Transcript Highlights:

• While the full Senate was not able to hold a floor vote before the election, I am here today to earn
• These landless leases in Hawaii are set to expire in 2029, right around the corner.
• Again, for you, the DOD stakeholders are closely coordinating with the EPA, Hawaii State agencies, and
• You just earned my vote. Thank you, sir. Mr.
• If in their private life they express a view that they might consider voting for a Democrat, is that

Keywords: national security, nuclear energy, Department of Defense, military readiness, public commentary, nominations

Summary: The meeting convened with a focus on the scrutiny of various nominations and their implications for national security. Mr. Brandon Williams was nominated as the Undersecretary of Energy for Nuclear Security, drawing attention to the pressing need to modernize the U.S. nuclear arsenal amid growing threats from other countries. This was echoed in discussions led by committee members who expressed concern over military readiness and the management of military installations, with emphasis on ensuring accountability within the Department of Defense. Public commentary was notably supportive of the nominations, although some concerns were raised regarding the administration's broader strategies.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:31:46.120> we can be accomplished so in Hawaii we can be accomplished so in Hawaii we
• <00:32:04.360> using classrooms built in Hawaii using classrooms built in Hawaii using prefabricated
• <00:39:28.599> our choose to stay home here in Hawaii our choose to stay home here in Hawaii
• <00:59:34.640> state the Nexus between the Hawaii state the Nexus between the Hawaii state
• studies that have come out not in Hawaii studies that have come out not in Hawaii but<01:46:57.840

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Education held an informational/budget briefing with presentations from the State Library System, the School Facilities Authority, and the Department of Education. The chair opened the meeting by outlining the order of presentations and noting that members would hold questions until after all three agencies had testified. The discussion focused on each agency’s priorities for the upcoming biennium and their budget requests. State Librarian Stacy Aldridge described library usage and services, emphasizing strong demand for physical and digital materials, internet and Wi-Fi access, programs, Kanopy streaming, and PressReader. She highlighted digital literacy classes, RFID self-check and smart shelving improvements, and the role of libraries as community hubs. The library’s budget request included an additional $1.2 million for security guards, $48.484 million for FY 26-27 to support popup libraries during temporary closures and other needs, $500,000 for repair and maintenance, $2 million for Kap planning and design, and $25 million each year for lump-sum capital funding. Mallerie Fujitani said the lump-sum funding is needed to keep roughly 50 projects moving and to avoid delays in construction. School Facilities Authority Executive Director Ricky Fujitani explained the agency’s startup history and its programs for preschools, Central Maui schools, and workforce housing. He said the authority is using standardized, prefabricated, programmatic approaches to speed delivery and improve maintainability, citing prior preschool renovations as a successful model. He reported that of $389 million appropriated, $106 million was released, with $81 million for preschools, $20 million for Central Maui schools, and $5 million for workforce housing; he also noted the workforce housing program was reduced after Maui fire-related reallocations. He said the pilot workforce housing site at Mililani High School has been awarded and pointed to University of Hawaiʻi student housing projects as a model. Superintendent Hayashi then began the Department of Education presentation, introducing DOE leadership and outlining the department’s mission to support academic achievement, character development, and student well-being. He noted the department serves more than 152,000 students in 258 public schools and employs over 42,000 people, with nearly 54% of students facing significant challenges. He framed the budget request around the department’s strategic plan to prepare graduates for college, careers, or military service. The transcript ends during the DOE presentation, before any committee votes or formal actions are taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Driscoll, several of the critical training areas that the Army has provided, Uses in Hawaii are leased
• Issue, not just in Hawaii, but in all the places we engage with the community and sign leases.
• And sadly, for example, in Hawaii, 50% of Army facilities are... classified as failing or failed, and
• This is just involving Hawaii.
• Senator, I've had many friends stationed in Hawaii, and though the experience has been good, I think

Transcript Highlights:

• so in looking at the impacts of Hawaii so in looking at the impacts of Hawaii 2025<00:11:25.760>
• Hawaii is growing less than the rest of Hawaii is growing less than the rest of the<00:12:40.320>
• on the Hawaii tourism authority website. on the Hawaii tourism authority website.
• available to everyone on the Hawaii available to everyone on the Hawaii Tourism<00:38:40.640>
• They're going to impact Hawaii. real. They're going to impact Hawaii.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• job under the Operation Hire Hawaii job under the Operation Hire Hawaii banner,<00:22:21.440>
• Operation Hire Hawaii the very next day. Operation Hire Hawaii the very next day.
• Operation Higher Hawaii uh positions. Operation Higher Hawaii uh positions.
• <00:35:19.760> Hawaii.
• It it seems Operation Hawaii Hawaii.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Labor held an informational briefing on August 22, 2025, to receive an update from DEH on statewide recruitment efforts aimed at reducing vacancies across state departments. Director Hashimoto, joined by DEH staff, presented on two hiring initiatives: Wikiwiki Hire and Operation Hire Hawaii. The committee focused on how each program works, how quickly applications are screened and referred, and how the programs differ from standard recruitment procedures. For Wikiwiki Hire, DEH described it as an accelerated recruitment pathway used mainly for classes with multiple vacancies. DEH screens applications every two weeks, then sends qualified applicants a list of participating departments and recruiter contact information so applicants and departments can connect directly. Committee members asked about effectiveness data, timelines, and whether the process aligns with the merit principle. DEH said the program is intended to speed hiring, that departments are not required to interview every person on a list, and that applicants can be hired as vacancies are filled on a first-come, first-served basis so long as all qualified applicants have the same opportunity. DEH also said it could provide data later and that it is working through a backlog of screenings. The committee then discussed Operation Hire Hawaii, an executive-order-based hiring effort launched in February to expedite hiring, including for displaced federal workers but open to all applicants. DEH reported more than 6,000 applications, 127 recruitments, 81 closed recruitments, and 142 hires, with a goal of conditional offers within two weeks. DEH said it turns applications around daily, while departments do the initial screening, interviews, and hiring decisions, with DEH completing final qualification screening and suitability checks at the end. Members asked about the program’s duration, its low conversion rate, and what happens to applicants who are not hired; DEH said it can refer qualified applicants to other vacancies and that the pilot was originally intended to run about a year, with possible extension if departments want it to continue.

Transcript Highlights:

• For 35 years, students from Okinawa have been coming to Hawaii.
• Locally, we have David Arawa from the community relations at the Hawaii United Okinawan Association,
• <00:02:02.079> it's Okinawa have been coming to Hawaii it's Okinawa have been coming to Hawaii
• United Okinawan Association the Hawaii United Okinawan Association as<00:02:43.680> well<00:02
• Can we welcome them to the Hawaii Senate?

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is nationally, not in Hawaii.
• This is nationally, not in Hawaii.
• next up is Hawaii Bankers Association. next up is Hawaii Bankers Association.
• Hawaii residents. Hawaii residents.
• > residents We're encouraging all Hawaii residents We're encouraging all Hawaii residents to<01

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee held an informational briefing on fraud in the community, with presenters from ARP, CoinFlip, HPD, the Hawaii Bankers Association, DCCA’s Office of Consumer Protection, and the Department of Law Enforcement. The chair described widespread scams targeting kupuna and other residents, including impersonation of grandchildren, lottery/inheritance schemes, romance scams, online shopping fraud, investment scams, and tech-support scams. Members emphasized the emotional manipulation used by scammers, the difficulty of getting victims to report losses, and the need to educate the public on warning signs and available resources. ARP said scams are an epidemic and highlighted national data showing major losses among older adults, including $4.8 billion lost by people age 60 and over in 2024. ARP focused especially on cryptocurrency kiosks as a growing scam channel in Hawaii, citing 64 complaints totaling $922,000 in 2024 and noting that complaints nearly doubled from the prior year. ARP urged stronger safeguards such as limits on transactions, refunds, live customer support, and a law-enforcement contact for operators, and said its Fraud Watch Network can help victims freeze credit, identify next steps, and track current scams. The chair said he intends to introduce legislation to lower and ultimately eliminate the amount of Bitcoin that can be purchased through ATMs. CoinFlip said it supports consumer-protection regulation and described its compliance practices, including scam warning screens, anti-money-laundering controls, blockchain analytics, wallet pinning, transaction monitoring, and cooperation with law enforcement. The company said it is registered as a money services business, files suspicious activity and currency transaction reports, and holds money transmitter licenses in many jurisdictions. It also pointed to Illinois-style refund protections for new users and said it refunds fees to scam victims, though not the underlying funds. In response to committee questions, members and the company discussed whether crypto kiosks are necessary, how scams can be traced, and whether banks and kiosks can better intervene when suspicious activity is detected.

Transcript Highlights:

• They've returned to D.C., and they might like to still work for Hawaii from there.
• CA and H Susan yamura from the Hawaii CA and H Susan yamura from the Hawaii criminal<00:27:53.720
• After that, we have priority number four, which is for the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center.
• In the building that Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center is located, they do have some of their local
• After that, we have priority number four, which is for the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Nation of Hawaii, he works alongside Nation of Hawaii, he works alongside President<00:10:34.600>
• like for Hawaii.
• , If value is generated in Hawaii, If value is generated in Hawaii, the<00:14:59.680> long-term
• Hawaii and local communities. Hawaii and local communities.
• out what fits for Hawaii. out what fits for Hawaii.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Baines, not voting. Mahan? Coloza? Coloza, not voting. Chen? Alhawari? Hadwick? Haney? Irwin?
• and a bipartisan vote.
• Macedo not voting. Nguyen, aye. Pellerin? Aye. That bill is out with 11 votes. Thank you.
• That bill is out with either 15 or 16 votes. 16 votes, thank you very much, thank you.
• I'll Hawaii I on the consent calendar a Hawaii a Hawaii I Bonta. Aye. Aye. Okay.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Deb Maas from the University of Hawaii Hawaii Keiki program to answer more specific questions that members
• <00:01:31.680> so chartering work needed in Hawaii so chartering work needed in Hawaii so
• legislation in the state of Hawaii legislation in the state of Hawaii specifically<00:01:42.439>
• County is just Hawaii County.
• , the tenets of Hawaii.”

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 00:02:12.319> the<00:02:12.480> University<00:02:12.959> of<00:02:13.120> Hawaii
• retirement from the University of Hawaii retirement from the University of Hawaii system<00:02:14.640
• during this time with the<00:03:30.080> University<00:03:30.519> of<00:03:30.640> Hawaii
• <00:03:31.000> community the University of Hawaii community the University of Hawaii community
• <00:03:55.760> with<00:03:55.879> The culinary education in Hawaii with The culinary

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and is no longer going to travel to Hawaii.
• 38:05.679> get<01:38:05.800> a to travel to Hawaii you still get a to travel to Hawaii
• <01:45:01.599> for almost done right we in in Hawaii for almost done right we in in Hawaii
• That's great for East Hawaii, anyway. Yeah, right.
• That's great for East Hawaii, anyway. Yeah, right.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:02:41.680> state commissions include Hawaii state commissions include Hawaii state commission
• state rehabilitation council, Hawaii state rehabilitation council, Hawaii inter<00:02:55.680>
• 05:13.440> Hake Hawaii Public Housing Authority Hake Hawaii Public Housing Authority Hake couldn't
• Hawaii Bowl? Hawaii Bowl?
• have with the University of Hawaii have with the University of Hawaii Foundation.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, so it says new West Hawaii jail and community center.
• <00:38:17.599> So including three on Hawaii Island. So including three on Hawaii Island.
• that although small, the state of Hawaii that although small, the state of Hawaii Department<00:
• conservation manager uh for the Hawaii conservation manager uh for the Hawaii Army<00:49:41.920>
• um Hawaii County with those. those. those.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the premiere first edition for the 2026 session of the Hawaii Senate Committee on Government
• <00:09:02.760> small as the list of certified Hawaii small as the list of certified Hawaii
• a better fit for the state of Hawaii. a better fit for the state of Hawaii.
• it more palatable to the Hawaii it more palatable to the Hawaii residents. residents. residents.
• So, this is a major government entity in Hawaii is putting this bill forward.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Government Operations held an informational briefing with the State Procurement Office on its small business procurement program. SPO staff described the program’s purpose as expanding access to state contracting for small businesses, including veteran-, Native Hawaiian-, and women-owned firms, and said they are seeking to make the current five-year initiative permanent before it ends in June 2027. They reported outreach efforts, a new website and newsletter, statewide surveys, draft administrative rules, and a 38% increase in small business registrations in the HANS database. They also explained that the program is intended to support outreach, education, certification, compliance, and a statewide database to connect agencies with qualified small businesses. Committee members focused heavily on whether the program is producing measurable contract awards, not just registrations. The chair and senators questioned the definition of “small business,” noting that SPO currently relies on SBA standards in HANS and is considering a Hawaii-specific definition based on employees, revenue, and Hawaii residency. Members raised concerns that the data showed only a small number of registered businesses receiving awards and that the database does not yet track awards well enough to evaluate performance. SPO responded that the database has had funding gaps, that the position was only filled in February 2025, and that the agency is still building the system and rules needed to track outcomes accurately. A major theme was how to make the program more effective for very small or “micro” businesses and how to reduce the complexity of state procurement. Members discussed the difference between set-asides and bid preferences, with SPO explaining that set-asides are generally tied to RFPs and preferences to IFBs. The committee suggested that future rules should make participation easier, provide more training and hand-holding, and possibly create pathways for micro businesses or groups of small businesses to bid together. No votes or formal actions were taken; the briefing ended with the committee asking SPO to provide more performance data and clearer information on outreach results and database contents.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we're Operation Hire Hawaii.
• We've received Operation Hire Hawaii.
• website under the Operation Hire Hawaii link and banner.
• Operation Hire Hawaii link and banner. Operation Hire Hawaii link and banner.
• don't know why the Operation Hire Hawaii don't know why the Operation Hire Hawaii jobs<00:53:41.160

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• reach out first um to the Hawaii reach out first um to the Hawaii employers<00:51:57.319> Council
• <01:20:24.760> retirement director uh from our Hawaii retirement director uh from our Hawaii
• roadside safety maintenance on Hawaii roadside safety maintenance on Hawaii Island<02:51:00.040>
• In the state of Hawaii.
• <03:37:28.600> Youth administrator for the Hawaii Youth administrator for the Hawaii Youth

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We will be voting at the end of the meeting.
• We can vote on the entire block at one time, but we will pull out and We can vote on the entire block
• If there's no objection, then we will vote as a block.
• If there's no objection, then we will vote as a block.
• I was voting in the affirmative. Is there objection? SB 27D, I was voting in the affirmative.

Summary: The committee first heard CS/SB 270, which would extend Bright Futures eligibility by 12 months for certain students whose parent was serving overseas in public service and then retired, giving military and diplomatic families more time to return to Florida without losing scholarship eligibility. Senator Burgess also explained a late-filed amendment to set the bill’s effective implementation for the 2025-26 school year, and the committee adopted the amendment without objection. The bill received supportive testimony, including from Senator Smith, and was reported favorably by a roll call vote. The remainder of the meeting focused on confirmation hearings for appointees to state college boards of trustees, with the chair emphasizing a new process of hearing from each nominee individually rather than taking a blanket vote. Nominees from Tallahassee State College, St. Johns River State College, South Florida State College, Broward College, State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota, Palm Beach State College, Pasco-Hernando State College, and Valencia College described their backgrounds and priorities, which largely centered on workforce development, nursing and health sciences, dual enrollment, fiscal responsibility, student retention, and partnerships with local employers and communities. Several nominees highlighted their own educational or professional ties to the colleges, and some noted the importance of serving rural or military-connected communities. One nominee, John Aloko for Pasco-Hernando State College, was not present because he was attending a conference in Hawaii and was deferred to a later hearing. After hearing all other nominees, the committee voted to recommend confirmation of the remaining appointees in a block vote, covering Tabs 2 through 22 except Tab 8, and the motion passed. Two members later asked to be recorded as voting in the affirmative on earlier items.

Transcript Highlights:

• So seeing that nominations cease, we're going to vote for Senator Nicola first.
• I don't know if we're supposed to say nothing or your vote? Say nothing or your vote? Dr.
• If my answer, my vote is no. Okay.
• We have to vote on Taylor. We did it by acclamation. We did it by acclamation, just by voice vote.
• I didn't call for any noes for the vote for Representative Taylor as Vice Chair.

Keywords: 959, house, all