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Only In Hawaii: It’s Opening Day!

The COSHI Team once again at the Capitol! Pictured in back, left to right: State Grassroots Coordinator Brett Kulbis, Volunteer Ijeva Bambridge, State Director Mark White, District Captain Todd Joiner, COS General Counsel Robert Kelly, District Captains Jason Horstman and Bob Fitzgibbons, and Volunteer Ginger Goodwin. Left to right in front: Volunteers Signe Godfrey, Francie Whitfield, and Chanara Richmond, plus District Captains Lei Lono, and (kneeling) Julie Yamato.

There is no other state that opens its legislature the way Hawaii does. Our very own COS General Counsel, Robert Kelly J.D., found this out first hand as he joined the Convention of States Hawaii Team in action at the Capitol on January 15, for the Opening Day of Hawaii’s 33rd State Legislature.

A Unique Hawaii Tradition

The tradition in Hawaii calls for legislators, after their swearing-in sessions, to throw their doors open at noon to the public on the first day of the state's 90-day legislature. During the one-hour morning sessions the Hawaii team set up a COS display table at the ground floor, open-air courtyard promoting COS and collecting a dozen petition signatures. At noon the COSHI team then migrated upstairs to visit their individual Senate and House members, open house style, encouraging support for our COS resolution. Even the COSHI Team’s guest, Robert Kelly, commented:

“It was definitely a unique experience…more like a giant open house, with the legislators hosting their constituents to snacks and snapping quick photos while briefly addressing legislative concerns.“

Pictured left above: outside in the Capitol ‘rotunda', Julie Yamato (right) runs into 2 COS supporters who are also with Moms for Liberty. Center: the team’s COS display table attracted attention. Pictured right above, Julie, Lori, and Ijeva make their way through busy hallways to find their legislators' offices.

Goals Achieved!

The immediate team effort on Opening Day was to secure key Senate and House Introducers, Senator Donovan Dela Cruz and Representative Cory Chun respectively. Once upstairs visiting legislators' offices both those Team goals were met.

Pictured above left: Senator Donovan Dela Cruz (5th from left) meets COSHI team members. Above right: Rep Cory Chun welcomes a visit from the COS team.

As the most powerful State Senator in Hawaii, Senator Dela Cruz’s introduction of the COS resolution in 2024 garned a hearing and the team’s first-ever committee win. Likewise, Representative Chun again agreed to Introduce our resolution in the Hawaii House. As noted by Robert Kelly:

“It was a very productive visit. Thanks to the Hawaii team's efforts, we secured the support of a critical senate sponsor in Donovan Dela Cruz, and met with a number of other important legislators, including the House Minority Leader.”

As usual, Opening Day was a great experience for all team members. New and experienced, each got the chance to great their Aloha State legislators and encourage their sponsorship for Convention of States.

Of the many legislators visited by Hawaii’s team, the four pictured above include: 1) Minority Leader Rep Lauren Matsumoto (4th from left), 2) Senator Mike Gabbard (center), 3) Senator Kurt Fevella (2nd from left), and 4) newly elected Representative Kim Coco Iwamoto (right).

The COSHI team will be returning to the Capitol for weekly visits starting Wednesday, January 29 through March 5th in order to pass out COS materials, build relationships with legislators and staff, and keep everyone abreast of the latest nationwide news about Convention of States!

To join the team for these and other exciting events coming up this year click here to sign the petition and volunteer!

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Created:	2025-01-21 02:29 GMT
Updated:	2025-02-28 12:00 GMT
Published:	2025-01-22 10:00 GMT
Converted:	2025-11-11 12:04 GMT
Change Author:	Mark White
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