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The state of our State is strong. We are a resilient people and the future is bright. As I stand before you today, I am struck by the beautiful and often challenging complexity that makes Hawai‘i our home. We really are the most beautiful place on Earth. We are of many cultures and faiths, and ...
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It is one thing to say our children matter; it is quite another to do something about it. We have invested more widely in classrooms than in previous years. We promised to cool 1,000 of Hawai‘i’s hottest classrooms where soaring temperatures have hindered learning for years. I’m proud to report that, with the Legislature’s support, ...
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For those who want to live in Hawai‘i, probably no issue is more challenging than finding a decent, affordable place to live. And probably no issue challenges us as a society more than the daily sight of those who are now living on our streets and in our parks. We have dedicated more money to ...
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Hawai‘i has so much potential in this new globally connected world. We are already viewed as the ideal testing ground for innovative, globally significant technologies such as telemedicine, smart cities, driverless vehicles and aquaculture. . . Hawai‘i is home to many talented individuals breaking new ground every day. The Big Island’s Tina Fitch turned her ...
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Even though tourism is up and unemployment is low, many of our residents are living paycheck to paycheck, one health emergency or car repair away from a crisis. Some people may have two or three jobs to make ends meet. The challenge is not just creating jobs, it’s about creating QUALITY jobs and the training ...
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I am proud that together we were able to pass Kūpuna Caregiver legislation that provides assistance for full-time family caregivers who also have full-time jobs. This is a win for Hawaiʻi’s families. We also worked to make sure those who have served our state get to retire with the dignity they were promised and deserve. ...
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To date, we have protected over 40,000 acres of watershed forests on Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi and Hawaiʻi islands. We helped preserve and protect Turtle Bay lands from development. A joint agreement with the US Navy is helping us reach our renewable energy goals. And together, we’ve established guidelines to use recycled water on food crops. ...
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We have laid important groundwork for an exciting future. Imagine a future economy for Hawai‘i that isn’t reliant solely on tourism and the military. Imagine a future where local entrepreneurs are inventing useful products and services that are sold across the globe. Imagine that we use our temperate weather and four growing seasons to develop ...
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