[0:10] be seated.
[0:13] The house come to order
[0:19] ?
[0:19] Members who wish to
[0:22] participate, please rise.
[0:37] >> a low let us pray.
[0:41] Dear heavenly father, we pray
[0:42] for the people of tonga to get
[0:43] through this difficult time of
[0:49] tragedy and uncertainty.
[0:50] We pray for guidance as we
[0:51] begin another session.
[0:52] Let we develop good policies.
[0:57] We pray for all those affected
[0:58] in this unprecedented pandemic
[0:59] that we can look forward to a
[1:01] healthier future.
[1:03] We ask for the strength to
[1:05] continue being the leaders that
[1:08] people depend on.
[1:09] And, heavenly father, we thank
[1:14] the for all our blessings and
[1:15] continue to watch over us as we
[1:19] begin another session in our
[1:30] people's housemen.
[1:34] >> thank you.
[1:35] Esther clerk, please call the
[1:37] role.
[1:40] >> MS. Belatti.
[1:43] MR. Bronco.
[1:47] MR. Colon.
[1:51] MR. Gates.
[1:51] MS. Harr.
[1:52] >>
[1:53] present.
[1:55] Present.
[2:01] >> MR. Hashem.
[2:12] MS. Ichiyama.
[2:14] MR. Kobayashi.
[2:21] MR. Dale kobayashi.
[2:23] MS. Luke
[2:24] .
[2:32] MS. Martin.
[2:36] MR. Mcdermott.
[2:49] MR. Mizuna.
[3:45] [Roll call] MR. Speaker, 50
[3:45] members are present there
[3:46] >> MR. Clerk, under any
[3:47] messages from the governor?
[3:48] >> yes, MR. Speaker.
[3:49] We received a message and from
[3:50] the house the budget directives
[3:51] have been electronic in this
[3:51] received in filed.
[3:59] >> MR. Clerk, under any senate
[4:00] comedic asians?
[4:00] >> MR. Speaker there are none.
[4:01] >> item 4, MR. Clerk, are there
[4:02] any messages from the governor?
[4:06] >> yes, we received 830 linda
[4:07] clark to the district.
[4:07] MAY this must be received for
[4:08] immediate action pics
[4:09] >> so ordered.
[4:09] Will the sergeant and arms
[4:22] please escort MS. Clark?
[4:25] Chief justice, would you please
[4:26] proceed with the oath of
[4:27] office?
[4:30] >> good morning
[4:31] , olelo, and
[4:32] thank you for the honor of
[4:37] inviting me to join.
[4:37] Please raise your right hand
[4:38] and repeat after me.
[4:40] I, linda clark.
[4:41] Do solemnly swear that I will
[4:43] support and defend the
[4:44] constitution of the united
[4:48] states and the constitution of
[4:52] the state of hawaii.
[4:53] And that I will faithfully
[4:56] discharge my duties as a member
[4:59] of the house of representatives
[5:02] of the state of hawaii to the
[5:06] best of my ability.
[5:06] Congratulations,
[5:08] representative.
[5:13] Clap back
[5:27] [Applause]
[5:28] >> thank you, chief justice and
[5:29] congratulations, represented of
[5:29] clark.
[5:31] I just wanted to note I'm here
[5:31] to support rep or sedative
[5:32] clerk, our chief sounds.
[5:33] Would you please stand to be
[5:41] recognized?
[5:41] Members, we will be taking a
[5:43] short recess to congratulate
[5:44] representative clark.
[14:42] Recess.
[14:44] 3 with house come to order?
[14:45] Item 5.
[14:48] >> MR. Speaker, I move that all
[14:51] bills laying on the clerk.
[15:12] [Indiscernible]
[15:17] >> representatives of the 30.
[15:18] [Indiscernible] Represented
[15:22] belatti?
[15:23] >> MR. Speaker, I seconded the
[15:23] motion via
[15:26] >> is there any discussion?
[15:41] If not, all in favor say aye.
[15:42] Opposed say no.
[15:42] It is adopted.
[15:43] MR. Clerk, is there another
[15:43] resolution for action?
[15:44] >> yes, MR. Speaker.
[15:45] House resolution number one
[15:51] belated to recess stays for the
[15:51] 2022. This current resolution
[15:52] is offered by you, MR. Speaker
[15:53] . Representative belatti.
[15:54] >> I moved to adopt hcr number
[16:01] one.
[16:02] >> MR. Speaker, I second the
[16:02] motion.
[16:03] >> is there any discussion?
[16:04] If not, all those in favor say
[16:04] aye.
[16:05] All opposed say no.
[16:06] Hcr one is adoptedr. Clerk,
[16:09] is there another resolution for
[16:09] action?
[16:10] >> yes, number 2 requesting the
[16:20] governor -- this current
[16:21] resolution is offered by you,
[16:22] MR. Speaker.
[16:23] Representative belatti?
[16:23] >> MR. Speaker, I moved to
[16:24] adopt hcr number 2.
[16:25] >> I 2nd the motion.
[16:38] >> is there any discussion?
[16:39] If not, all those in favor say
[16:39] aye.
[16:40] Those opposed say no.
[16:40] Hcr 2 is adopted.
[16:41] Clerk, is there further
[16:42] resolutions for action?
[16:44] >> MR. Speaker, there are no
[16:45] further resolutions for action.
[16:46] >> so ordered.
[16:46] The chair has some brief
[16:47] remarks.
[16:53] And the title of this speech is
[16:53] justice.
[16:56] Justice.
[16:57] I wanted to start off by saying
[17:04] over the past 2 years, hawaii
[17:05] has worked together to overcome
[17:06] great challenges.
[17:08] It is a reflection of the
[17:13] public's resilience and sins of
[17:13] community.
[17:20] But it is also a reflection of
[17:20] your work here in the
[17:21] legislator and in your
[17:22] neighborhoods.
[17:23] I know that the past 7 months
[17:25] have not been easy for you and
[17:27] your constituents.
[17:29] Just when we thought the
[17:34] pandemic was over the surge
[17:35] overcame all of us know
[17:38] that you have worked in your
[17:39] communities to vaccinate and
[17:43] test thousands and thousands of
[17:46] people.
[17:50] On SEPTEMBER 17, 1959
[17:52] , one
[17:53] month after statehood, doctor
[17:53] martin luther king JR. Visited
[17:57] hawaii and spoke here in the
[17:59] house of representatives.
[18:05] He spoke of his work in other
[18:06] states and recognized hawaii as
[18:07] a noble example
[18:08] , an area of
[18:15] racial harmony and racial
[18:16] justice.T has been 62
[18:16] years
[18:17] since that speech.
[18:19] And as you know, doctor king's
[18:26] teachings extended beyond race
[18:27] and included economic and
[18:28] environmental justice.
[18:29] It is time to reassess doctor
[18:33] king's observation about hawaii
[18:37] and to articulate what we can
[18:39] do to advance his call for
[18:42] justice.
[18:45] In JANUARY, 2020 we were
[18:46] prepared to enact a proposal
[18:48] that would have increased the
[18:53] minimum wage and provided more
[18:54] tax relief to working families.
[18:55] This proposal followed a report
[18:59] conducted by the olelo united
[19:02] way that found that 47% of
[19:05] hawaii's families were
[19:06] financially distressed and
[19:11] simply cannot make it here.
[19:12] But 6 weeks later the
[19:13] legislative session was
[19:16] suspended when the spate --
[19:22] state was shut down and we were
[19:23] forced to defer action on our
[19:24] ambitious agenda.
[19:25] Since that time, I stated
[19:27] publicly that the house would
[19:32] revisit a proposal when
[19:33] conditions improved.
[19:37] Well, conditions have improved
[19:41] and it is now time for us to
[19:41] act.
[19:44] Through the work of
[19:45] representatives, the house will
[19:50] advance legislation to
[19:50] increase
[19:51] the hourly minimum wage to $18
[19:58] , increase the food tax credit,
[19:59] and make the earned income tax
[20:01] credit refundable and
[20:01] permanent.
[20:04] This package will give a family
[20:09] an additional $33,600 in
[20:12] income.
[20:20] But we know that wages alone
[20:21] will not lift working families.
[20:21] Families cannot afford housing
[20:22] and need help.
[20:23] And, regrettably, the
[20:29] demographic group that has been
[20:30] hardest hit and most priced out
[20:34] of housing is native hawaiians.
[20:35] We will appropriate $600
[20:39] million to enable beneficiaries
[20:41] of the plot hawaiians own land
[20:47] trust to acquire their own
[20:47] homes.
[20:53] [Applause]
[20:57] 3 representative holt and
[21:00] representative eli, who was the
[21:01] only hawaiian homelands
[21:05] beneficiary in the house,
[21:13] caucus will play a leading role
[21:14] on this historic piece of
[21:15] legislation.
[21:16] Members, it is time to give the
[21:17] department of hawaiian
[21:17] homelands the resources it
[21:21] needs to fulfill its fiduciary
[21:21] duty.
[21:27] [Applause]
[21:28] Cultural justice requires the
[21:34] restoration of cultural
[21:35] practices.
[21:35] The house will expend
[21:36] community-based efforts to
[21:36] restore fishponds
[21:42] , repatriate
[21:43] cultural artifacts, teach
[21:55] financial literacy, and provide
[21:56] cultural training to the
[21:57] military.
[21:57] Related to this is the issue of
[21:58] tourism managemente need to
[21:59] take action now before our
[22:03] visitor, again reaches 10
[22:04] million people.
[22:05] We need to better incorporate
[22:06] culture into tourism because by
[22:12] doing so this will also protect
[22:13] our natural resources.
[22:14] We will do this by relying on
[22:15] initiatives and organizations
[22:17] that can assist the hawaii
[22:22] tourism authority.
[22:23] Last year the house created a
[22:24] working group to propose a new
[22:30] government structure.
[22:31] Through the work with
[22:32] representatives nakashima,
[22:39] tartness, colin, and eli and 11
[22:39] committee members the house
[22:40] will advance a proposal that
[22:41] will create a management
[22:44] structure that will carry above
[22:46] the 6500 foot elevation line
[22:47] through an integrated
[22:51] culturally and environmentally
[22:52] conscious approach
[23:00] [Applause]
[23:00] When it comes to the
[23:01] environment, just 2 words
[23:03] example if I the need for
[23:06] environment of justice.
[23:08] Redhill.
[23:09] In DECEMBER, the house called
[23:12] for the decommissioning of
[23:15] redhill.
[23:17] We will reiterate that call for
[23:21] action.
[23:22] The house will not allow the
[23:24] military to put the aquifer
[23:26] that supplies water to all
[23:33] residents at risk.
[23:43] Representatives began work a
[23:44] few weeks ago to monitor state
[23:46] and military progress on red
[23:51] hill.
[23:52] We will continue that work
[23:53] through the formation of a
[23:54] special committee on red hill
[23:54] .
[23:55] Its emphasis will be the
[23:57] containment
[24:06] , remediation, and
[24:07] prevention of contamination.
[24:08] We will continue to insist that
[24:09] the federal government must be
[24:14] responsible for red hill costs.
[24:16] Tate taxpayers should not be
[24:21] asked to pay for this cleanup.
[24:26] So, members, this house is
[24:27] proposing unprecedented
[24:28] legislation that taken together
[24:33] will help over 100,000
[24:37] households provide homes and
[24:39] restore cultural practices that
[24:41] ordinary people have fought for
[24:43] and even died for throughout
[24:45] their lives.
[24:46] As I said before
[24:48] , the house of
[24:52] representatives is a leader on
[24:54] policy.
[24:57] We must continue to be that
[25:02] force for needed change.
[25:03] Like DR. King, we cannot
[25:05] hesitate to institute reform so
[25:13] that we can achieve justice.
[25:14] Thank you very much, and have a
[25:15] productive session
[25:23] [Applause]
[25:24] All right, the chair would like
[25:33] to recognize minority leader
[25:34] okimoto for her remarks.
[25:35] >> thank you, MR. Speaker.
[25:43] MR. Speaker, majority leader,
[25:43] friends, colleagues, and
[25:44] members of the public who are
[25:45] watching online, good morning
[25:59] and aloha.
[26:01] This is the first time I've had
[26:01] the privilege of standing
[26:03] before you and addressing you
[26:03] on opening day.
[26:04] As a representative from
[26:04] district 36, and now as the
[26:06] minority leader, my staff knows
[26:07] all too well how difficult the
[26:07] speeches can be for me.
[26:09] The difficulty comes when I
[26:10] reflect on the last 4 years and
[26:10] how much I want to include in
[26:11] these moments.
[26:12] Ira number how different my
[26:14] first session was and how
[26:15] hopeful I was.
[26:16] I had so much to say back then,
[26:22] and now there is too much to
[26:23] say.
[26:23] Over the last 2 years, the
[26:24] challenges have been
[26:26] extraordinary.Ut so have our
[26:27] communities and our people.
[26:28] First and foremost, I want to
[26:29] say thank you.
[26:29] Thank you to our people and to
[26:34] their unwavering spirit.
[26:34] They have fought to lead
[26:35] hawaii's come back and recover
[26:39] from the pandemic.
[26:39] have made great sacrifices to
[26:41] keep their children educated
[26:41] and in school.
[26:42] Change their business models to
[26:46] fit a post covid world, and
[26:47] tolerated and adapted to an
[26:49] ever-changing mandate and
[26:50] regulations.
[26:54] >> recording stopped.
[26:58] >> today the legislator opens
[27:05] to a state --
[27:05] >> recording in progress.
[27:06] >> thank you.
[27:14] To fight as hard as they have 2
[27:15] ensure a future for our
[27:16] children.
[27:17] I am confident that this body
[27:17] is ready for the challenges,
[27:18] and this is why.
[27:23] During one of the most economic
[27:24] downturns in hawaii history,
[27:25] our finance committee moved at
[27:26] an incredible pace to pave the
[27:40] way for our economic recovery,
[27:41] ensure funding, crucial funding
[27:42] during interim all while
[27:43] crafting a balanced budget that
[27:44] reflects the values that this
[27:45] state believes in.
[27:45] While finance was doing their
[27:46] due diligence, our committees
[27:48] on land and water and
[27:52] environment protection and
[27:52] energy made crucial strides
[27:52] toward protecting the critical
[27:53] resources that our state is so
[27:53] beloved for.
[27:53] I mention this not to boast of
[27:54] great victories, but because we
[28:03] convene today not under the
[28:04] shadow of a prolonged period
[28:04] hardship, but under the light
[28:05] of resilience and
[28:06] responsibility.
[28:07] And shared responsibility each
[28:15] of us has to make their that
[28:16] the tragedies we have all gone
[28:17] through our hard life lessons
[28:18] that must be applied to
[28:18] solutions and not just
[28:19] headlines.
[28:19] On JANUARY 9, 1790 long before
[28:20] these pitiful islands became a
[28:22] state, george washington panned
[28:23] a letter to writer and
[28:26] historian kathleen that
[28:27] included the sentence, the
[28:31] establishment of our new -- for
[28:32] promoting human happiness.
[28:35] By reasonable compact and civil
[28:35] society.
[28:39] That great experiment dash
[28:55] through that great experiment
[28:56] many people believe that
[28:56] experiment has failed.
[28:57] They could not be more wrong.
[29:00] They let perfection, or rather
[29:00] their idea of perfection be the
[29:01] enemy of good.
[29:02] This state isn't perfect, and
[29:03] it will never be that is the
[29:03] beauty of it.
[29:04] It can be ever-changing.
[29:06] It can adapt and overcome.
[29:07] We carry that mantle today in
[29:07] these holes that are
[29:08] constructed to represent that
[29:31] belief of a more perfect union
[29:32] because the pursuit of
[29:33] happiness is more noble and
[29:33] necessary.
[29:36] Our constituents sent us so we
[29:36] can prove those words right.
[29:37] Even in the face of seemingly
[29:38] insurmountable changes and
[29:39] unfathomable loss.
[29:39] Although our state, like the
[29:40] entire country, feels more
[29:41] divided than ever I have never
[29:42] seen our islands, our people as
[29:45] united in their vision for our
[29:45] future.
[29:46] We have so much more in common
[29:46] than what divides us.
[29:47] And we feel that the most when
[29:48] we are at home.
[29:48] Whether home is a rental
[29:49] apartment in town, a family
[29:51] nestled in the green hills
[29:53] , or
[29:54] a house that exists in a price
[29:55] range you can afford, every
[29:56] hawaiian wants and deserves
[29:57] many of the same things.
[30:03] A safe reliable place to lay
[30:04] your head to rest.
[30:05] A stable income that allows you
[30:06] to provide for yourself and
[30:17] your family.
[30:18] A life free from violence and
[30:19] termination.
[30:20] The sad reality is that far too
[30:23] many hawaiians have been left
[30:23] behind and ultimately we are
[30:24] here to change that.
[30:24] To do our part in making sure
[30:25] every person is able to achieve
[30:26] the life and future they
[30:27] envision for themselves and
[30:27] families.
[30:29] To help protect the pursuit of
[30:29] happiness.
[30:30] I am really excited for our
[30:31] speakers announcement today
[30:32] t has been somewhat clich
[30:33] for the minority leader to
[30:34] declare on opening day that
[30:35] this upcoming session will be
[30:35] the most consequential in
[30:42] history.
[30:43] That declaration has never felt
[30:44] more appropriate as we begin
[30:45] the 2022 legislative session
[30:46] with the public left outside
[30:48] government transparency dash
[31:01] with the public left -- sorry.
[31:02] With the public left outside
[31:03] government transparency, this
[31:04] has never been more important
[31:05] as we begin to shape hawaii's
[31:06] future.
[31:06] The public's absence in these
[31:07] halls cannot go understated.
[31:08] We opposed, nay, we must make
[31:09] changes to drastically increase
[31:11] the supply of affordable
[31:11] housing to expand our
[31:22] workforce, do invest in
[31:23] responsible develop it and to
[31:23] stabilize our health system
[31:24] that has been struggling to
[31:25] help our most vulnerable and to
[31:26] finally get a hold on the
[32:02] mental health epidemic that
[32:02] plagues our population.
[32:03] We will be talking about how to
[32:04] invest in our most important
[32:05] asset, our children to make
[32:06] sure they have the education,
[32:07] training, and support their
[32:07] futures need.
[32:08] We must support small
[32:09] businesses, grow our state
[32:14] economy, and make sure that our
[32:16] recovery continues to lift up
[32:17] all hawaii.
[32:17] How can we possibly do that
[32:18] without our people?
[32:19] One of the most important
[32:20] lessons I have learned as a
[32:20] legislator is to make the most
[32:21] of every opportunity because a
[32:22] 2nd chance is never guaranteed
[32:23] and tomorrow is never promised
[32:24] each of us will eventually walk
[32:25] out of the chamber for a final
[32:26] time and once we have said
[32:27] goodbye our legacy won't be
[32:28] measured by the titles we
[32:28] collect or the size of our
[32:29] office.
[32:29] Our legacy will be measured by
[32:30] all the ways our people will
[32:31] fill by the choices we make for
[32:32] years to come in the ways they
[32:33] experience this opportunity to
[32:33] be public servants.
[32:37] Is hawaii the -- would choose
[32:38] to invest in affordable
[32:39] housing.It is the small
[32:40] business owner that keeps their
[32:41] doors open and employees on the
[32:42] payroll because we create
[32:46] problems that help them weather
[32:46] tough times.
[32:47] It is a young man and women who
[32:48] start to put future as a
[32:49] priority they can achieve
[32:50] because we work together today
[33:03] to ensure they have
[33:03] opportunities our parents
[33:04] wanted for us.
[33:05] It is the combat veteran who
[33:06] comes home from deployment and
[33:06] is able to enjoy the freedoms
[33:07] they fought to protect because
[33:08] we fought for them in the
[33:08] capital.
[33:11] It is the girl that grew up
[33:12] next to cane fields and blue
[33:12] oceans who ensures anything is
[33:13] possible and she will never be
[33:14] hawaii's last.
[33:16] Our legacy will be measured not
[33:16] by whether or not we resolve
[33:17] all our problems in 60 days,
[33:18] but by how we use 60 days to
[33:32] religiously pursue a more
[33:32] perfect union.
[33:33] This session, especially as the
[33:34] demands of legislating put us
[33:36] to the test, we cannot this
[33:36] fact sight of the fact that
[33:37] hawaii's future gets better
[33:38] with the relentless optimism
[33:38] that better is possible, but
[33:39] better will not only be
[33:39] possible if
[33:41] we can be honest
[33:41] with ourselves.
[33:42] To admit shortcomings and fix
[33:42] the mistakes we made.
[33:46] We have to choose if we are
[33:47] going to do this in our best
[33:48] interest with the best interest
[33:49] of the people.
[33:50] Let's make that choice
[33:50] together.
[34:15] Before I close and for you all
[34:16] for my soapbox, I want to close
[34:16] by showing my gratitude,
[34:17] expressing my gratitude.
[34:18] We would not be here today for
[34:19] it were not for the first
[34:20] responders, the doctors,
[34:21] nurses, law enforcement, ems
[34:22] professionals, and so many more
[34:22] who have made it their mission
[34:24] to keep hawaii safe and
[34:24] healthy.
[34:24] we are indebted to them for
[34:25] their service.
[34:26] I want to publicly thank my 2
[34:39] girls, rebecca for their
[34:40] support.
[34:40] My parents and loved ones and
[34:40] to district 36.
[34:42] Thank you for putting your
[34:42] choice -- trust in me for
[34:43] representing your community.
[34:44] Thank you for your
[34:45] collaboration, your commitment
[34:45] to service.
[34:46] I look forward to continuing
[34:47] our work together and
[34:47] leadership.
[34:48] Friends, colleagues, I'm with
[34:49] you.
[34:49] Let's get to work.
[34:50] [Applause]
[34:51] >> thank you, representative
[34:56] okimoto.
[34:57] >> thank you, MR. Speaker, vice
[34:58] speaker, house minority leader
[35:08] okimoto. To our represented as
[35:09] an hard-working staff for this
[35:10] opportunity to address you, and
[35:11] more important, to address the
[35:11] people of hawaii on this
[35:12] auspicious moment.
[35:19] To all of you who are viewing
[35:20] this from your work computer,
[35:21] from home, from school, on your
[35:22] mobile devices, thank you for
[35:23] tuning in to be a part of this
[35:24] day even though we are not able
[35:26] to welcome you in person.
[35:26] It is hard to believe we are
[35:27] heading into the 3rd year of
[35:28] this global pandemic.
[35:29] It is disrupted lives,
[35:30] workplaces, and homes.
[35:31] Economic disruption,
[35:33] uncertainty
[35:34] , and pivoting has
[35:42] become the norm.
[35:42] One of the biggest
[35:43] highlights
[35:43] and take away for me about this
[35:44] pandemic has been how you, the
[35:45] people of hawaii, have come
[35:46] together as communities across
[35:50] our state to help each other
[35:51] navigate through this storm.
[35:52] I'm going to do something I
[36:04] shouldn't do.
[36:05] Going to mention some agencies,
[36:05] and I know I will have left out
[36:06] some organizations.
[36:07] But as we plan for this moment
[36:07] a month and half ago, I
[36:08] imagined this room filled with
[36:09] representative from the
[36:09] community.
[36:10] From places like the community
[36:15] foundation, counsel -- catholic
[36:16] charities hawaii, maui economic
[36:17] opportunity, hawaii food bank,
[36:18] all of these rooms filled with
[36:20] people and communities that
[36:22] have helped us whether through
[36:22] this storm.
[36:23] We know that navigating this
[36:28] time has not been easy.
[36:28] We are not nace in thinking
[36:33] that this pandemic has treated
[36:33] people equally.
[36:34] We understand and know that
[36:35] inequities that existed
[36:37] previously have only been
[36:42] exacerbated.
[36:43] Today, our speaker has laid out
[36:56] an ambitious agenda to address
[36:57] these inequities.
[36:58] These inequalities, and to
[36:59] MARCH toward justice.
[37:00] We, the hawaii house of
[37:01] representatives, are committed
[37:02] to tackling these long-standing
[37:02] issues.
[37:03] To reinvest in our communities.
[37:07] To ensure we have the
[37:07] infrastructure, the social
[37:08] service programs, the schools
[37:09] and the teachers that will
[37:10] build the capacity of our
[37:21] people.
[37:22] Our greatest assete are
[37:23] here to recommit to our
[37:24] hard-working families and
[37:25] individuals who make our
[37:28] government, businesses, and
[37:29] communities run.
[37:29] I would like to share something
[37:30] with youe have a lot of
[37:31] organizations that bring us
[37:31] ideas and thoughts and agendas
[37:32] and priorities.
[37:33] I want to point out one
[37:33] group.
[37:46] You can find them at ina red
[37:47] hill 5 -- these are the things
[37:54] we need to do.
[37:55] We need to achieve circular
[37:55] economies that prioritize
[37:56] environment or climate
[37:57] resiliencee need to
[37:58] encourage the development of
[37:59] regenerative business
[38:00] opportunities, including
[38:03] working with all tourism and
[38:05] communities to develop
[38:06] regenerative tourism.
[38:12] We need to address and empower
[38:13] historically marginalized and
[38:14] disempowered populations to
[38:30] advance economic equity.
[38:31] We join today with the
[38:32] thousands who have already come
[38:32] together to commit to these
[38:33] things.
[38:33] We will take the next 60
[38:34] legislative days.
[38:37] They will be ups and downs.
[38:37] There will be discussions.
[38:38] There will be caucuses.
[38:39] There will be hearing and
[38:40] testimonies.
[38:41] We welcome all of you to come
[38:42] and participate, and we will
[38:43] revisit the reopening of our
[38:43] state capital.
[38:47] We will revisit the reopening
[38:48] of the people's house because
[38:49] it is in person, it is
[38:49] together, and now it is
[39:00] virtually how we can commit to
[39:00] each other.
[39:01] MR. Speaker, to the house of
[39:02] representatives, thank you for
[39:03] this opportunity, and I look
[39:04] forward to the work of the next
[39:04] 60 days.
[39:05] Aloha.
[39:19] [Applause]
[39:20] >> thank you, representative
[39:21] belatti. Members, we are on
[39:22] items 7. Are there any
[39:25] announcements, representative?
[39:26] >> speaker, my announcement
[39:27] today is to mark this day as a
[39:27] historical day in the history
[39:28] of the people of hawaii.
[39:29] I'm not referring to 1959 when
[39:31] martin luther king was noted,
[39:37] but from 1920 when the hawaiian
[39:38] homes commission was founded
[39:39] and, speaker, what came out
[39:40] today I think is going to be a
[39:41] new day for the people of
[39:41] hawaii.
[39:46] Particularly the hawaiian
[39:46] community that is on the
[39:47] waitlist that is now 20,000
[39:48] people strong.
[39:50] Thank you for what you are
[39:50] doing, and I urge all my
[39:51] colleagues to get behind to
[39:53] keep the word for which after
[39:54] 100 years has been lacking.
[39:54] Thank you, speakerhis is a
[39:55] day that's going to go down in
[39:57] history as marking a turning
[39:58] point for 100 years of neglect
[40:04] to facing it straight on.
[40:05] Genuinely thank you and for the
[40:06] chair of finance, thank you,
[40:08] and for all of us, this is a
[40:09] day that we can really fulfill
[40:10] a promise that we have given,
[40:11] but broken, and now we are
[40:18] going to turn the tide.
[40:18] >> representative kong.
[40:21] >> thank you, MR. Speaker.
[40:29] As many know, my office manager
[40:30] is a tongan and just so happens
[40:39] my legislative aide is also
[40:40] tongan.
[40:40] In fact, she is the reigning
[40:41] MISS Tonga of hawaii.
[40:47] just so happens these ladies
[40:48] that adorn my neck are also
[40:49] tongan.
[40:52] I ask this body to truly
[41:04] remember tonga and their people
[41:05] in your hearts, and especially
[41:06] in your prayers as we wait to
[41:07] hear news from that beautiful
[41:08] lovely island nation.
[41:08] Thank you, speaker.
[41:16] >> all right, members, are
[41:17] there further announcements?
[41:18] If not, the motion to adjourn?
[41:24] >> MR. Speaker, I move that
[41:25] this house adjourned until
[41:26] 12:00 noon tomorrow.
[41:27] >> MR. Speaker, I train on the
[41:27] motion.
[41:28] >> all those in favor say aye.
[41:29] Those opposed say no.
[41:30] This is adjourned until 12:00