The meeting began with musical performances by the Royal Hawaiian Band, followed by the presentation of four honorary certificates recognizing individuals and organizations for their contributions to the community. No public comments, consent calendar items, or legislative decisions were made.
For the Royal Hawaiian Band Lee Club, Grand Kono, Kala Eastern, and La'Amea Paleka. Thank you guys. Beautiful Hawaiian music. And welcome everyone. Thank you all for being here. The City Council's honorary certificate program honors and acknowledges those individuals and groups who have made an impact in our local, national, and international communities. Mr. Clerk, our first recipient. Good morning, Mr. Chair and Council members. Our first presentation recognizes Hale Kippah for its unwavering commitment to Hawaii's youth in crisis and offering safety, stability, and on being a lifeline for 74,000 Hawaii youth. This presentation is made by Councilmember Toba. Thank you. Hello, everybody, good morning. Today we recognize Hali Keepa, a nonprofit based in Neva Beach that changes the lives for the better every single day. Haliquipp is a lifeline for Hawaii's youth, youth who arrive in crisis, you who are in survival mode. These young people are facing homelessness, family conflict, abuse, neglect, and the involvement with the juvenile justice system. Many arrive with nothing. Some have not known stability for years. Others are fleeing unsafe situations. Halikeepa is there to provide safety, food, shelter, rest, and a way forward. Hali Keeper was founded in 1970 as a small emergency shelter for girls. Today, Hali Keeper consists of a statewide network with 21 programs annually serving over 1,100 youth. In total, the organization has helped 74,000 youth. That impact is powerful. We have four Holly Keeper dedicated staff leaders. If you can, please give them a round of applause, everybody. This is uh Venus Rosetti Morderos, CEO and President of Holly Keeper. Braun Marsh, Chief Program Officer, Constant Van Mullen, Director of Prevention and Outreach Services, and Stacy Peeler, Director of Residential Services. Thank you. Together, with 100 employees, they help youth stabilize, fund their voices, build safe skills, and move forward to brighter futures. They also provide culturally grounded care. One outstanding program is youth can grow food, connect to the land, learn responsibility, and be proud of their accomplishments through the transitional living program along young adults learn to work, manage money, build a savings account, and live on their own. Hali Keepa also focuses on prevention. Through outreach clinical services and safe place programs, they reach youth early and provide support before the crisis grows. Because Hale Keepa believes in something powerful, our youth are defined by the circumstances, aren't defined by their circumstances. They're defined by their resilience, their potential, and their purpose. So today I say Mahalo. Thank you guys. For Malo for showing up, caring and changing lives, and Mahalo for reminding us that even the hardest moments, aloha leads the way. Thank you guys, Mr. Clerk, our next recipient. Our next presentation recognizes and congratulates the 2025 Oahu Transit Services Incorporated Rodeo winners. This presentation is made by Council members Cordero and Okimoto. Alaha chair, colleagues, and community. I'm gonna be totally biased when I say this is my favorite honorary certificate to present. I'm human, I have biases here. So uh not only because I'm the chair of the infrastructure infrastructure, transportation and technology committee, but because I've been taking the bus from Kalihi uh since I was five. So I just want to note that. And on Friday, uh, and so we are so pleased to honor the winners of the 2025 the bus maintenance and the handy van rodeo.