HomeMy WebLinkAbout(ʻ25) 02-20-2025 Meeting Minutes
YOUTH COMMISSION
c/o Office of the Mayor, 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603
YOUTH COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
FEBRUARY 20, 2025
BUILDING, PUEO CONFERENCE ROOM HILO
25 AUPUNI STREET, SUITE 2601
CALL TO ORDER
Vice Chairperson Hayden Konanui-Tucker called the meeting to order at 3:05 p.m.
ATTENDANCE
Present: Benjamin Rudo, Commissioner (Zoom)
Damon Nagata, Commissioner (Zoom)
Sage Huston, Commissioner (Zoom)
Perseas Vanebo, Commissioner (Zoom)
Kamahao Halemanu, Commissioner (Zoom)
, Commissioner
Wehiwaalani Gapero, Commissioner
Kenneth Ha, Commissioner
____
Also present: Council Member Jenn Kagiwada, Ex-Officio Member
Alanna Barber, Adult Advisor
Keyra Wong, Deputy Corporation Counsel
Micah Alameda, Office of the Mayor
Kristen Alice, Hope Services
Billi Jo, Neighborhood Place of Puna
Kyla-Marie Kauhaihao
Micah Kalauli (Zoom)
Absent: Marquis Fonoimoana
Peyton Haleamau
STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Former Commissioner Kyla Marie Kauhaihao was present and congratulated the
Commissioners and shares her positive thoughts on the transformative impact of the
Youth Commission.
New Commissioner Introductions
Wehiwaalani Gapero, Mayoral Appointee
, Mayoral Appointee
YouthCommission
February 20, 2025 meeting minutes
Kenneth Ha, Mayoral Appointee
Kamamalu Killion, District 1 Appointee
New Business
Agenda item 5(c): This item was called out of order, and the officer elections
were administered by Councilmember/Ex-Officio Member Jenn Kagiwada.
Chairperson: Hayden Konanui-Tucker nominated himself for Chairperson and
was unanimously elected as Chair.
Vice Chairperson: Kenneth Ha nominated himself for Vice Chairperson and
was unanimously elected as Vice Chair.
and she was unanimously elected as Assistant Secretary.
Press Secretary: Sage Huston nominated himself for Press Secretary and
was unanimously elected as Press Secretary.
Agenda item 5(a): This item was called out of order, and Kristen Alice of Hope
Services Hawaii and Billi Jo of Neighborhood Place of Puna gave their
presentation on the new Youth Outreach Center. The presentation provided
information about engaging and connecting youth with homeless engagement
services and also providing an anchor point youth center for youth to connect
with different resources and services.
Agenda item 5(b): This item was called out of order to discuss the upcoming
Youth Commission Priorities.
Commissioner moved to discuss and establish new
Commission priorities for the next calendar year, and the motion was
seconded by Commissioner Benjamin Rudo. The Commission discussed
three areas of priority: (1) Native Species (proposed to be spearheaded by
Commissioners Ha/Rudo); (2) Youth Wellness (proposed to be spearheaded
by Commissioners Killion/Gapero); and (3) Youth Preparedness/Youth Civic
Engagement (proposed to be spearheaded by Commissioner Halemanu).
Quorum was lost at approximately 4:06p.m. during this part of the agenda
and no action could be taken by the Commission.
Old Business
Agenda item 4(a)(i): No update provided
Agenda item 4(a)(ii): Councilmember/Ex-Officio Member Jenn Kagiwada
provided a handout to the Commissioners that covered a list of 2025 State of
Hawaii legislation that may be of interest to the Commissioners. She also
provided a list of upcoming events, including Black History Month events; Youth
Arts Series; Take Down Tobacco Day; and Earth Day- La Honua.
Agenda item 4(a)(iii): Adult Advisor Alanna Barber shared that she was
impressed with the Youth Commission and is looking forward to the insightful
presentation.
Announcements
2
YouthCommission
February 20, 2025 meeting minutes
Deputy Corporation Counsel Keyra Wong provided that she would be scheduling
trainings with the Commissioners, which training topics would include Sunshine Law,
Parliamentary Procedures, and the Ethics Code.
The meeting adjourned at 4:26 p.m.
3