Apr

17

Ask Your Senator 2013: Thanks for Asking (Senator Ronald Kouchi)

Education

As part of the 2013 Education Week “Ask Your Senator” program, a Kaua’i High School student submitted the following questions for his Senator, Senator Ronald Kouchi (District 8- Kaua’i, Ni’ihau):

• When you first stepped foot into your office, after being elected the first time, what was one of the first things that crossed your mind, if you can recall?
• What’s the best part of your job as a lawmaker?” -Dillon (Kaua’i High School)

After reading the student’s question, Senator Ronald Kouchi, vice president of the Hawaii State Senate, provided a video response to the student’s questions.  As part of his response, Senator Kouchi talks about one of the many reasons why he enjoys being a lawmaker, “I think the best thing is just being able to help people…”

To view video: http://youtu.be/RI_4GkBtiTw.

Posted by | 0 comments
Apr

09

Ask Your Senator 2013: Thanks for Asking (Senator Russell Ruderman)

Education

As part of the 2013 Education Week “Ask Your Senator” program, Senator Russell Ruderman (District 2- Kea‘au, Pahoa, Kalapana, Kapoho, Kurtistown, Mountain View, Glenwood, Volcano, Pahala) received several questions form students at Keonepoko Elementary School:

 I have questions about the problems in Puna. This has come to my thought that problems are growing bigger and bigger.  One of my questions is how will you stop drug abuse? People are starting lives with drugs. Another question is [how can you help] people [who are losing jobs] and lack of money for important needs?”

-Carlo (Keonepoko Elementary School)

Here are my questions:

  • Why did you want to become a Senator?
  • How will you make our neighborhood a safe place?
  • How will you make our schools better?

 

Thank you Senator Ruderman for taking time to read my letter and for making our neighborhood a nice place.”

 

-Sergio (Keonepoko Elementary School)

 

I have some questions for you:

  • How do you feel about the shooting in Puna?
  • How do you know that Hawaii is doing well?
  • Have you ever traveled around the world?
  • What did you feel when you became Senator?
  • Why do you want to be Senator?
  • What good things will you do?
  • Do you care about what you do for our community?

 

I hope you like my letter and I thank you for what you do for our community. I hope you answer my questions.”

-Nanea (Keonepoko Elementary School)

After reading the students’ question, Senator Russell Ruderman provided a video response to their questions.

As part of his response Senator Ruderman shared how he felt when he was elected into office, “It was very exciting. I was also very humbled by the support of my district and I’m very proud to represent the people of Puna…”

To view video: http://youtu.be/GQVKJzogE50.

Posted by | 0 comments
Apr

08

Ask Your Senator 2013: Thanks for Asking (Senator Jill Tokuda)

Education

As part of the 2013 Education Week “Ask Your Senator” program, a Kalaheo High School student submitted the following questions for her Senator, Senator Jill Tokuda (District 24- Kane’ohe, Kane’ohe MCAB, Kailua, He’eia, ‘Ahuimanu):

• How does one become a State Senator? What are their responsibilities?
• Besides submitting testimonies and attending hearings, how can high school students get involved in the legislature?”

-Hannah (Kalaheo High School)

After reading the student’s question, Senator Jill Tokuda, chair of the Senate Committee on Education, provided a video response to student’s question.

As part of her response Senator Tokuda shared the first step in the process of becoming a State Senator, “First of all, how does one become a Senator? You have to have a passion, obviously, for public service. So, you’ve got to prepare yourself to represent your constituents and put yourself on that ballot, take that very first step, run for office…”

To view video: http://youtu.be/9WSgL-YeMwg.

Posted by | 0 comments
Feb

26

Ask Your Senator

Education / Social Media

Education Week at the State Capitol is right around the corner! This year marks the 10th anniversary of Education week, which will be held from March 18 to March 22. Organized by the Hawaii State Senate Committee on Education, this interactive week-long celebration honors the achievements and innovative efforts of our local schools, educators and various programs throughout the state from early childhood to the university level. Hawaii State Senators are once again taking the event to the classroom with the “Ask Your Senator” project, to find out what our future leaders want to know about their State. This is the second year of the “Ask Your Senator” project.

The concept behind the “Ask Your Senator” project is simple. We want to know what classrooms and students from across the State are thinking, by asking them to ask us, their Senators, a question. After the questions are collected, Senators will take the time to answer select questions through online videos, which will be shared with the students as well as with the wider community.

This project provides opportunity for students to lead the discussion, through student driven and student oriented questions. Students may take part of the “Ask Your Senator” project as a group (school or classroom) or as an individual student. The various ways you can participate are listed below. Questions will be collected between March 4th and March 13th. Once questions are selected, Senators will answer questions through videos which will be published online and sent back to the schools, classrooms, and individual students.

If you need help coming up with questions to ask, example questions could include topics in the areas such as: the legislative processes, issues or problems in your community, or general questions about the role of the legislature.

Ways to participate in “Ask Your Senator”

Email- Send your question (s) or video link to scomm@capitol.hawaii.gov.

Twitter- Use the hashtag #HIAskYourSen

Facebook- There are several ways you can send a message on Facebook:

* Share your message to the Hawaii Senate Majority Facebook page under the note Section, Ask Your Senator?
* Share your message with your Senator on their Facebook page.
YouTube/ Online Video- Email your YouTube/ Online video link to scomm@capitol.hawaii.gov.

If you would like your video to be shared on the Senate and Senate Caucuses’ webpages/ social media please complete the attached media release form: MEDIA RELEASE FORM (2013 Ask Your Senator)

Posted by | 0 comments
Mar

22

Ask Your Senator 2012: Thanks for Asking…

Education / Social Media

As part of the 2012 Education Week “Ask Your Senator” project, a McKinley High School student, emailed the following question for his Senator, Senator Brickwood Galuteria (Senate District 12-Iwilei, Chinatown, Downtown, Kaka’ako, Ala Moana, Waikiki):

How can you help students like myself and others, to showcase our creativity in photography, art, writing, and in academics and scholarly endeavors in a public forum? We want to do what sports does for high school students, but in the academic fields.” — McKinley High School Student.

After reading the email, Senator Brickwood Galuteria, provided a video response to answer the student’s question.

As part of his response Senator Galuteria explained, “down here at the State Capitol, we often showcase works from students throughout Hawaii.” The Senator representing District 12 urged interested students to make appointments with their State Senators, specifically suggesting, “Why don’t you make an appointment and come down to see me and we can perhaps work something out. Maybe get some of the McKinley High School students’ artworks showcased here at the Capitol.”

To view video click here.

Posted by | 0 comments
Mar

22

Ask Your Senator 2012: Thanks for Asking…

Education / Social Media


During this year’s “Pizza and Policy” event held at the Hawaii State Capitol, a handful of student participants were among the first ever to submit questions for Education Week’s inaugural “Ask Your Senator” project. As part of the “Pizza and Policy” event, students had the opportunity to discuss the legislative process with their State Legislators. Following enlightened discussion on various issues, one student, who lives in downtown, shared her experience and submitted a question about what she believes to be a disproportionate structure in fines for crossing against the pedestrian-control traffic signal .

The student explained, “I live downtown and there is a lot of crosswalks, used by students around HPU and the elderly. Early one morning when there were not buses on the street, I crossed… and the crosswalk countdown had begun two seconds ago. I was stopped by a police officer and fined… for jaywalking. I looked at fines online and saw that the most expensive one was jaywalking, not a moving violation.” — Downtown Honolulu student resident

In response to the student’s concern, Senator Brickwood Galuteria went to the Hawaii Revised Statues and referred to Section 291C-32 which states:

pedestrians facing a steady yellow signal, unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian-control signal as provided in section 291C-33, are thereby advised that there is insufficient time to cross there roadway before a red indication is shown and no pedestrian shall then start to cross the roadway.

In regards to the question about the price associated with the fine, Senator Galuteria explained, “the reason the fine is so high, I would suppose, is because they’re trying to deter you from doing this type of thing. And obviously, it will go up every time if the lesson is not learned, the fees will go up; the fines will go up.”

To view video click here.

Posted by | 0 comments
Mar

19

Ask Your Senator 2012: Thanks for Asking…

Education / Social Media

During the 2012 Education Week, Maui Senators had the opportunity to share their legislative experience with a student shadow from the Kamehameha Schools Maui Campus. Participating in this year’s “Ask Your Senator” project, the student shadow submitted a question to the Maui Senators:

I understand that some states have a term limit. Why doesn’t Hawaii have one?” — Kamehameha Schools Maui Campus Student

Responding on behalf of the Maui senatorial delegation, Senator Roz Baker (Senate District 5- South and West Maui) answered, “My answer would be that every year that we stand for election we run the risk of having a term limit.” Senator Baker further explained, “If we had term limits we would be actually giving over the institutional memory to the paid lobbyist and the other folks that represent special interests rather than looking at the general concerns of the people of the State of Hawaii.”

Posted by | 0 comments
Mar

15

Ask Your Senator 2012: Thanks for Asking…

Articles / Education / Social Media

On March 6, 2012, students from Kalaheo High School joined dozens of their peers at the State Capitol to take part in the “Youth Unite for Kick Butts Day Rally.” Students from various schools across the State gathered to get their message against the tobacco industry’s ads targeting our youth heard.

As part of the 2012 Education Week “Ask Your Senator” project, Kalaheo High School students posed several questions to their State Senator, Jill Tokuda (Senate District 24- Kane’ohe, Kane’ohe MCAB, Kailua, and Enchanted Lake), regarding the power of their voice.

Do we (students) have a voice in the Senate? And if we do have a voice, how powerful is our voice? And if our voice is powerful, how can we get our voice out there?”- Kalaheo High School students.

After listening to the students’ question, Senator Jill Tokuda, chair of the Senate Committee on Education, provided a video response to their question.

As part of her response Senator Tokuda assured students, “Absolutely, you have a voice. You have a very powerful voice here in the legislature and out there in the community.”

 

Click here to view Senator Tokuda’s response.

Posted by | 0 comments
Mar

15

More than Seventy Students to Testify Before Senate Committee

Capitol Meetings & Events / Education / Social Media

WHO:   Middle and high school students from participating schools:

 

Aiea High School                                                       King Kekaulike High School

Anuenue Elementary & High School                    Lahainaluna High School

Campbell High School                                             Moanalua High School

Ewa Makai Middle School                                       Pearl City High School

Hanalani Schools                                                      Punahou School

Hilo High Schools                                                     Waiakea High School

Kailua High School                                                   Waianae High School

Kalaheo High School                                                Waimea High School

American Renaissance Academy, Kapolei

 

WHAT: As part of Youth Engagement Legislative Hearing Day, students will take part in civic engagement, learning about the legislative process, and testifying before the Senate Committee on Education on the following measures:

 

House Bill 2626, Relating to Safe Routes to School.

Permanently establishes the Safe Routes to School Program within the Department of Transportation. Establishes a Safe Routes to School Program Special Fund. Assesses a surcharge of $25 for violations of speeding in a school zone and a $10 surcharge on various traffic violations and deposits these surcharges into the Safe Routes to School Program Special Fund.

House Bill 2273, Relating to Concussions.

Requires the DOE and the Hawaii High School Athletic Association to develop a concussion awareness program to provide guidelines for public and private schools.

House Bill 2007, Relating to Instructional Time.

Requires the Department of Education to devise four bell schedules each for elementary, middle, and high schools, except for charter schools and public multi-track schools. Repeals the general requirement that all public schools except Charter Schools and multi-track public schools include one thousand eighty student instructional hours for the 2016-2018 school years.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 32, Requesting the Department of Education to establish a task force on cheerleading to determine if cheerleading should be classified an interscholastic sport in public school athletic programs.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 33, Requesting the Department of Education and Board of Education to institute a Green Hawaii Program within the public school system.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 95, Requesting the Board of Education and Department of Education, in collaboration with the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, to examine local and national models of best practices for the use of technology in schools and recommend any new guidelines to increase internet access to allow the responsible and positive integration of social media in the classroom, while ensuring necessary protections to prevent abuse.

WHEN: Friday, March 16, 2012, beginning at 1:15 p.m. in the State Capitol’s Auditorium

Background:

Youth Engagement Legislative Hearing Day is organized by the Hawaii State Senate Committee on Education as part of Education Week. This is the fifth year that the Senate Education Committee has invited public and private schools to participate in Hearing Day.  Students will be testifying along with the general public.  Focused on highlighting the success of our schools and our students, this year’s Education Week celebration includes programs and events that bring everyone, from our youngest of keiki to our most mature k?puna, to the State Capitol to educate and engage with policymakers.  Education Week wraps up Friday, March 16, 2012.

Posted by | 0 comments
Mar

08

Hawaii State Senate Celebrates Education

Capitol Meetings & Events / Education / Press Releases / Social Media

HONOLULU — Education will once again be the focus of an interactive week-long celebration at the State Capitol from March 12-16, 2012. Various educational stakeholders and organizations that make a difference in the lives of Hawaii’s students will be participating in the legislature’s 9th Annual Education Week. During House and Senate Floor Sessions, legislators will also be honoring various individuals and schools, such as Milken Award educators, district teachers of the year, principals of the year, and Hawaii Blue Ribbon Schools.

The event is being organized by the Hawaii State Senate Committee on Education. Focused on highlighting the success of our schools and our students, this year’s celebration will include programs and events that bring everyone, from our youngest of keiki to our most mature k?puna, to the State Capitol to educate and engage with policymakers.

Some highlights include:

  • University of Hawaii coaches and athletic department members meet and greet.
  • “Punt, Pass, Kick” competition
  • University of Hawaii System culinary students’ cooking demonstration and samples
  • Hawaii Public Charter Schools will be giving out frozen yogurt with 32 different toppings, which represents Hawaii’s 32 charter schools
  • High School students will engage in the legislative process by learning about it, then testifying on bills before several Senate Committees.
  • JROTC demonstrations by several high school teams
  •  “Ask Your Senator” project engages Hawaii State Senators take questions from students about a variety of topics, including civics, issues concerning them and their community, etc.   Through the use of social media, the Q’s & A’s, are exchanged.  They can be found on:  www.facebook.com/hawaiisenatemajority.

 

Below is a calendar of the events:

MONDAY, MARCH 12

HE’E Coalition and Hawaii Education Matters Open House
Time:  9 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Place:  State Capitol, Room 225

Friends of the Library Book Sale
Time:  9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Place:  State Capitol, Room 224

JROTC Demonstrations
Time:  10 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
Place:  State Capitol Rotunda

Senate and House Floor Presentations:

2011 Librarians of the Year, 2011 Milken Family Foundation Educator Awards, 2011 Masayuki Tokioka Excellence Award, STEM and Creative Media Awards
Time:  11:30 a.m. (Senate) 12:00 p.m. (House)
Place:  Senate/House Chambers

TUESDAY, MARCH 13

University of Hawaii Systemwide Displays and Special Demonstrations by Culinary Arts and Meet and Greet with Athletic Coaches, “Punt, Pass, Kick” Competition
Time: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Place: Capitol Rotunda

Senate Floor Presentations:
Girl Scouts of Hawaii 95th Anniversary, UH Commission on Status of Women, UH Football Coach Norm Chow
Time:  Senate Session, 11: 30 a.m.
Place:  Senate Chambers

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14

“32 Flavors of Hawaii’s Public Charter Schools”
(Charter schools to pass out frozen yogurt with 32 different toppings, representing 32 Hawaii Charter Schools)
Time:  9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Place:  Room 225

Senate Floor Presentation:

In memoriam of Dr. Shinichi Hamashige (Kahuku High and Intermediate School Alumni who established the Hamashige Endowment fund, which has helped 72 high school graduates pursue their dream of a college education, so far.)
Time:  Senate Session, 11: 30 a.m.
Place:  Senate Chambers

THURSDAY, MARCH 15

Early Learning Council Displays
Time:  9:30 a.m.  – 11:00 a.m.
Place:  Room 225

Lemonade Alley
(Lemonade Alley is national business literacy competition for students K-12 to gain street-smarts about business through a fun and engaging experience.  Students will be raising money for the Hawaii Food Bank during their presentation.)
Time:  9:30 a.m.  – 11:15 a.m.
Place:  Room 224

Castle High School Performing Arts
Time:  10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
Place:  State Capitol Rotunda

Senate and House Floor Presentations: 2012 Blue Ribbon Schools, 2011 National Distinguished Principals
Time:  11:30 a.m. (Senate) 12:00 p.m. (House)
Place:  Senate/House Chambers

FRIDAY, MARCH 16

Senate and House Floor Presentations: 2012 Hawaii Teachers of the Year
Time:  11:30 a.m. (Senate) 12:00 p.m. (House)
Place:  Senate/House Chambers

Youth Engagement Legislative Hearing Day with the Senate Committee on Education
Time:  1:15 p.m.
Place:  Room 225

 

Posted by | 0 comments
© Copyright Hawai'i Senate Majority Caucus - Theme by Pexeto