This Week in Hawai'i

Session Success — and New Opportunities Ahead!

from Hawaii Family Forum, May 2, 2025

As the 2025 legislative session comes to a close, we have much to celebrate! Thanks to your prayers, advocacy, and unwavering commitment, none of the harmful bills we were tracking have passed this session. This is a tremendous victory for faith, family, and life in Hawaii! However, because Hawaii operates under a biennial legislature, all of these issues could quickly reemerge when the 2026 session begins on January 21, 2026. Adding to the urgency, next year is an election year — and the decisions we make at the ballot box will shape the future of our islands for generations to come. It is critical that we stay engaged, informed, and prayerful as we move forward.

As we look ahead, we are excited to announce that we are finalizing the details for several new educational opportunities. These will include specialized training for public school teachers, legal seminars for pastors, biblical worldview training, workshops on end-of-life care decision-making and suicide prevention, and legislative advocacy briefings with trusted leaders and insider updates. We will also be offering critical updates on abortion legislation and other pressing issues that impact our faith and families. Stay tuned — we are committed to equipping, empowering, and engaging you as we continue to stand for truth with aloha in Hawaii!

Don't miss this week's Faith and Family First show because Marcus Oshiro and I go over the session (and have a few laughs along the way!)

Across the Nation

Celebrating a Legacy of Faith and Family

On Monday, April 28, 2024, Dr. James Dobson celebrated his 89th birthday. Many of you know that Hawaii Family Forum was founded in 1998, thanks to the vision and leadership of local business leaders and pastors from various churches who came together with a shared commitment to strengthen families in Hawaii. We fondly remember Suzanne Maurer, the first to reach out to Focus on the Family to explore the possibility of establishing a Family Policy Council in our islands. Suzanne has since gone home to be with the Lord, but we remain deeply grateful for her and the many early warriors whose faith, courage, and dedication helped lay the foundation for the work we continue today.

Victory for Religious Liberty: Catholic Employers Shielded from Abortion and Gender Mandates

A North Dakota federal judge issued a permanent injunction in favor of the Catholic Benefits Association against the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission regarding two provisions of the federal regulations on the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. Catholic employers will not be compelled to accommodate abortion, in vitro fertilization, or surrogacy, nor will they have to accommodate the use of bathrooms or other single-sex spaces for transgender individuals under the injunction. For further information, click here. 

SCOTUS Will Hear Religious Charter School Case

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond, a case that considers whether a state may discriminate and exclude a faith-based school from state funding in a public charter school program simply because of its religious affiliation. 

The case involves the Oklahoma Attorney General seeking to stop the state’s charter school board from allowing an online Catholic school to become a charter school where it can then receive publicly available education funds. For further information, click here.

Hawaii Family Forum Joins National Pro-Life Leaders in Urging Action on Dangerous Abortion Pill

On April 29, 2025, Hawaii Family Forum joined over 50 national and state pro-life leaders in signing a powerful letter to former President Donald J. Trump, calling for urgent action to restore common-sense protections surrounding the abortion drug mifepristone. The letter expresses deep concern over the Biden-Harris administration’s reckless deregulation of this dangerous drug and the growing trend of illegal distribution across state lines.

This united front of pro-life voices—including physicians, public policy leaders, and family organizations—highlights alarming new research showing that serious adverse events from mifepristone are 22 times higher than previously reported by the FDA. For further information, and to read the letter, click here.

National Day of Prayer is Over, but Not the Call to Pray

This Thursday, May 2, millions across the nation stood in unity for the 74th annual National Day of Prayer. This year's theme was, "Pour Out to the God of Hope and Be Filled," and was drawn from Romans 15:13:

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

As educators, the day offered a powerful opportunity to foster unity, reflection, and gratitude in your classrooms and communities.

In the next few weeks, here are three simple ways to continue praying for our nation:

• Read the President’s Proclamation: Share this year's or a past Presidential Proclamation with your students and discuss its meaning.
• Explore the Significance of Prayer: Discuss how different cultures and faiths incorporate prayer into their lives.
• Reflect on Gratitude: Host a gratitude activity where families and friends can share the blessings for which they are thankful.

Here are a few examples of what we can pray for as a community:

• Students: pray for them to grow in wisdom, strength, and courage.
• Teachers: pray for them to lead with integrity, compassion, and boldness.
• School Leaders: pray for them to seek truth and justice in their decisions.
• Families: pray for them to stand united in faith, love, and perseverance.
• Our Nation: pray for a return to its foundation of faith and freedom.

Although the National Day of Prayer is over, let’s continue pour out to the God of Hope—and be filled with His joy, peace, and power.

Catch Up on the Faith and Family First Podcast

CLICK TO WATCH!

In This Week’s Podcast:

From gambling to abortion and religious freedom, we tracked it all this legislative session — and now we’re giving you the inside scoop! 

Plus, we break down the Levels of Grassroots Activation so you’ll know exactly what to do when it’s time to raise your voice. Whether it’s a simple alert or a rally at the Capitol, every level matters in this faith-filled movement to defend life, family, and freedom in Hawaii — always with aloha.

Don’t miss this empowering episode — you’ll leave informed, inspired, and ready to act.