Lawmakers and more than 50 local nonprofits focused on serving keiki, kūpuna and working families, gathered for a resource fair and rally put on by HCAN Speaks! at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol on Friday.
HCAN Speaks!, the lobbying arm of Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network, organized the first-time event with support from the Working Families Caucus, Keiki Caucus and Kupuna Caucus, and sponsors including AAUW of Hawaiʻi, AlohaCare, Hawaiʻi Appleseed, Hawaiʻi State Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Hawaiʻi Workers Center.
HCAN Executive Director Deborah Zysman told Aloha State Daily that this event aims to bring the community together, while attracting more advocates – including businesses – to build a stronger, unified voice. The organization’s mission is to advocate for Hawaiʻi's children.
“More families are fed up with government officials. At the moment, it feels like we can’t count on the federal government to help working class families, so we’ll be asking what our state is doing to help working class families stay here, survive here, thrive here,” Zysman said. “It actually worries me that a number of the really solid bills for that are dead, so I think there’s going to be some pushing that the state needs to step up.”
Rep. Ikaika Olds kicked off an afternoon press conference with a lineup of speakers. “Investing in our keiki is investing in our future,” he said.
On behalf of the Hawai’i True Cost Coalition, Tina Andrade, who also serves as president and CEO of Catholic Charities of Hawaiʻi, said local nonprofits are at a tipping point due to “federal uncertainty. We must rebuild our safety net, or it will continue to unravel. … Together, we are a dedicated safety net providing vital services for our community.”
“Lawmakers who visited our booth today asked how we would be impacted by federal funding cuts, so they're aware of whatʻs going on. The real question is how do the changes at that level impact the community and families needs,” Dean Wong, executive director of Imua Family Services, a nonprofit on Maui and Moloka‘i, told ASD. He also serves as HCAN’s board president.
“What makes this event successful is that various elected officials learn and listen about their constituents who are serving the community,” Wong added.
Zysman said another goal for the rally was to feature a set of bills that would make living in Hawaiʻi affordable for families.
Some of HCAN Speaks! 2025 bill priorities include:
-HB692: Preschool Open Doors expansion early learning access (funding already allocated, bill would change current law to increase eligibility)
-HB549: Early learning apprenticeship grant (funding to recruit professionals)
Bills that did not make it were:
-HB757: Universal free school meals (bill would require Department of Education to serve free breakfast and lunch to students)
-HB755: Paid family and medical leave (bill would require state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to create an insurance program collecting payroll contributions. Beneficiaries can use time off on themselves or family members).
"We’ve seen things come back," Zysman said. "With the community's support anything could happen."
Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros can be reached at kelsey@alohastatedaily.com.
