HomeMy WebLinkAboutNovember 25, 2025 Youth Commission Meeting Minutes
YOUTH COMMISSION
c/o Office of the Mayor, 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603
YOUTH COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
NOVEMBER 25, 2025, 3:45PM
REMOTE MEETING VIA INTERACTIVE CONFERENCE TECHNOLOGY
BUILDING, PUEO CONFERENCE ROOM HILO
25 AUPUNI STREET, SUITE 2601
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Hayden Konanui-Tucker called the meeting to order at 3:48 p.m.
ATTENDANCE
Present: Hayden Konanui-Tucker, Commissioner
Paige Tominaga, Commissioner
, Commissioner (Via Zoom)
Benjamin Rudo, Commissioner (Via Zoom)
Kolt Baptista, Commissioner (Via Zoom)
Damon Nagata, Commissioner (Via Zoom)
Jaya Davenport, Commissioner (Via Zoom)
Sage Huston, Commissioner (Via Zoom)
Not Present: Ryder Beechler, Commissioner
Commissioner
Kenneth Ha, Commissioner
Wehiwaalani Gapero, Commissioner
Perseas Vanebo, Commissioner
Also present: Council Member Jennifer Kagiwada, Ex-Officio Member
Alanna Barber, Adult Advisor
Vanessa Carlson, Adult Advisor (Via Zoom)
Keyra Wong, Deputy Corporation Counsel
Micah Alameda, Office of the Mayor
STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
No statements from the public.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
a. Approval of the regular meeting minutes of October 28, 2025.
Chair Konanui-Tucker called for public testimony. There being no public
testimony, the meeting continued as follows.
Action: Chair Konanui-Tucker called for a motion to approve. A motion was made
by Commissioner Tominaga to approve the regular meeting minutes of October
YouthCommissionMeeting Minutes
November 25, 2025
28, 2025, which was seconded by Commissioner Nagata. The motion was
carried by a vote of 8:0.
CHAIR ANNOUNCEMENTS
a. Chair Konanui-Tucker acknowledged commissioners including himself terming
out at the end of 2025, including Sage Huston (District 2), Benjamin Rudo
(District 4), Marquis Fonoimoana (District 6), Kolt Baptista (District 8), Damon
. Deputy
Corporation Counsel Wong provided that Section 13-4 of the County Charter
does not apply to the Youth Commission, so members who are able to hold over
beyond 90 days are able to so long as (a) the appointing authority (i.e., the
mayor or respective district councilmember) consents to the hold-over of the
appointee and (b) the appointee agrees to continue on as a hold-over. The
appointee is only able to hold-over until a new appointment by the appointing
authority is made.
BUSINESS
a. Press Secretary Report
None
b. County Council Report by Council Member Jennifer Kagiwada
1) Updated the Commission on recent county bills and resolutions, including
Bill 83 on banning plastic food ware for to-go meals and a new resolution
will be introduced to urge the State of Hawaii to implement measures
protecting the immigrant population, such as requiring Immigration and
Custom Enforcement agents to identify themselves and ensuring due
process with language accessibility.
2) Shared general information on the County Council's grant application and
the Agri-policy summit that will take place in Hilo featuring local officials
like Senator Tim Richards, Rep. Kirstin Kahaloa, and Council Member
Kierkiewicz, on Thursday, December 11, 2025, from 9am to 3pm at the
Arc of Hilo.
3) Shared upcoming volunteer opportunities with the Hilo Queens Give Back
Flag Football Tournament on December 27-28, 2025, at Hualani Park in
Keaukaha. For more information contact Coach Casey Leigh Sabate-
Hauanio at coachcaseflaggirlsfootball@gmail.com.
c. Adult Advisor Report
1) The U (UH) implemented a Direct2UH program that
gives
acceptance to any of the nine UH Those
who received a 2.6 GPA and below are automatically admitted to any
community college in the UH system. The UH Scholarship application is
currently open until March 2, 2026. Adult Advisor Carlson asked if you are
2
YouthCommissionMeeting Minutes
November 25, 2025
a current senior in high school or know a senior in high school to
encourage them to accept their Direct2UH invitation so they can create a
Hawaii.edu email address which they will need.
d. Reports and Updates
1) Chair Konanui-Tucker and Commissioner Ha created an online database
aimed at connecting businesses with opportunities for youth. The
database will gather essential information such as company name, contact
details, designation, career pathways, opportunity types, and descriptions
of positions. This data will initially be collected through a Google Sheet
**Should be noted at 4:17 p.m. a quorum was lost due to Commissioner
Nagata leaving the meeting.
2) Commissioner Tominaga and Vanebo were never able to connect and will
work to get it done before the next meeting. Chair Konanui-Tucker will
connect Commissioners Vanebo and Tominaga to complete the script.
3) Commissioner Huston provided an update that highlighted key
developments and ongoing initiatives with the Hope Services shelter. He
will reach out to Caleb at Hope Services to help coordinate. Chair
Konanui-Tucker and Commissioner Huston as Adult Advisor Carlson if
there would be an issue setting up a drop box
Hilo. She mentioned there could be a conflict with the student store Hale
Lako, she would need to check to make sure its okay. Council Member
Kagiwada suggested maybe the YMCA as an option. Chair Konanui-
Tucker asked the possibility of using the County building as a drop-off
location. Commissioner Huston needs suggestions from the group.
4) Chair Konanui-Tucker addressed several key points. Firstly, agenda item
D4 regarding absence, her update was postponed,
with plans to revisit it in the next meeting. She recently participated in the
World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education in New Zealand,
which is a significant event scheduled to be held in Waikoloa in 2028,
marking the first time it will be hosted in 15 years.
Additionally, Chair Konanui-Tucker mentioned a conversation with former
commissioner Kyla Marie Kahula, who is involved in planning the 2028
conference and expressed a desire for the commission to participate. The
planning for this event is already underway, and it will likely take place
around October to November. In moving to agenda item D5, the Chair
acknowledged Eric Gee, a former mayoral appointee and inaugural
chairperson, who has been selected for an Antarctic expedition with polar
explorer Robert Swan. Eric was highlighted for his dedication to
environmental sustainability and for promoting engagement among youth.
He is set to leave for Chile on November 29 as part of this unique
opportunity, which Chair Konanui-Tucker encouraged the commission to
3
YouthCommissionMeeting Minutes
November 25, 2025
celebrate.Commissioner Rudo suggested having Eric present to the
commission when he gets back.
e. Tentative Meeting Schedule
1) The last Tuesday of every month still works for most.
a. Tuesday, January 27, 2026
b. Tuesday, February 24, 2026
c. Tuesday, March 31, 2026
d. Tuesday, April 28, 2026
GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
a. Council Member Kagiwada asked if any commissioners appointed by a Council
Member who are terming out and are interested in holding over to please let her
know and she will help facilitate the dialogue with the Council Member.
b. Chair Konanui-Tucker provided an update about an upcoming community event,
the inaugural Grinch Christmas banquet, organized by Stacy Jarneski of Jarneski
Rentals in collaboration with the County of Hawaii. Scheduled for Thursday,
December 18, at Edith Kanak Multi-purpose Stadium, the event aims to
provide free meals (around 2,000 to potentially 3,000) for attendees. There has
been significant interest, with registrations quickly exceeding initial estimates. In
addition to meals of laulau and kalua pig, children aged 17 and under will receive
free toys. The chair emphasized the need for volunteers to help plate food and
distribute meals and toys. Donations have come from various sources, including
Amazon registries and local shopping for toys. Volunteers are encouraged to
participate in the event preparation.
c. Next meeting is Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at 3:45 p.m., in the Pueo
Conference Room at the County Building, 25 Aupuni Street, Room 2601, Hilo, HI
96720, and also available remote on Zoom.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Konanui-Tucker adjourned the meeting at 4:55 p.m.
4