HomeMy WebLinkAboutFriends of First Responders (submitted by Renee Godoy)
TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF
RESOLUTION NO. 618 26
August 5, 2026 County Council Meeting
On behalf of Friends of First Responders, I would like to thank Council
Chair Dr. Holeka Inaba for introducing this Resolution and thank the entire
County Council for your ongoing support of our organization. Your support
of our work to provide programs and resources for our first responders and
their families demonstrates your recognition of the valuable services they
provide to our community and your commitment to their well-being.
We support this resolution that would provide financial support for our
th
4 annual ROBUST Couples Conference that is designed specifically to
address the unique challenges that our first responder couples face.
First responder couples face all the same challenges that our local
couples face – such as the high cost of living in Hawaii – and the additional
challenges of their partner’s constant exposure to trauma, long shifts,
missed family events etc. that are unique to their career.
Our ROBUST Couples Conference is designed to specifically address
those challenges in addition to the normal challenges involved in being in a
long term committed relationship and managing a family.
Stronger Families is a national organization with a global reach that
serves military and first responder populations. Their Oxygen retreat
provides tools that help couples develop important relationship skills
specifically for their unique challenges.
Research and common sense tells us that stronger families make
stronger first responders and stronger first responders result in a stronger
and more resilient community.
For these reasons – we encourage our County Council to approve this
resolution that will help to strengthen our first responder families.
MAHALO,
Chaplain Renee Godoy
Police/Fire Chaplain
Founder/Executive Director: Friends of First Responders