Thousands of bills work their way through the state legislature each year. Many have the potential to impact how Kamehameha Schools educates its learners and cares for its land and commercial assets.
KS’ Government Relations staff monitors the pulse of the legislature during the duration of each session following issues ranging from early childhood education to alternative energy.
The department is made up of two staffers. Government Relations Coordinator Piʻilani Hanohano tracks relevant bills, and synthesizes their content. Government Relations Clerk Spencer Lum inputs the information into a special SharePoint site, making it simple for KS subject matter experts to check on the status of bills.
During the first week of the 2015 state legislative session, Hanohano reviewed more than 2,800 bills. Of those bills, KS tracked nearly 350, 40 of which passed and headed to Gov. David Ige for signature. Ige has until July 14 to pass or veto bills or they automatically become law.
“Keeping pace with the status of bills gets easier as the legislative session goes on,” says Hanohano. “Many bills fail to meet the designated milestones needed to make it to the governor, and die. Newly introduced bills that die can return during the next legislative session for a final chance at passing.”
The Government Relations staff works closely with three professional lobbyists specializing in a range of subject-matter areas, the most prominent of which include education and land-related issues.
Four KS staffers are also registered lobbyists and are called upon during the session if needed. They are CEO Jack Wong, Chief of Staff Walter Thoemmes, Land Assets Division Director Sydney Keliʻipuleʻole, and Hoʻolako Like Director Waiʻaleʻale Sarsona, who is currently serving as interim VP of Strategic Planning and Implementation.
Sarsona tracks bills relating to overall educational funding, especially those related to early childhood education, Hawaiian language immersion and Hawaiian-focused charter schools. She and other KS staffers appreciate having the latest legislative information at their fingertips.
“As we think about ways to serve students who are not enrolled at our campuses and preschools, advocating for good education policy, funding, and support to public and community education is critical.
“It is particularly important to Hawaiian-focused charter schools and Hawaiian immersion schools that attract our Native Hawaiian families. We want to find ways to ensure they have the right resources to educate them well. Similarly, for early childhood education, it is critical to ensure that families have access to financial assistance from the state for preschool.”
If you have questions about legislative issues, contact Government Relations Coordinator Piʻilani Hanohano at pihanoha@ksbe.edu or 523-6368.
A sampling of bills that passed this legislative session
The Government Relations staff tracked nearly 350 bills during the 2015 legislative session, following issues ranging from early childhood education to alternative energy. The bills included:
HB207
Requires OHA to administer a training course on Native Hawaiian and Hawaiian rights. Requires members of certain state councils, boards, and commissions to attend the training course.
HB573
Establishes the Hawai‘i Good Agricultural Practices Program to develop and support good agricultural practices for Hawai‘i farms growing agricultural food products.
HB820
Establishes the Executive Office on Early Learning Prekindergarten Program to be administered by the Executive Office on Early Learning and provided through DOE public schools and public charter schools.
SB64
Makes appropriations for positions and the continued implementation of the preschool open doors program and for subsidies for the program.
SB434
Includes traditional Hawaiian farming and small-scale farming to the objectives and policies for the economy.
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