Sen. Henry Aquino

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution requests Hawaii's Department of Human Resources Development to coordinate with mental health agencies (including Health, Human Services, Corrections, Education, and the Judiciary) to address critical workforce shortages. It aims to identify practical solutions for expediting hiring of mental health professionals by tackling obstacles like outdated recruitment policies, stigma, and burnout. The resolution does not create new laws but asks agencies to collaborate on specific actions to fill vacancies affecting public mental health care services.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 163 requests the University of Hawaii to study establishing an Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. It directs the university to assess its current research capabilities, evaluate benefits for Hawaii residents, and identify requirements to secure federal funding from the National Institute on Aging. The resolution requires the university to develop a phased plan with a timeline and submit a report by December 31, 2025. This resolution directly affects the University of Hawaii and aims to explore potential research opportunities for Alzheimer's disease, particularly considering Hawaii's unique demographic composition.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 16) requests the Commander of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam to permit Honolulu's Department of Parks and Recreation to temporarily use 12 acres of vacant, non-contaminated land on the Pearl City Peninsula for youth sports programs. It directly affects local youth soccer, baseball, and flag football teams that lack sufficient city park fields. The resolution specifies the non-contaminated land (excluding a small PFAS-affected area) could host at least three ball fields, with contaminated zones reserved for parking, addressing a decades-long shortage of recreational space. The request stems from community input and the Navy's 1985 fire cleanup, which left the land unused for 30+ years.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 38) supports the Native Hawaiian Intellectual Property Working Group's request for additional resources and a timeline extension for fiscal year 2025-2026. The Working Group, established to protect Native Hawaiian cultural intellectual property through community consultations, needs more time and funding to develop solutions preventing cultural appropriation. The resolution expresses legislative support for their work without creating new legal requirements.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 93 requests the City and County of Honolulu to display purple lights at City Hall on August 7 each year to honor National Purple Heart Day. This symbolic resolution commemorates military service members who were injured or killed in action, recognizing their sacrifices. It does not impose legal requirements on the city but asks for a visible annual tribute. The resolution is non-binding and focuses solely on honoring Purple Heart recipients through a public display.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 14 requests the U.S. Postal Service to build a new Pearl City Post Office on U.S. Navy property at the Pearl City Peninsula entrance (across from Lehua Elementary School), replacing the current location. This would address safety concerns, traffic congestion, and overcrowding at the existing post office, which has limited parking, a small lobby, and insufficient space due to increased online package volume and nearby development. The resolution specifically asks for a larger facility with expanded parking for both employees and customers. (Note: This is a non-binding request to the USPS, not a law requiring construction.)

Maddy summarySR 154 is a Senate Resolution requesting the Office of the Auditor to conduct a performance audit of the University of Hawaii Foundation. The resolution specifically asks the Auditor to evaluate how the Foundation manages over 7,000 donor gift accounts and $660 million in fundraising funds (from the "For UH For Hawaii" campaign) to ensure effective use of resources supporting University of Hawaii students and faculty. This procedural resolution does not change laws but directs an external review of the Foundation’s fund management practices. The audit would assess transparency and efficiency in handling donations dedicated to specific university programs and projects.

Maddy summarySCR 89 is a resolution requesting Hawaii's Department of Agriculture to form a working group that will develop an educational pathway at University of Hawaii community colleges for meat processing careers. It directly affects students seeking entry-level jobs in meat processing and addresses a current workforce shortage that limits local ranchers' ability to process and sell their products. The working group must create a curriculum covering food safety, animal handling, processing techniques, regulatory compliance, hands-on training, and sustainable practices. The goal is to equip students with skills needed to support Hawaii's agricultural industry and reduce reliance on imported meat.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 155 requests the State Auditor to conduct a management and performance audit of the University of Hawaii's Office of the Vice President for Academic Strategy. The audit will examine how the office manages workforce pipelines from pre-school through college, aligns academic programs with Hawaii's job market needs, coordinates transfer agreements between universities and community colleges, and measures program success through performance metrics. This resolution does not create new laws but directs the Auditor to assess existing practices and provide recommendations for improvement. The findings must be reported to the Legislature by late 2025.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 160 requests the Office of the Auditor to conduct a financial and operational audit of the University of Hawaii at Manoa Athletics Department. This audit is prompted by a reported $2.1 million deficit in the department's FY2024 budget, concerns about the lack of a sustainable funding plan, and the absence of a master plan for operations. The resolution aims to evaluate whether the department manages funds responsibly and effectively supports student athletes across sports programs. As a procedural resolution, it does not change laws but formally asks for an independent review to improve financial oversight.