Today, Governor Ige delivered his State of the State address to the Hawai‘i State Legislature emphasizing his accomplishments and key priorities for 2018, including improving education, homelessness, and affordable housing for the people of Hawai‘i.

Some highlights from the speech are below:

EDUCATION:

• Continues to empower our public schools and higher education by focusing on the latest learning technologies and ensuring all educational facilities provide a healthy and safe learning environment.
• Has exceeded his original goal by cooling 1,200 classrooms with more to come.
• Have a secure future with limitless possibilities through Hawai‘i's Promise which provides high school students the opportunity to take college courses during their high school years and advance quickly to higher education. Also provides financial assistance for tuition, books, supplies, and transportation costs for low-income students so that education can be obtainable for all.
• Worked with the State Legislature to authorize pay raises our teachers deserve.

KUPUNA CARE:

• Approved state funding for Kupuna Care, aiding full-time family caregivers who also have full-time jobs so they are able to tap into community resources.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING:

• Is committed to renovating the state’s public housing facilities and is on-track to build 10,000 units by 2020. Approximately 5,300 units have been produced with 40% of those units being affordable. Another 1,400 units are under construction, and 4,500 units are now in the planning stage.

HOMELESSNESS:

• Instituted the ‘Housing First’ policy, resulting in a 9% decrease in homeless individuals and families -- the first decline in decades.
• Completed the Family Assessment Center in Kaka‘ako, which has moved homeless families into permanent, stable housing within 90 days.
• Requesting a budget increase to continue providing mental health and outreach services, along with maintaining safety in public places.

There are so many accomplishments and much more work to be done. Team Ige is asking for your support to re-elect Governor Ige. Please join us today!