Hundreds of people — including lawmakers; Gov. Josh Green and Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke; former Govs. David Ige, Neil Abercrombie, Ben Cayetano and John Waihee; other state and county leaders; local organizations and citizens — made their way to the state capitol building in Honolulu on Jan. 15 for the opening day of the 2025 legislative session.
State Sen. Ronald Kouchi, a Democrat serving Kauai and Niihau in Senate District 8, is Senate president, while state Rep. Nadine Nakamura, a Democrat representing the Kauai communities of Hanalei, Princeville, Kilauea, Anahola, Kapaa, and Wailua in House District 15, is speaker of the House. According to a Nov. 7 announcement regarding House leadership, she is the first woman to hold this position in the state.
Both the House and Senate majorities outlined priorities for the 2025 session ahead of opening day.
Kouchi on Wednesday addressed some of the goals identified by the majority, including property insurance, infrastructure, education and workforce development, housing and more.
He concluded his remarks with a quote from Martin Luther King Jr.
"'Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only the light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that.'" Kouchi said. "So let us lead with love. Let us lead with aloha."
Senate Minority Leader Sen. Brenton Awa, a Republican serving Senate District 23, which encompasses Kaneohe, Kahaluu through Laie, Kahuku through Mokuleia, Schofield Barracks and Kunia Camp, followed Kouchi, addressing concerns about the spending and leadership within the state and entities like the University of Hawaii, development and other matters.
"We begin with a new series, looking into Hawaii's motto, questioning whether the life of the land is really being perpetuated in righteousness, or has our state become the land of the fee and the home of the ones who can pay it," he said.
In the House, Nakamura said the day marked "a new chapter in our collective journey."
"We come together with the sacred responsibility to safeguard the well-being of our Islands and all who call Hawaii home," she said. "As we approach today, I have given thought to my new role as speaker. I have thought about duty, responsibility and challenges ahead."
She spoke, too, of the Majority Caucus' "20-year vision," which she said addresses areas like housing, education, health, the environment, economic diversity and resiliency, and public safety, among others.
House Minority Leader Rep. Lauren Matsumoto, a Republican serving in House District 38, which covers portions of Mililani and Waipio Acres, and Mililani Mauka, followed Nakamura.
She said the 2025 Republican caucus package was "created for the Hawaii we know and love — our Hawaii," and aims to address issues like the cost of living, housing, education, crime and safety, Native Hawaiian advocacy and government reform.
"These issues are important but they are just the tip of the iceberg of all the legislation that we will be dealing with this session," Matsumoto said. "Working together and hearing every voice is very important and it's a step in the right direction for our state."
The Senate's opening day floor session can be viewed online here and the House's can be found here.
The current legislative session is set to adjourn on May 2. A full session calendar can be found here, while more information about the Legislature, bills under consideration, upcoming hearings and more can be found online here.
The Hawaii State Legislature is comprised of two chambers — the state Senate has 25 members who serve staggered four-year terms, and the state House of Representatives, which has 51 members elected every two years, the Legislature website notes.
Stephanie Salmons can be reached at stephanie@alohastatedaily.com.
