Oct. 26 Keiki Summit will set an agenda for Legislature

The Keiki Caucus of the Hawaii State Legislature asks youth and youth-serving organizations to: “Imagine the possibilities if children and youth could speak their minds from their hearts and if policy makers would listen!”

The annual Keiki Summit will be held on Friday, Oct. 26 at the State Capitol Auditorium. It is an opportunity for young people to share their ideas about the issues and needs and their solutions that the Legislature and other policy makers should address. From 9 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., youth ages 10 to 20 will have the opportunity to speak. Then, from noon to 3:30 p.m., adults will be allowed to participate.

The program will begin at 8:30 with registration followed by opening remarks about the Hawai‘i 2050 Sustainability Task Force, the Global Youth Center and Leader for a Day. In morning sessions, youth participants will brainstorm and prioritize policy issues affecting Hawai‘i’s youth. Following lunch, adults will discuss and prioritize issues for presentation to the Keiki Caucus.

Separate discussions will focus on environment, education from pre-kindergarten through college, child welfare and safety, health, housing and economic development. For more information and to RSVP, contact Senator Suzanne Chun Oakland’s office, (808) 586-6131.