Legislative Accomplishments

Keeping Hawai'i Strong 2022 Legislative Highlights

Strengthening Kaua'i (HB1600)

$200 million capital investment in our infrastructure, on to our roads, at our schools, at our hospitals, in our playgrounds and parks, across our island. This includes improvements for the Kauaʻi Veterans Memorial Hospital, Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital, Kōloa Elementary, Kauaʻi High School, Hanalei bridge, Wailua bridge, Lumahai hillside stabilization, Vidinha Stadium, Hanapēpē Stadium, Nāwiliwili Harbor, Port Allen Harbor, Kikiaola Harbor, Waimea Canyon State Park Complex, Polihale State Park, Wailua-Kapaʻa water systems, road widening, signals and guardrails.

Amplifying Teacher Recruitment (HB 1600)

$32.5 million to address teacher shortages at the University of Hawaiʻi as well as statewide, focusing on hard-to-staff areas, to recruit and retain special education teachers and to provide Hawaiian language immersion programs

Multiplying Housing for Native Hawaiians (HB 2511)

$600 million – Unprecedented funding for native Hawaiian housing and programs, at Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL), and Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA).

Expanding Critical Health Services (HB1600)

New positions to increase outpatient Adult Mental Health and Family Health Services, and additional funding for emergency medical services.

Increasing Minimum Wages
(HB 2510)

Increased Hawai’i’s minimum wage to $18 an hour within six years and made permanent the Earned Income Tax Credit.

Enhancing Food Resiliency
(HB 1600)

$6 million to create a new Kekaha Agriculture Innovation Center for Waimea High School’s Farm to School program to boost fresh local products for school lunches and food security on Kaua’i.

Ron Kouchi | Capitol Improvement Projects
 

Ohana Pacific Foundation

04.26.2022

Executive Chambers – Honolulu DAVID Y. IGE – GOVERNOR April 26, 2021 The Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi President of the Senate Thirty-First State Legislature State Capitol, Room 409 Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96813 Aloha Senator Kouchi: I am pleased to let you know that my administration has released funding for the following Capital…

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Ron Kouchi | Capitol Improvement Projects
 

Kauai Economic Opportunity, Incorporated

04.22.2022

Executive Chambers – Honolulu DAVID Y. IGE – GOVERNOR April 14, 2022 The Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi President of the Senate Thirty-First State Legislature State Capitol, Room 409 Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96813 Aloha Senator Kouchi: I am pleased to let you know that my administration has released funding for the following Capital…

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Ron Kouchi | Capitol Improvement Projects
 

Rockfall and Flood Mitigation, Statewide

04.14.2022

Executive Chambers – Honolulu DAVID Y. IGE – GOVERNOR April 14, 2022 The Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi President of the Senate Thirty-First State Legislature State Capitol, Room 409 Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96813 Aloha Senator Kouchi: I am pleased to let you know that my administration has released funding for the following Capital…

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Ron Kouchi | Capitol Improvement Projects
 

Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital, Emergency Room Modernization

04.14.2022

Executive Chambers – Honolulu DAVID Y. IGE – GOVERNOR April 14, 2022 The Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi President of the Senate Thirty-First State Legislature State Capitol, Room 409 Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96813 Aloha Senator Kouchi: I am pleased to let you know that my administration has released funding for the following Capital…

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Ron Kouchi | Capitol Improvement Projects
 

Aha Hui E Kala

04.14.2022

Executive Chambers – Honolulu DAVID Y. IGE – GOVERNOR April 14, 2022 The Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi President of the Senate Thirty-First State Legislature State Capitol, Room 409 Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96813 Aloha Senator Kouchi: I am pleased to let you know that my administration has released funding for the following Capital…

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Ron Kouchi | Capitol Improvement Projects
 

Renovate CT Scan Room, SMMH, Kauai

04.14.2022

Executive Chambers – Honolulu DAVID Y. IGE – GOVERNOR April 14, 2022 The Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi President of the Senate Thirty-First State Legislature State Capitol, Room 409 Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96813 Aloha Senator Kouchi: I am pleased to let you know that my administration has released funding for the following Capital…

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Ron Kouchi | Capitol Improvement Projects
 

Water System Improvements, Kauai

04.14.2022

Executive Chambers – Honolulu DAVID Y. IGE – GOVERNOR April 14, 2022 The Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi President of the Senate Thirty-First State Legislature State Capitol, Room 409 Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96813 Aloha Senator Kouchi: I am pleased to let you know that my administration has released funding for the following Capital…

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Ron Kouchi | Press Releases
 

Senate Committee on Ways and Means Passes Senate Draft of the State Budget

04.07.2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 7, 2022 Senate Communications: Jacob Aki 808-586-6291 Honolulu, Hawai’i– The Senate Committee on Ways and Means today amended and passed HB1600, the state’s supplemental operating budget for fiscal years 2022-2023 (FY23). With the rebounding of the State’s economy and significant increases in tax revenues, the Senate…

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Ron Kouchi | Capitol Improvement Projects
 

State Parks Hazard Mitigation Improvements, Statewide

04.04.2022

Executive Chambers – Honolulu DAVID Y. IGE – GOVERNOR April 4, 2022 The Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi President of the Senate Thirty-First State Legislature State Capitol, Room 409 Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96813 Aloha Senator Kouchi: I am pleased to let you know that my administration has released funding for the following Capital…

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