COMMISSION ON NATIVE CHILDREN TO HOLD HAWAII REGIONAL HEARING IN HONOLULU, HI, FEBRUARY 15‒16

The Commission will hear from expert witnesses and the public on the successes, challenges, and needs for supporting Native Hawaiian children.

News Release from Bureau of Indian Affairs, Jan 25, 2023

HONOLULU, HI — The Commission on Native Children will hold its Hawaii Regional Hearing in Honolulu, HI, February 15–16, 2023 at the Moana Surfrider, and virtually. The prior regional hearing was held in Oklahoma City, OK in October 2022. 

The Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children was established by Congress as an independent federal entity charged with conducting a comprehensive study of federal, state, local, and tribal, Native Hawaiian programs and developing recommendations on solutions that would improve the health, safety, and well‐being of Native Children.

The Commission will examine the unique challenges Native children face and make recommendations on improving the current system by building on the strengths and leadership of Native communities, with the goal of developing a sustainable system that delivers effective, culturally appropriate, meaningful wrap-around services to Native children.

“For too long, in spite of their resilience and rich heritage, the life experiences of Native children have been disproportionately marred by poverty, child abuse, domestic violence, crime, and substance abuse; it is our job, as Commissioners, to do all we can to change those circumstances for our youngest and most vulnerable Native people,” said Commission Carlyle Begay.

The Hawaii Regional Hearing is currently scheduled to be held simultaneously in-person and virtually on February 15 and 16. During the two days of the Regional Hearing, the Commission will hear from respected researchers and experts in the region on the successes and challenges in supporting Native Hawaiian children on four key topics:

1. Physical, mental, and behavioral health;

2. Education and early childhood development;

3. Child welfare, juvenile justice, and violence; and

4. Systems innovations and best practices in Native communities.

The Commission also invites Native Hawaiian children, their families, community leaders, and community members to share their thoughts on issues that are important to protecting Native Hawaiian children served in the various communities on February 15 at 6:30 p.m. HST or February 16 at 11:15 a.m. HST.

Register Today

Please register for each day’s proceedings with the links below. Once registered, you will receive information on how to participate virtually and in-person.

February 15, 9:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

Public Comments 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. HST
https://kearnswest.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZArfu-rqD8vGtVzUWMPmS3mGCzmL0VXbmLs

February 16, 9:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. HST
https://kearnswest.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMtc-6tqzMuHNIm-bKmv77m0hieJsfUmK5A

In person hearing location:

Moana Surfrider – The Parlor Room

2365 Kalākaua Avenue

Honolulu, HI 96815

COVID-19 Considerations

CDC guidance related to COVID-19 will be encouraged and followed. While the hearing is currently scheduled to be held both in-person and virtually, the Commission may decide to hold the Regional Hearing virtual-only due to COVID-19 developments.

To learn more, please visit https://commissiononnativechildren.org.

For media inquiries, contact Regina Gilbert: regina.gilbert@bia.gov.The public can submit oral and written testimony, as well as questions, at any time to email@commissiononnativechildren.org.

Follow the Commission on Facebook at: Alyce Spotted Bear & Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children, or on Twitter: @asbwscnc.

###