB1509 , HB1661 , HB2271 , HB2272 , HB2344 , HB1888 , HB1707 , SB2340 , HB2474 , HB1576 , HB1853 , HB1804 , HB1854 , HB2095 , HB2050 , HB472 , SB3215 , SB2247 , SB2400 , HB1618 , HB1802 , HB1969 , HB1541 , HB2310 , HB2498 , HB2443 , HB2218 , HB649 , HB2104 , HB1710 , SB2802 , HB1973 , HB1974 , HB1894 , HB1891 , HB1890 , SB177 , SB2101 , SB3320 , SB2487 , HB2429 , HB1870 , HB1839 , HB2583 , HB1391 , HB2094 , SB2671 , SB2673 , SB2892 , SB2057 , SB3245 , HB306 , HB2592 , SB3157 , SB2861 , SB3204 , SB3324 , SB2580 , SB2074 , SB411 , SB3025 , SB2934 , SB2567 , SB2125 , SB3238 , SB2367 , SB2599 , SB3007 , SB2001 , SB2756 , SB3029

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, one thing<01:02:26.480><c> that</c><01:02:26.799><c> we</c><01:02:27.040><c> may</c><01:02:27.280
• that for 2025, um,<01:02:32.559><c> in</c><01:02:32.720><c> my</c><01:02:32.960><c> initial</c><01:02
• ><01:02:36.319><c> up</c><01:02:36.880><c> uh,</c><01:02:37.200><c> 8</c><01:02:37.520><c> million,</
• ><02:11:46.960><c> with</c><02:11:47.119><c> the</c><02:11:47.280><c> h</c><02:11:47.679><c> um</c><02
• /c><02:25:44.560><c> to</c><02:25:44.720><c> be</c><02:25:44.800><c> up</c><02:25:44.960><c> to</c><02

Summary: The Committee of Conference on HB 1 and HB 2 was called to order, and Legislative Budget Assistant Michael Kaine reviewed the working documents before the committee. He explained the compare report, the detailed change sheet, the HB 1 index, the HB 2 side-by-side, the surplus statement, and a revenue handout, noting that the committee would vote up or down on all detail-change items and that unresolved items on hold would be removed from the final bills. He also identified staff available to answer technical questions and noted that the committee would track the dollar impact of decisions as it proceeded. Members then turned to the revenue outlook, with discussion focused on the gap between the House and Senate budget positions. House members said their budget guidance was based on revenue estimates that were significantly below the governor’s proposal, and they discussed whether additional revenue could close part of the gap. Department of Revenue Administration Commissioner Lindsey Stepp presented updated revenue estimates based on May data, explaining the methodology and the ranges for fiscal years 2025, 2026, and 2027. She said business taxes were the largest source of uncertainty, with estimates reflecting current economic conditions, recent revenue performance, and a range of possible growth rates. Committee members questioned the assumptions behind the business-tax ranges, including why the low and high scenarios were set at 2% and 8% growth. Stepp said the range was based on historical performance and current economic factors such as inflation, tariffs, and business behavior, and she noted that June is a major estimate-payment month for business taxes. Members also discussed recent revenue trends, including the effect of tariffs and the possibility of federal tax policy changes affecting repatriated profits. The commissioner and House members also discussed other revenue sources, including rooms and meals and real estate transfer taxes, with the House side arguing that lower mortgage rates and home prices could increase real estate transfer revenue. No votes were taken in the portion provided, but the committee discussed possible upward adjustments to House revenue assumptions, including increases of roughly $70 million in total based on the updated outlook and additional insurance-related revenue.

Transcript Highlights:

• :02:02.599><c> to</c><01:02:02.839><c> come</c><01:02:03.319><c> rest</c><01:02:03.640><c> in</c><01:
• </c><01:02:11.559><c> I</c><01:02:11.880><c> rise</c><01:02:12.079><c> today</c><01:02:12.440><c> to<
• ><01:02:55.400><c> its</c><01:02:55.880><c> distinction</c><01:02:56.760><c> as</c><01:02:56.920><c>
• 02:05:27.920><c> one</c><02:05:28.079><c> of</c><02:05:28.679><c> us</c><02:05:29.679><c> in</c><02:05
• </c><02:55:25.200><c> as</c><02:55:25.279><c> a</c><02:55:25.800><c> as</c><02:55:25.920><c> a</c><02

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> desire</c><02:06:14.960><c> to</c><02:06:15.159><c> contribute</c><02:06:15.679><c> to</c><02:06
• c><02:06:24.520><c> and</c><02:06:24.719><c> their</c><02:06:24.960><c> families</c><02:06:25.440><c>
• <02:06:31.119><c> 7eventh</c><02:06:31.599><c> district</c><02:06:32.599><c> and</c><02:06:32.760><c>
• :38.559><c> and</c><02:06:38.840><c> advocate</c><02:06:39.320><c> for</c><02:06:39.480><c> a</c><02:
• the burdens<02:06:50.199><c> of</c><02:06:50.360><c> this</c><02:06:50.599><c> life</c><02:06:51.559

Transcript Highlights:

• belonging<01:02:03.480><c> we</c><01:02:03.880><c> work</c><01:02:04.160><c> through</c><01:02:04.680
• uh</c><01:02:25.319><c> State's</c><01:02:25.920><c> DP</c><01:02:26.760><c> we</c><01:02:26.880><c>
• :48.039><c> of</c><01:02:48.319><c> the</c><01:02:48.760><c> Korean</c><01:02:49.319><c> War</c><01:02
• 08.800><c> the</c><02:00:09.320><c> position</c><02:00:09.800><c> of</c><02:00:09.960><c> PBC</c><02:
• 02:00:17.520><c> importance</c><02:00:17.920><c> of</c><02:00:18.079><c> supporting</c><02:00:18.480>

Summary: The joint Ways and Means and Finance informational briefing on grants and aids was held February 14 and was organized as a high-volume public testimony session with strict procedures: no Q&A, one representative per applicant, one minute per testimony, in-person testimony first, and then Zoom participants. The chairs also announced a recess at 11:00 a.m. for floor sessions and a reconvening at 1:00 p.m. Testimony was heard first from neighbor island applicants, then Oʻahu applicants, with members repeatedly directing speakers to line up and keep remarks brief. Neighbor island testimony focused on a wide range of capital and operating requests. Health and community projects included Hawaii Island Community Health Center’s workforce housing in Kau, Wuli Hawaiian Homestead Association’s learning center and predevelopment work, Rescue Tube Foundation’s beach rescue tube expansion, Puna Community Medical Center’s planned hospital/ER campus, Maui Humane Society’s free veterinary care after the wildfires, Hawaiʻi Care Choices’ palliative care readiness, and the Lyman Museum’s HVAC replacement. Other requests included the Maui Advanced Manufacturing Alliance’s Pāʻia Mill redevelopment, Laua 2020’s preschool and learning lab, Mālama Aina’s USDA-compliant meat processing facility, the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association’s water safety programs, Kaha P Organization’s agriculture education support, Ohana Arts’ youth performance project, Friends of the Children’s Justice Center’s emergency closet, EOA Pacific’s Marshall Islands teacher training, and the Central Pacific Youth Athletic Club’s new facility. Oʻahu testimony included the YWCA Oʻahu/Pythink Center’s renovation of Juliet M. Atherton Hall and its community kitchen, West Oʻahu Community Health Center’s wildfire protection and security needs, the Early School’s playground improvements, Surfing the Nations’ food distribution center expansion, and Sounding Joy Music Therapy’s weekly services for people with disabilities. Speakers generally emphasized community benefit, workforce development, health access, food security, disaster recovery, and support for children, seniors, and underserved populations. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the briefing.