HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0482.107 2024-2026P / PCENRM
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COUNTY CU RK CCHt1M.42
COUNTY OF HAWAII
Oct 6, 2.025 2025 OCT -6 All 9: 15
Aloha Chair, Vice Chair, and members of the council,
On behalf of Hanai Kaiaulu, a student -led nonprofit based in Wai`anae, Oahu, I am 17 year old
Khiara Kaleiwahea. Our mission is to empower youth through sustainability, cultural connection,
and aloha `aina. We've already seen firsthand the negative impacts of plastic waste in our
community —plastic tangled in our fishnets, littering our beaches, and breaking down into
microplastics that find their way into our food, water, and even our bodies.
This is why we stand in strong support of Bill 83, the ban on single -use plastics on Hawaii
Island.
This bill isn't just about banning —it's about transforming and restoring. It's about learning to
live in reciprocity with Papahanaumoku (Mother Earth), giving back as much as we take. For too
long, we've relied on convenience over care, but the cost has been our `aina and our kai. Now is
the time to return to balance, to remember that when we care for the land, the land will care for
US.
Passing Bill 83 will not only reduce plastic pollution —it will also inspire local innovation and
create sustainable green jobs. It will show our youth that leadership starts with small acts of
responsibility and grows into collective change.
Let this bill be a reflection of our shared commitment to a cleaner, healthier, and more
sustainable Hawaii.
Mahalo nui loa for your time, and for your continued commitment to caring for our island home
and supporting youth -led initiatives that protect our future.
Mahalo,
Hanai Kaiaulu Youth Board Members:
Khiara Kaleiwahea, 17
Jeremiah Magallones, 17
Shannoah Leigh, 17
Keam Kilakalua-Aguiar, 17
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