Rep. Jeanné Kapela

Maddy summaryHCR 149 is a concurrent resolution requesting Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources to form a working group focused on transitioning Volcano, Hawaii, into a UNESCO biosphere reserve. The working group, chaired by the State Representative from House District 5 and including a Volcano Community Association representative, must assess environmental initiatives needed to address local challenges like invasive species and forest degradation. Key tasks include developing native forest stewardship practices, creating community education strategies, establishing monitoring systems, and identifying conservation buffer zones. The group must submit a final report with recommendations to the Legislature and Hawaii County Council by early 2026. This resolution does not create new laws but initiates an assessment process to align Volcano with the existing Hawaiian Islands Biosphere Reserve.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 139) urges Hawaii's Department of Education, Department of Health, and relevant stakeholders to collaborate on a strategic plan to prepare for potential participation in the CDC's national autism prevalence surveillance program. It directly affects state agencies and community stakeholders by requesting they develop infrastructure for data collection, identify necessary resources, and engage providers to support CDC's autism monitoring efforts. The resolution focuses on gathering accurate autism prevalence data for Hawaii - particularly for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities where rates are higher - rather than creating new services or funding. It is non-binding and aims to position Hawaii to seek CDC funding under the Autism CARES Act, with a requirement for a progress report to the legislature by 2026.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 136) urges the Hawaii Tourism Authority and Department of Transportation to expand the existing Kāhea Airport Greetings Program to display student artwork at all neighbor island airports (including Kahului, Lihu’e, Kona, Hilo, Moloka’i, and Lāna’i). The program currently features free, year-round cultural displays of student art at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport on O’ahu, and this resolution seeks to extend it island-wide. It does not create new law but encourages the agencies to secure funding and collaborate with schools to showcase children’s art, aiming to promote Hawaiian culture and provide equitable recognition for student artists across all islands.

Maddy summaryHR 143 is a House Resolution requesting the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources to form a working group to assess how Volcano, Hawaii, can transition into a UNESCO biosphere reserve. The resolution addresses current environmental challenges in Volcano, including invasive species, Rapid Ohia Death, and forest degradation, aiming to align the area with the neighboring Hawaiian Islands Biosphere Reserve. The working group must develop strategies for native forest stewardship, community engagement, monitoring systems, and conservation planning to promote environmental sustainability and community well-being. This procedural resolution does not create new laws but directs state agencies to study the feasibility of this designation.

Maddy summaryHCR 86 is a concurrent resolution requesting Hawaii's Department of Education to establish an "Aloha Civics Working Group" to enhance civics education in public schools. The group, requiring specific members including the Superintendent of Education, university representatives, legislative staff, community organizations, and public members, must assess current civics programs, identify ways to integrate the Aloha Spirit's principles (kindness, unity, humility), develop teaching strategies, recommend educator training, and propose evaluation metrics. The group must submit its final report to the Legislature and Department of Education by January 2026, ahead of the next legislative session. This resolution directly affects Hawaii's public school curriculum and educator training by seeking to incorporate cultural values into civic learning.

Maddy summaryHouse Resolution 80 requests the Hawaii Department of Education to establish an Aloha Civics Working Group focused on enhancing civics education in public schools. The working group will assess current civics programs, develop recommendations for integrating the "Aloha Spirit" (Hawaii's cultural principles of kindness, unity, and empathy) into the curriculum, and propose teacher training and evaluation metrics. The group must submit a report to the Legislature and Department of Education by 2026. This resolution directly affects Hawaii's public school system and educators through its recommendations for curriculum changes.

Maddy summaryHCR 87 is a concurrent resolution urging Hawaii's Department of Education to establish an annual Climate Week in all public schools. It directly affects public school students statewide by requiring schools to integrate climate awareness, education, and sustainability initiatives into their curriculum during this dedicated week. Key mechanisms include collaborating with environmental organizations and supporting student-led climate action projects. The resolution does not create new laws but requests the Department of Education to develop this program, citing gaps in current climate education for students. It is modeled after similar initiatives in New York and the UN, aiming to address youth climate anxiety through structured educational engagement.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 134) urges Hawaii's Sister-State Committee to evaluate and develop recommendations for establishing a formal sister-state relationship between Hawaii and New Zealand. It focuses on strengthening cooperation in economic development, arts/cultural exchange, education, and environmental sustainability, building on shared Polynesian heritage and mutual commitments to indigenous cultures and sustainability. The resolution does not create new laws but requests the committee assess potential collaboration areas and advises the Governor to implement the relationship if recommended. It directly affects Hawaii's state agencies and the Sister-State Committee, encouraging future partnerships with New Zealand.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 81) urges Hawaii's Department of Education to establish an annual Climate Week in all public schools statewide. It aims to directly affect students by promoting climate awareness, education, and participation in environmental projects through school-based activities. The resolution proposes collaborating with environmental organizations to develop interactive, student-led sustainability initiatives during this designated week. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws but encourages existing educational programs to integrate climate action.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 140) requests Hawaii's Department of Human Services (DHS) to apply for and implement the Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP) for SNAP benefits. It directly affects low-income seniors aged 60+ without earned income, aiming to simplify their access to food assistance by waiving in-person interviews, extending benefit certification to 36 months, and allowing flexible verification. The resolution asks DHS to seek federal approvals and update its rules to adopt ESAP, which is designed to reduce barriers to SNAP enrollment for seniors. Hawaii currently does not participate in ESAP despite SNAP supporting over 130,000 residents and contributing $630 million annually to the state economy.