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WHEREAS, LEHUA NORRIS was recently named a 2024 United States Senate Youth Program Delegate; and

WHEREAS, to qualify for the program, students must hold or have held student body office or another elected or appointed position in their communities and show academic interest and aptitude in government, history, and politics; and

WHEREAS, a senior at Konawaena High School who embodies the aloha spirit, LEHUA NORRIS served as the treasurer on the student council and excelled in other leadership roles on the school's class council, including vice president, treasurer, historian, and secretary; she also represented over 170,000 Hawaiʻi public school students on the executive board of the Hawaiʻi State Student Council; and

WHEREAS, passionate about her culture and community, LEHUA NORRIS is an officer on the Pacific and Asian Affairs Council and is involved in various service clubs and academic teams; she has organized local community outreach events focusing on climate change, spreading kindness in Kailua-Kona, and encouraging civic engagement among Hawaiʻi's youth; and

WHEREAS, LEHUA NORRIS seeks to positively impact her community through advocacy and political engagement; her ongoing efforts and academic achievements are a testament to her outstanding leadership skills and dedication to serving her community; and

WHEREAS, KYLEE HAMAMOTO was recently named a 2023 Prudential Emerging Visionaries winner; and

WHEREAS, Prudential Emerging Visionaries recognizes 25 extraordinary young people throughout the country who are leading innovative projects to address financial and societal challenges in their communities; and

WHEREAS, KYLEE HAMAMOTO is a senior at Punahou School and a celebrated visionary leader; she is the founder and President of WeGo! Hawaiʻi, a non-profit organization aimed at empowering strong and independent female leaders; and

WHEREAS, KYLEE HAMAMOTO's groundbreaking WeGo! Hawaiʻi Leadership Program has touched the lives of over 200 young women and follows a 4-step curriculum that provides participants with the necessary tools to discover their passions, boosts their self-confidence, supports project creation that positively impacts their communities, and encourages mentorship and networking; the program's innovative leadership model not only cultivates a new generation of female leaders, but also emphasizes the value of mentorship, which promotes a self-sustaining cycle of empowerment; and

WHEREAS, KYLEE HAMAMOTO developed the WeGo! Hawaiʻi Leadership Program to inspire women and leaders within her community and internationally; chapters have been established in California and Japan, creating a global network of empowered women that has sparked 50 projects rooted in the values of aloha, kuleana, laulima, and mālama; and

WHEREAS, among 25 nationally recognized young students, KYLEE HAMAMOTO is the sole 2023 Prudential Emerging Visionaries winner from Hawaiʻi; and

WHEREAS, VAEANUI PECK was recently named a 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholar; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, established in 1964 by executive order of the President, recognizes and honors some of the nation's most distinguished graduating high school seniors; VAEANUI PECK was selected as a U.S. Presidential Scholar in Career and Technical Education (CTE), a category that only honors up to 20 students nationwide; and

WHEREAS, an exceptional student and dedicated learner, VAEANUI PECK ranked first in her class at Kahuku High and Intermediate School with a remarkable GPA of 4.145 and graduated as a valedictorian with STEM Capstone, National Honor Society, and CTE honors; and

WHEREAS, displaying enthusiasm for higher education early on, VAEANUI PECK participated in the Windward Community College Early College Program, earning 26 college credits towards an associate degree; she currently studies mechanical engineering and renewable energy at Yale University, where she is involved in the Indigenous Peoples of Oceania Student Club and Bulldogs Racing, an engineering club that builds electric racecars; and

WHEREAS, committed to sustainability and passionate about innovation, VAEANUI PECK interned as an agricultural engineer at Kualoa Ranch, where she developed a vertical saltwater hydroponic system for sea asparagus; this experience inspired the deployment and utilization of hydroponic systems for Kahuku High and Intermediate School's Agriculture Program; and

WHEREAS, displaying exceptional talent outside the classroom, VAEANUI PECK was a member of her school's CTE club and hydroponics program and participated in track and field and cross country; her involvement in many extracurricular activities demonstrates her leadership skills and commitment to personal growth; and

WHEREAS, the 2024 Hawaiʻi LifeSmarts State Competition tests students on their knowledge of personal finance, consumer rights and responsibilities, health and safety, technology, and the environment, and is an excellent opportunity for students to learn and develop academically and personally; the competition is run by the National Consumers League and sponsored in Hawaiʻi by the Business Registration and Insurance Divisions of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs in partnership with the Hawaiʻi Credit Union League; and

WHEREAS, KALANI HIGH SCHOOL's Team Kalani 4.2 recently earned first place at the 2024 Hawaiʻi LifeSmarts State Competition; and

WHEREAS, after dedicating numerous hours of preparation, KALANI HIGH SCHOOL's Team Kalani 4.2, consisting of captain Brandon Tran, Andy Chen, Michelle He, Kyla Iglesia, and Mason Vuong and coached by Mike Zane, competed in the statewide final hosted at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa's Campus Center Ballroom and emerged victorious, securing first place in the competition; and

WHEREAS, WAIPAHU HIGH SCHOOL's Team Waipahu Marauders recently earned third place at the 2024 Hawaiʻi LifeSmarts State Competition; and

WHEREAS, after dedicating numerous hours of preparation, WAIPAHU HIGH SCHOOL's Team Waipahu Marauders, consisting of captain Reagan Chinen, Ross Angel Bagaoisan, Stephanie Menor, Jordan Nguyen, and Joybel Parinas and coached by Cindy Takara, competed in the statewide final at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa's Campus Center Ballroom and secured third place; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaiʻi, Regular Session of 2024, that this body hereby congratulates LEHUA NORRIS for being selected as a 2024 United States Senate Youth Program Delegate, KYLEE HAMAMOTO for being selected as a 2023 Prudential Emerging Visionaries winner, VAEANUI PECK for being recognized as a 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholar, and KALANI HIGH SCHOOL's Team Kalani 4.2 and WAIPAHU HIGH SCHOOL's Team Waipahu Marauders as 2024 Hawaiʻi LifeSmarts State Competition winners, commends their outstanding accomplishments and community involvement, and extends to them its warmest aloha and best wishes for continued success in all future endeavors.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

2024 United States Senate Youth Program Delegate; 2023 Prudential Emerging Visionaries Winner; 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholar; 2024 Hawaiʻi LifeSmarts State Competition Winners

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	221
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024
STATE OF HAWAII