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.
| Island of Hawaiʻi | Misty Cruden – Chairperson Marli Mason – Vice Chairperson Mei Kanada – Secretary Marley McIntyre – Public Health Topic Lead Hana-Lei Ji – Legislative Lead Eric Gee Shanoa (Kū) Quanan |
| Maui | Jeremiah Jacinto Gizelle Rodrigues |
| Oʻahu | Pomai Chang – Education/Higher Education Topic Lead Sophie Chan – Housing Topic Lead Kim Ashley Sunio – Treasurer |
| Kauaʻi | Angeli Tolosa Marissa Matsushige |
Legislative Projects
Education/Higher Education:
- SB91:
- Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, requires the Department of Education to include the teaching of financial literacy in the personal transition plan requirement for each student.
- SB221:
- Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, requires the Department of Education to provide free breakfast and lunch to students enrolled in a public school who meet certain requirements. Appropriates funds.
- HB328:
- Requires the Department of Education to authorize and facilitate complex areas or individual public schools to form their own farm to school meal programs through partnerships to meet the local farm to school meal goal of thirty per cent of food served in the school to consist of locally sourced products by 2030. Allows the Department of Education to establish a plant-based meal program no later than the 2026-2027 school year. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
- SB84:
- Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, establishes a pilot program that requires the Department of Education to include cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator training for public school students in grades six through twelve as part of existing health or physical education curriculum.
- HB440:
- Prohibits certain covered educational entities and Hawaiʻi Health Systems Corporation facilities from collecting information regarding citizenship or immigration status or allowing officers of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enter certain facilities, except under specific circumstances.
Public Health:
- HB756:
- Prohibits the sale of flavored nicotine products and the mislabeling of e-liquids as nicotine free. Establishes penalties for violations. Authorizes the Department of Health to appoint, commission, or contract for services of inspectors. Establishes two full-time equivalent program specialist positions and one full-time equivalent hearing officer position. Appropriates funds.
- HB714:
- Appropriates funds to support educational training programs to expand the State’s health care workforce. Allocates funds to the Department of Education for health care certificate programs and classroom renovations for health care training in public schools. Allocates funds to the University of Hawai’i for education programs that support certified nurse assistants in becoming licensed practical nurses.
- HB609:
- Requires the posting of informational placards on sex trafficking and resources available to victims, in public buildings and at other specified locations. Requires the Department of Human Services to develop and make available a model placard. Requires the Department of Education to train teachers, school administrators, and other school personnel on the dynamics of sex trafficking and strategies for prevention and response. Requires and appropriates moneys for the Department of the Attorney General to develop and implement public education and outreach events on the dynamics of sex trafficking and the importance of community involvement in prevention and response efforts.
- HB609:
- Requires the posting of informational placards on sex trafficking and resources available to victims, in public buildings and at other specified locations. Requires the Department of Human Services to develop and make available a model placard. Requires the Department of Education to train teachers, school administrators, and other school personnel on the dynamics of sex trafficking and strategies for prevention and response. Requires and appropriates moneys for the Department of the Attorney General to develop and implement public education and outreach events on the dynamics of sex trafficking and the importance of community involvement in prevention and response efforts.
- HB60:
- Requires and appropriates moneys for the Department of Human Services’ Office of Youth Services to develop and implement a program offering individualized service and support teams to assist at-risk and court-involved youth.
- HB240:
- Establishes and provides criteria for overdose prevention centers, including standards for the Department of Health to designate certain facilities as overdose prevention centers. Establishes an Overdose Prevention Center Oversight Committee. Provides immunity from state criminal prosecution for certain offenses for persons using a designated overdose prevention center and persons operating a designated overdose prevention center.
Housing:
- HB464:
- Landlords must notify tenants of any intent to raise rent or terminate rent agreement. Must be 90 days in advance (for tenancies of 3+ years). Must be 60 days in advance (tenancies less than 3 years)
- HB739:
- Establishes the Kamaaina Homes Program to provide funding to the counties to purchase voluntary deed restrictions from eligible homeowners or homebuyers. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
- SB1140:
- Establishes the Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (FAIR) program, which shall be administered under the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to ensure that residents in highrisk areas can purchase affordable and comprehensive property insurance coverage for their residential properties.
- HB431:
- Appropriates funds for the Kauhale Initiative. Establishes and appropriates funds into and out of the Supportive Housing Special Fund. Effective 6/29/3000. (HD1)
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