The Hawai‘i State Youth Commission (HiYC) was established to, “Advise the governor and legislature on the effects of legislative policies, needs, assessments, priorities, programs, and budgets concerning the youth of the State.”
-HiYC Purpose Statement
“The Hawai‘i State Youth Commission is a constellation of youth, connected to our past and mindful of our future, who engage in public-policy advocacy through a commitment to inclusivity, opportunity, and progress in Hawai‘i.”
-HiYC Mission Statement
HiYC 2022-2023 Term
The 15 Youth Commission members (ages 14 – 24) are appointed by the Governor, the Senate President, and the Speaker of the House and current membership includes representation from Kaua‘i, O‘ahu, and the Island of Hawai‘i.
| Big Island | Eric Gee- Treasurer
Hana Lei Ji Marli Mason Mei Kanada Shanoa Kū Quanan Misty Cruden |
| Oahu | Logan Yogi- Chair
Zoey Duan- Vice Chair Jade Frank- Legislative lead Allurie Joy Almogela Keola Kaniho Kim Sunio |
| Maui | Gizelle Rodrigues |
| Kauai | Marissa Matsushige- Secretary |
Legislative Projects
Education
- SB 665 / HB 888
- Requires each Department of Education classroom to be equipped with an opioid antagonist. Requires the Department of Education to train employees on opioid-related drug overdose prevention, recognition, and response and opioid antagonist .
- HB 1653
- Pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement negotiated for Bargaining Unit (5), provides annual salary step increases for public school teachers and educational officers who have completed a year’s satisfactory service and comply with specified requirements.
- SB 2004 / HB 1678
- Designates all University of Hawaiʻi system campuses as voter registration agencies as defined in the National Voter Registration Act. Requires the Chief Election Officer to use data concerning voter registration and election participation to study voter registration, absentee voting, and provisional voting trends by age, race, and class to improve youth voter registration and election participation. Allows student identification cards issued by the University of Hawaiʻi system to be used to register to vote. Designates all University of Hawaiʻi campuses as voter service centers.
- SB 2433 / HB 2177
- Requires the University of Hawaiʻi to provide menstrual products free of charge to all students on all campuses, including community colleges and education centers.
- HB 157
- Requires the Department of Education to teach Hawaiian Language to students in each public elementary, middle, and high school.
- SB 2010
- Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, requires each public school and public charter school in the State to employ, or retain under contract, at least one mental health professional for every two hundred fifty students enrolled, subject to certain conditions. Requires the Department of Education to submit a progress report to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2025. Appropriates funds for the Department of Education to contract for mental health professionals and to establish an unspecified number of full-time equivalent mental health professional positions within the Department of Education.
Environment
- SB 636 SD1
- Requires Department of Land and Natural Resources to establish a Visitor Green Fee Program to collect fees from nonresidents via a license to use state natural and cultural resources, to be used for the protection, restoration, and care of Hawaiʻi’s natural, cultural, and outdoor recreational resources and build the resilience of these resources against the impacts of climate change and local threats. Establishes the Hawaiʻi environmental legacy commission to rank project applications and make recommendations to the Board of Land and Natural Resources concerning the allocation of Visitor Green Fee Program Funds. Establishes the Hawaiʻi Environmental Legacy Special Fund.
- SB 2675
- Requires the Hawaiʻi State Energy Office, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and Department of Land and Natural Resources, to facilitate the private sector’s development of renewable energy projects that also support agricultural food production. Makes various amendments to the requirements of solar energy facilities on lands with certain soil classifications. Establishes within the Hawaiʻi State Energy Office a three-year Phytoremediation Biofuels Pilot Program to be conducted by the Hawaiʻi State Energy Office in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and Department of Land and Natural Resources and requires a report to the Governor and Legislature. Declares that the general fund expenditure ceiling is exceeded. Makes appropriations and establishes an Interagency Liaison position within the Hawaiʻi State Energy Office.
- HB 1528
- Proposes a constitutional amendment that guarantees individuals the right to a clean and healthy environment; the control of pollution; and the conservation, protection, and enhancement of the natural, native, cultural, scenic, and healthful qualities of the environment.
- SB 2933
- Proposes a constitutional amendment to ensure that the inherent and inalienable right of the people, including future generations, to clean water and air, a healthful environment and climate, healthy native ecosystems, and beaches, shall be protected and shall not be infringed.
Housing
- SB 2344
- Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority for the development and construction of permanent supportive housing for certain vulnerable individuals. Requires the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to consider any available federal low-income housing tax credits needed for construction of permanent supportive housing units.
- SB 2779
- Requires the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to consider all avenues and models that may satisfy the housing needs of native Hawaiian beneficiaries and facilitate the reduction of the waitlist, including compliance with the plan implemented in Act 279, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022.
- HB 1631
- Requires the School Facilities Authority to work with the Department of Education to prioritize projects for the construction of educator workforce housing that will house teachers and other staff of the Department. Requires the School Facilities Authority to include in its annual report to the Legislature its planned actions toward increasing educator workforce housing. Requires the Department of Education to collaborate with certain state and county agencies to submit a preliminary report to the Legislature on the status of lands designated to be transferred to the Department of Education. Effective 7/1/3000.
- HB 1059
- Makes permanent Act 141, Session Laws of Hawaii 2009, which requires the counties to issue affordable housing credits to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands upon the department’s request. Makes permanent Act 98, Session Laws of Hawaii 2012, which requires the counties to issue affordable housing credits for each residential unit developed by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.
- SB 2034
- Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds for the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation’s and Hawaii Public Housing Authority’s projects to develop housing exclusively for qualified residents. (SD1)
Meeting Information
Hawaii State Youth Commission is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Hawaii State Youth Commission’s Zoom Meeting
Time: Every Sunday at 4:00 PM Hawaii Standard Time (US and Canada).
Meeting ID: 835 5597 5874
Passcode: FbU1zT
Youth Commission Documents:
HiYC Beginnings
Signed into law on July 5, 2018, the creation of the Hawai‘i State Youth Commission signals an official recognition of the unique obstacles the youth of Hawai‘i face and the great burden future generations will inherit. Since “[m]any of the most persistent issues facing the State, such as affordable housing, jobs, and education, primarily affect youth,” the Hawai‘i State Legislature concludes, “the legislature and governor would benefit from additional formal input from youth on the effect of legislation on young people in the State.”[1]
As such, the Hawai‘i State Youth Commission was formed to “advise the governor and legislature on the effects of legislative policies, needs, assessments, priorities, programs, and budgets concerning the youth.”[2] The 15 Youth Commission members (ages 14 – 24) are appointed by the Governor, the Senate President, and the Speaker of the House.
While the need for the HiYC is urgent for our generation, the story of the commission comes with failed attempts in its inception. The first version of the HiYC was introduced as “Youth Advisory Board” by Honolulu Charter Commission Member Nathan Okubo in 2016 which failed to pass after a 5-4 vote. The next versions of the HiYC were introduced as companion House[3] and Senate Bills[4] in 2017. Both versions of the bill failed to get a hearing from the Senate Ways and Means Committee. The last version of the HiYC[5] passed in 2018. The first cohort of Hawai‘i State Youth Commissioners was chosen in June 2020.
HiYC’s current work including public postings will be uploaded on this webpage soon. Stay Tuned!
[1] HB 1716 HD1 SD1 CD1, 2018 Reg. Sess. (Hawai‘i 2018). https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2018/bills/HB1716_CD1_.htm
[2] State of Hawai‘i Revised Statutes, §352D-11 (2019).
[3] HB 1466 HD1 SD1, 2017 Reg. Sess. (Hawai‘i 2017). https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2018/bills/HB1716_CD1_.pdf
[4] SB 1220 SD1, 2017 Reg. Sess. (Hawai‘i 2017). https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2017/bills/SB1220_SD1_.pdf
[5] HB 1716 HD1 SD1 CD1, 2018 Reg. Sess. (Hawai‘i 2018). https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2018/bills/HB1716_CD1_.htm