Latest / The One Oʻahu Podcast with Mayor Rick Blangiardi / A discussion with Asa Shimizu and Abiyana Moore of the Honolulu Youth Commission

Transcript

A discussion with Asa Shimizu and Abiyana Moore of the Honolulu Youth Commission · The One Oʻahu Podcast with Mayor Rick Blangiardi

0:14
Welcome to the One O'ahu Podcast.
0:16
I'm your host, Brandi Higa, and this week we're sitting down with Asa
0:19
Shimizu, chair of the Honolulu Youth Commission, and Commissioner Aviana Moore.
0:24
Asa is a senior at Punahou school and a proud Mililani Trojan.
0:28
Thank you both for joining us.
0:30
Thank you so much for having us.
0:31
Thank you for having us here today.
0:33
First off,
0:34
you know, not everyone is familiar, but what is the Honolulu Youth Commission?
0:38
So Asa we'll start with you.
0:39
Say to your friends or your classmates, how would you explain it to them?
0:44
Essentially, the Honolulu Youth Commission is a group of representatives, kids
0:48
from districts and also six, I believe, appointees from the mayor's office.
0:53
And what we do is essentially get together and propose resolutions and other,
0:59
potential things to propose to the city council and, basically
1:03
advocating for youth voice and encouraging youth activism and government.
1:07
Yeah, I'll be on anything that for sure.
1:09
I would say that this commission is one of the, I'd say, more presages ways
1:14
in which the youth can get involved within what's going on.
1:17
I'd say that because we are here representing a district or appointed
1:20
by the mayor.
1:21
You're able to work on issues or things that are important to you
1:24
based on where you live, where you go to school,
1:26
your local community and make that heard and action. Make those,
1:30
make those solutions actionable.
1:32
And so are be able why did you choose to be on the commission?
1:35
I'd say a little bit of what I had just described, to be honest.
1:38
I wanted the opportunity to continue making, solutions actionable.
1:43
I think in interning at the Supreme Court, I was learning so much about
1:46
what goes into making civics accessible to those not only within Oahu,
1:50
but in outer islands like Hawaii and the Big Island.
1:53
And I wanted to see more of that flourish within my own district.
1:56
And I think in working in projects like National History Day,
2:00
I recognize that there are so many people who are so many youth
2:03
like myself, who are really interested in, projects such as this.
2:06
And, and I decided that this would be a really good place to continue that effort.
2:10
Yeah. So what about you?
2:12
I think I joined the Youth Commission primarily for the ability to effectuate
2:16
change on the widespread level that I wanted to as a kid growing up.
2:20
I would look around at different public parks and different school areas
2:24
and see all the things that I wanted different, or to be changed
2:28
and not be able or not have the resources to be able to make those changes.
2:32
With the Youth Commission, that really gives me the opportunity
2:34
to make the changes that I want to see made.
2:36
And it's been an awesome experience since then.
2:39
I've just been able to really effectuate the changes that I want to see
2:42
and connect with other people, which I think is really important as well.
2:45
Other people who really support
2:47
and agree with the kind of changes that we want to be seen, made.
2:51
But what would you say to other young people your age who
2:54
maybe they're interested in serving as commissioners,
2:57
but they're just they're just on the fence right now.
2:59
I think that the biggest thing with commission is maybe like it,
3:03
they're worried about the youth activism part.
3:05
And the biggest thing that I can say is that a lot of people my age
3:09
may have the idea that youth voices don't necessarily matter as much as,
3:13
the elderly populations in Hawai'i.
3:16
I think that that's absolutely a falsehood.
3:20
My experiences here have been nothing but nothing short of incredible.
3:24
The amount of interest and attention that our adults
3:27
have put into our work here in the youth Commission has been amazing.
3:30
And I just the only recommendation I could have is that everything that we do
3:34
here really makes a change.
3:35
And it means something at the city county level.
3:37
Yeah, I we all know what.
3:38
What about you? What would you say to others?
3:40
I think, really thinking about where you are in your day to day life already.
3:44
I think sometimes, the idea of government and governmental change is
3:47
really abstract, and it's really difficult to really grasp onto the idea
3:51
that it's something that's actually really close to us.
3:54
And with the Honolulu Youth Commission, it gives other youth like ourselves
3:57
to really, take action in that type of vibe, in that type of way.
4:02
And I think about the ways that I've already tried to get started
4:04
on thinking about resolution ideas to really start making that change
4:08
and all of the different types of people that I've spoken to.
4:12
My tennis coach is he works in construction as well,
4:16
and I had the opportunity to ask him a little bit of what
4:18
that experience like looks like for him and as well as,
4:21
how he thinks that maybe city and county different changes could be made
4:24
to really support that aspect of Oahu growth and then also tourism.
4:29
Coming back from a recent trip, I ran into a man named
4:32
Matthew who works on the Big Island and serves as the tourism director,
4:36
where I recognize that things like promoting National History Day
4:39
projects within the airport is a project that I'm working on currently,
4:42
and something like that is, in fact within grasp.
4:45
And that's something that I learned just by speaking to people around me.
4:48
So I'd say to use that think that making change in a governmental level is too far.
4:53
I'd say think about where you are right now
4:55
and talking to those within your circle already.
4:57
Absolutely. Yeah.
4:59
And I think that's important for getting more information.
5:01
Like you said, sometimes it feels a little abstract.
5:03
You don't know what kind of direct change you can make by being on this commission.
5:07
But I want to bring something up because I know
5:09
you were successful with a program that was implemented
5:12
here in the city and County of Honolulu,
5:13
was something you're passionate where you just talked about parks.
5:15
Can you tell us about that project? Sure.
5:18
The inspiration for the resolution that I drafted and was gratefully passed
5:22
at city, county level, came from when I was a little kid.
5:25
As I mentioned, with my interest in parks, I've played sports, my whole life
5:29
growing up.
5:30
And throughout the years, I've always been bothered by the fact that I see
5:33
Gatorade bottles and aluminum cans and trash cans.
5:36
And you look at other places, you look at Japan, you look at California.
5:39
They have all of these different, recycling receptacles
5:42
like the receptacles in place, all these different public parks.
5:46
And I just was wondering throughout my childhood,
5:48
why we couldn't do the same here in Hawaii.
5:50
Being on the youth commission gave me the platform
5:53
to be able to advocate for this change.
5:55
And thankfully, thanks to Tommy Waters, council chair waters,
5:58
as well as, the rest of the city council
6:01
and all the people that helped testify in support of my resolution.
6:05
I was able to see this change effectuated at the city county level.
6:08
What does that mean to you?
6:10
It was
6:10
honestly such a heartwarming experience for me.
6:13
It was eye opening in the sense that I never thought necessarily
6:17
that kids could really impact government on that scale to that scale.
6:21
It was incredible experience all around
6:23
being able to provide testimony in support of my resolutions.
6:27
It was really scary at times.
6:28
Obviously, being in front of full council,
6:30
having to talk in support of my resolution as a questions and stuff like that.
6:34
But overall the experience was so like heartwarming
6:37
and it really showed me
6:38
how much people cared if they really learned about the things
6:41
that they're interested in and how other people can how people we,
6:46
the people of like Hawaii can really get together
6:48
behind it, movement and support it and see real change be effectuated.
6:51
So what kind of efforts are you interested in or resolutions?
6:55
Are you interested in moving forward this term? Yeah.
6:58
My primary objective this term will always be as chair,
7:01
to encourage other people to have the same opportunities that I had.
7:05
Specifically speaking for me,
7:07
my main passion will always be environmental policy.
7:10
I'm currently working on a resolution regarding, gas leaf blowers
7:13
and restricting the use of those because of the environmental impacts
7:16
as well as the sound pollution that they involve.
7:19
But once again, I'm really interested in what a lot of my other commissioners
7:23
have to do and their projects that I know they're already working on.
7:26
I know Aviana is really interested
7:27
in a lot of different things, and I'm glad to that.
7:30
We're seeing a lot of these new resolutions
7:31
being drafted at this, youth commission level, and hopefully we can get
7:34
that moved on to the next levels.
7:36
Yeah. Yeah, I'll be on.
7:37
I do want to talk a little more
7:38
about what you were talking about with with this this project in the airport.
7:42
I guess I would say that in my time as working on my National History
7:46
Day project and then also being able to advance to the national level,
7:50
I had the opportunity to meet so many other individuals
7:52
who are passionate about projects that highlight history of Hawai'i
7:57
and also, relating Hawaii's history to different aspects outside of our own land.
8:02
And I think recognizing that these type of voices
8:04
should be highlighted in our airports in particular,
8:07
because it allows
8:08
for those who visit, different Hawaiian islands to see what the Hawai'i
8:12
youth is really passionate about, as well as issues that are really crucial,
8:17
to those who actually live here and being able to educate themselves
8:21
as they first step into these Hawaiian islands to understand what Hawaiian
8:25
people are or people who live in Hawai'i, residential residents of Hawai'i.
8:29
I'm really interested in, passionate about, and concerned with what?
8:32
Can I piggyback off of that a bit?
8:35
I've have experience working in the travel industry as well,
8:37
and at the airports and here in Hawai'i.
8:39
And first of all, it always shocked me how little,
8:43
our airports have done to kind of advocate for the true Hawaiian culture
8:47
that I believe
8:48
we should be representing in our airports to the people that come to visit.
8:52
I think that there's a lot of aspects
8:54
of Hawai'i that are so special to here and only here.
8:57
And I think that we as a society and as a city and county
9:01
should do a lot better job, pushing these objectives and these initiatives,
9:06
to preserve Hawaiian culture, because once again,
9:10
we are just a small islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
9:13
And a lot of times people come here for the beaches,
9:16
for the hikes, a lot of those things, but they don't necessarily understand
9:19
all of the preservation, all of the systems, all of the ancient
9:22
cultures that really make this place so special and keep the space
9:25
what it is today and what it can be in the future.
9:28
Most definitely.
9:28
Oh, sorry. If I could add as well.
9:31
I'm also really passionate about international affairs, and
9:34
with that passion, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Europe.
9:37
I studied in Estonia, I studied in Spain, Greece and Italy.
9:40
And I think a major part of these experiences is amplifying
9:44
that education aspect.
9:46
And I think by having it implemented into our airports already would make it
9:49
such a much smoother process to for those who are coming here
9:53
this way, it doesn't feel like an extra step in visiting Hawaii.
9:56
It's instead, it's something
9:57
that's smooth and it's normalized when coming to visit Hawaii.
10:00
And in all of that, and what makes Hawaii special?
10:02
I think being able to tie that with the historical aspects
10:05
and the passions for the youth
10:07
is what really would make a resolution like this really special.
10:10
It's a,
10:11
you were reappointed by Honolulu City Council Chair Tommy Waters, right? Yes.
10:15
Did he say why he selected you?
10:17
Did you ever have that talk with you?
10:19
We've talked quite a bit to what is.
10:21
And I, really, regarding the resolutions that I've been I've proposed in the past.
10:27
He's always really.
10:29
I love Chair Waters.
10:31
He's such a great person.
10:33
Really down to earth.
10:34
And, he really tries to.
10:35
Takes the time to get to know you.
10:37
And working with his office this whole time has been such an awesome experience.
10:41
There's a lot of different reasons that might have went into that decision,
10:43
but, I'm really grateful that he did,
10:46
because it was always been like one of my biggest dreams
10:49
to really be able to do the work that I've been able to do here
10:52
and will hopefully continue to be able to do this upcoming year.
10:55
And I'll be on a.
10:56
You were appointed by Councilmember Val Okamoto.
10:59
Same question.
11:00
What what did she like about you?
11:01
Did she set any expectations?
11:03
What was that conversation like?
11:05
I think a big expectation that,
11:07
I guess I wouldn't say a big expectation, but something that we really found,
11:12
a similar perspective on would be making sure to stay true to your,
11:16
to your values and your ideals when coming into a place like this
11:19
with so many different perspectives
11:21
and opinions, I think making sure to stay respectful, but not necessarily
11:25
compromising on ideals or values that are really important to you
11:28
while making sure to initiate change here in Honolulu.
11:31
Yeah, I think that, yeah, that effectuate of change is probably
11:34
another big reason, I cherish what is the to me specifically,
11:39
in our application forms, I, I was really emphasizing
11:42
the things that I wanted to be seen done here at the city and county level.
11:45
And I think you was really interested in those initiatives.
11:47
And he's been really supportive of me throughout, in passing these resolutions
11:51
and helping me proposed these at the city, county level.
11:54
So like Aviana mentioned,
11:55
I absolutely agree with all the values and aspects of that as well.
11:59
I do think to a certain extent that learning from other commissioners
12:02
who are also like minded in certain ways, but also have their own
12:05
interests, is another important part of being a youth commissioner.
12:08
Because of this privilege and this, like position really allows you to meet,
12:13
like we've mentioned before, with so many different people,
12:15
with so many different viewpoints.
12:17
And I think that throughout my time here, as in the Commission, although my values
12:20
and my core beliefs in sustainability and environmental ism have always remained,
12:25
I am still continuing to evolve as a person each and every day.
12:27
Because of this opportunity.
12:29
Yeah.
12:29
And I think also because we're all from different parts of,
12:32
Oahu in itself, I think it's really special
12:35
that so many of us bring different perspectives to the table.
12:38
And although we shouldn't necessarily, although I do believe that, Council Member
12:42
Val Kimura had selected me because of my willingness to stay true,
12:45
to like these important core values that we share.
12:47
I think, I was also be able to bring
12:50
to the table different perspectives from those international study trips
12:54
that I wanted to incorporate into understanding how we could change
12:57
Honolulu's current city and county, situations for the better.
13:03
And I think that that connection that we could all form
13:06
like, as a commission and sharing
13:07
those different perspectives would be really important and help
13:10
these different types of projects come into fruition.
13:13
Yeah, I love that you guys treat this as an opportunity because it really is.
13:17
But with that opportunity and,
13:19
you know, as a you use the word privilege comes great responsibility.
13:22
And Sonic Spider-Man.
13:23
But, you know, less than a year ago, I had the chair of the Honolulu commission
13:27
on this podcast, along with Cornhole and Con mentioned that, you know,
13:32
you guys went to like, neighborhood board meetings together,
13:34
and you guys are kids, and you could be spending your time going out with friends.
13:39
Or, you know, if you're a student
13:40
athlete, there's so many other things you could be doing,
13:43
but you have to commit time not just to attend every meeting,
13:46
but also to do research for the goals and the resolutions that you're
13:50
trying to effectuate.
13:51
You know, I'm sure that that's hard, but why?
13:54
Why do you do this?
13:56
I think that at the end of the day,
13:58
to effectuate the changes that you want to be made,
14:01
I will continue to really effect the fluctuation of change, because I believe
14:04
that that is our utmost responsibility here on the Youth Commission,
14:07
and not just fluctuation of change that we want to be seen made,
14:10
but to affect change and a change that the people want to be seen made as well.
14:13
Because at the end of the day, we are representing the people that we represent.
14:16
So that makes things like the neighborhood board meetings, the town hall meetings
14:20
that me and Connor able to speak at, the utmost importance
14:24
to really see and engage with the community and see what they need.
14:28
In terms of responsibility, I just think it's a blessing.
14:30
I think everything that I've been able to do here
14:32
is a blessing to attend these neighborhood board meetings,
14:34
to actually be able to speak in front of all these very respected
14:37
people at town hall meetings has really strengthened me as a person.
14:41
I've been able to develop a lot better, public speaking abilities.
14:46
On top of that, on top of being able to learn about
14:48
what society really looks like and what a lot of these processes
14:51
have to go through, and really, the fight that it takes
14:54
to really effectuate change at a governmental level.
14:56
Yeah, I'll be honest. What about yourself?
14:58
You could be going with friends and so many other things.
15:00
Why this?
15:01
I honestly don't think
15:02
that there's anywhere else that I would rather spend my time, to be honest.
15:06
And I know that might sound like a general nerd response.
15:08
Like, what do you mean? There's nowhere else you'd rather be?
15:11
But I'm being completely honest.
15:12
I don't think that there's anywhere else that I could bring.
15:14
The ideas that I have to the table
15:16
and be able to take action and actually make them happen.
15:19
And I think in all of the different things that I've been able to spend myself
15:22
spend my time doing,
15:23
whether that's competing in Model United Nations or working with,
15:27
with justice to create plans that allow education
15:29
to further throughout the different islands.
15:31
But being able to bring that knowledge
15:32
and bring that experience here and being able to have it
15:35
have a broader impact than what I did
15:37
in those different locations is, I think, truly a privilege.
15:41
And there is a responsibility that we have as commissioners
15:43
to make sure that our the people that we represent are being heard.
15:46
And I think that bringing that, in addition to the experiences
15:49
and education
15:50
that we've had the privilege to accumulate
15:52
is what makes this such a special opportunity.
15:54
So I really wouldn't want to be anywhere else.
15:56
Like, I'm really glad to be here.
15:59
And, Ariana, where do you want to go to college?
16:01
What do you have to say?
16:02
I would hope to study something that allows the intersection
16:06
and really highlights the intersectionality between,
16:09
economics, international studies, and language immersion.
16:13
I don't believe that you could really have one without the other.
16:15
I think that economics and international affairs are so closely
16:19
intertwined that it takes a a strong and grand understanding of both
16:23
to be able to really create change in those fields
16:25
and really understand both of those fields.
16:27
And when it comes to language immersion and language understanding,
16:30
I think that is also important because as Americans,
16:34
sometimes you're not always exposed to different languages.
16:37
If that's not coming from our family background or if we're
16:40
studying in school, we're not really getting that immersive experience
16:43
unless you are taking the initiative to really further that experience.
16:46
So I think that an ideal program that would have all of those things
16:50
in store for me would be perfect for my future goals.
16:53
Hey, so what about you?
16:55
I think that in terms of where I want to go to college, I think that
16:58
no matter how much I love Hawaii and I truly do love this place,
17:02
I think this place is so special,
17:04
and it's really the drive behind everything that I do,
17:06
whether it be the work that I have done on this Youth
17:08
Commission or the work that I've done in other agencies.
17:11
My love for Hawaii will always be there.
17:13
And because of this, I want to go as far away from home as possible
17:17
for college, because I really want to see what others just like what life is like,
17:21
you know, at the end of the day, we are really smart.
17:24
We are really small.
17:25
A set of islands in the in a big wide world, you know.
17:28
So what I in terms of what I want to study,
17:30
I definitely want to get into the political sciences
17:32
and the environmental studies.
17:34
I'm really interested in possibly pursuing a,
17:37
a career in politics or law.
17:39
Unlike my parents before me.
17:41
So I think either those options would be really cool for me at ASU.
17:44
How is this experience helping helping you get to that goal?
17:48
Oh, this experience has been incredible.
17:51
It's really first of all, in terms of what I've learned here.
17:56
The public speaking aspects, that it's not like the understanding
17:59
of what goes on in government organizations
18:01
learning about things like Sunshine Law, the Roberts Rule,
18:04
and actually seeing these people,
18:06
like governmental officials and stuff working in action has been incredible.
18:10
In addition to that, the networking ability, capabilities that you have here
18:14
at Honolulu, Hawaii, and at the state level,
18:15
I do have experience interning at the state level as well.
18:19
Both of those places, I've been able to meet so many different people,
18:22
whether it be the facilities manager at the RR,
18:25
and, couple AA or the, Department of Parks and Rec manager.
18:30
These people just have so much experience in their respective fields,
18:33
and they all have so much, information to share with me,
18:36
so much may not want to share. And I just really appreciate that.
18:39
And I try to take in everything that I can
18:41
and try to use it all the time as I'm moving forward in my life.
18:44
Yeah, I'll be honest. What about you?
18:45
How do you think this experience will help you?
18:47
I think this experience is one
18:49
that requires a lot of initiative from each and every commissioner.
18:52
You can't just come into this commission and think that everything is going
18:56
to be set up or handed to you,
18:57
although there are so many amazing resources here for you.
19:00
You have to be able to create plans and create ideas and really take action
19:04
for those resources to really come to life.
19:07
And I would say that,
19:09
that type of experience would really benefit me in the future.
19:12
I think knowing how to use that initiative and also use that motivation to create
19:17
real change that benefits people who are not just yourself
19:19
is really special, really unique and incredibly important.
19:24
And I think that being able to have a position like
19:27
this is really important,
19:28
because when you go out into your day to day life, you have that confidence
19:32
to be able to speak to others that you may have not wanted to
19:34
or may have not felt confident enough to rather, to speak to you before.
19:38
And I think that having that type of perspective
19:41
is really important, because when you start speaking
19:44
to other people, when you start forming those connections
19:46
and your network starts to grow, you're able to create that real change.
19:49
And it all started with initiative.
19:51
I know we're early in this term, but I'll be honest.
19:53
What do you think
19:54
is the biggest thing you've learned so far from being on this commission?
19:57
I think recognizing that such a small place can have such nuanced differences.
20:01
I think even though Oahu seems relatively small, when you look at it
20:05
from a grand map perspective, all of these commissioners
20:08
here are representing a different segment and a different portion of Oahu.
20:12
And in coming together, you're able to understand perspectives
20:16
from different parts of the island that you may have never considered prior,
20:18
because you don't live there or frequent there.
20:20
But in being in this position, I've spoken to other individuals who,
20:24
who hail from different parts of the island, and I've learned so much,
20:27
and I really look forward to being able to learn more from my peers
20:30
who are from different parts of Oahu and continue to build a better Oahu.
20:34
Yeah. Hey, so what about you? What's the biggest thing you've learned so far?
20:37
This may sound cliche, but I really think
20:39
that the biggest thing I've learned here is that every voice matters.
20:42
Coming into the Youth Commission, at first, I honestly was really timid.
20:47
I wasn't sure how these people, these really experienced
20:50
people, would take in a new person.
20:53
And especially since I was on the younger side of the Youth Commission.
20:57
It was all very new experiences for me, the guest speakers learning
21:00
about the reservation processes
21:02
and all the governmental processes that we have to follow.
21:05
But eventually getting to know the commissioners on a personal level,
21:09
I felt I was slowly and slowly more confident in my abilities.
21:13
And, began contributing more in meetings and things like that.
21:16
And eventually I was able to drop my own resolutions and see those passed and
21:21
this, like,
21:21
kind of progression of just like seeing how much my voice actually mattered
21:26
from really saying nothing in the first meeting that I was here, to
21:29
being able to do the things that I've been able to accomplish so far.
21:32
And my experience as a youth commissioner
21:34
has just been so incredible to me, and I think that so many other people
21:37
could benefit from that experience as well.
21:39
Yeah, I mean, you're not alone in that.
21:41
I think a lot of people your age would be timid
21:43
coming into a situation like that,
21:44
and that that kind of leads me to my next question.
21:46
I'll be on. I'll start with you, and then I'll go over to Eisa.
21:48
But what would you say is the most significant challenge, or
21:53
how would you encourage civic engagement for those in your generation?
21:58
How would you get them involved?
21:59
When you say, say you met Essa two years ago, how would you get involved
22:03
with this kind of thing?
22:04
I think making
22:05
I think sometimes discussions surrounding civics or government are kind of taboo.
22:11
I think
22:12
there are certain topics that you may want to stay away from on a general basis,
22:15
just because you'd be afraid to offend anyone or things like that.
22:18
But I think recognizing that sometimes it doesn't necessarily have to be offensive.
22:22
I think these type of conversations
22:24
should become more normalized discussing civics as a whole
22:27
and recognizing that
22:28
getting making your voice heard,
22:29
regardless of which perspective you're coming from, is important,
22:32
and recognizing that our, representatives and those who represent us
22:36
from the governmental perspective are here to, in fact, hear voices.
22:40
And I think, making sure that that concept is normalized throughout the youth
22:44
is a really great place to start.
22:47
And I'd say encouraging more civics related activities
22:50
throughout the school system, at least, like
22:52
within the Hawaii public school system, would be a really great idea
22:55
just because I do believe that there are a lot of these students
22:58
who are really engaged and really interested,
23:00
just don't have these type of concepts or ideas like as
23:04
as accessible to them and normalizing that conversation will help to get
23:07
not only more individuals involved, but more individuals who
23:10
we haven't formally heard from
23:11
just because that conversation isn't normalized for them yet.
23:14
Yeah, I think that's important.
23:15
People are here to listen to you, but people are here to help right there.
23:19
Try to help you learn these processes when you don't know them.
23:21
So, Eisa, what would you say to young people who,
23:24
you know, aren't really engaged in civics?
23:26
I think Aviana said it all, really.
23:28
But I think that in addition to that,
23:30
I think they're really the most important things that,
23:34
I could possibly tell them is that one, their voice actually does matter.
23:38
I've had first hand experience with that.
23:40
And secondly, I think what's also really important
23:43
is that a lot of kids, especially like people that I'm close with,
23:47
don't necessarily
23:48
think that governmental like policies matter that much in everyday life.
23:51
They see things that just go on and they just associate
23:54
these things with normality as like, this is just the way things are.
23:57
And no one necessarily,
23:59
and not a lot of people necessarily see that these things, that these problems
24:02
that exist in everyday life can be changed and can be changed by us.
24:06
And I think that that's really important, concept to understand.
24:10
A lot of people just think that, oh, it is the way that it is.
24:12
And society's never going to change.
24:14
But to have that belief
24:16
is to kind of take away all of the potential for change that could be made.
24:20
Yeah.
24:21
So do you have any role models?
24:23
When you talk about role models with me, I always tell with my parents,
24:25
they've been my inspiration for pretty much everything I do.
24:28
And I think that they provide like the both the two sides of me, honestly.
24:32
And a pretty perfect way.
24:34
My mom, the perfect kid, the perfect adult, the perfect parent.
24:38
That she's just straight is like, genius.
24:42
Judge.
24:42
She's a judge now, and she's just been so amazing every step of the way.
24:45
And she's really pushed me, to be to go beyond my limits as a person
24:50
and just continue to strive to be better in every way
24:53
imaginable, whether it be as a person, as a youth commissioner,
24:57
in academics and athletics and every sort of way.
24:59
She's always been there motivating me to keep going and keep pushing forward
25:02
and keep trying to pass my limits, if you will.
25:06
My dad, on the other hand, has been like reminding me
25:09
this whole time to stay grounded to who I am as a person.
25:12
And this place, growing up in Kona,
25:15
he was always, he would go fish.
25:18
He would spend his days fishing every day and, dancing hula with his friends
25:21
and just the reminder to stay close to your, roots
25:25
here in Hawaii and the importance and the beauty that we have here
25:28
and how really delicate this place is, I think, too.
25:32
All the things that he's really instilled into me and once again, to just stay true
25:36
to who I am as a person and to never forget those values
25:38
and morals that have kept me to the places that I go.
25:41
Yeah, I'll be honored. What about you? Who are your role model?
25:43
I think when I think of role model, I have to have to absolutely must
25:47
highlight my mom.
25:48
She grew up here in Hawaii, and then she, built her career in New York.
25:52
And I think the best word that I could use to describe her is trailblazer.
25:56
There is nobody else that I've met who's quite like her.
25:58
I think she's the type of woman who hears the word no, and takes it
26:01
as motivation to go find another way and find another door that showed us open,
26:05
then open.
26:06
And I think taking that perspective and thinking that,
26:09
and applying that to other youth to in Hawaii is thinking that like,
26:13
even though we're young
26:14
and even though we might think that we're not fully developed in the world,
26:17
we're not fully ready to start enacting change.
26:19
I think it's recognizing that, like,
26:21
you can be a trailblazer where you already are.
26:23
I mean, you're more than well equipped.
26:25
You're already going through high school courses.
26:26
You're already educating yourself
26:27
on history, English, math,
26:29
science and applying those understandings to the real world, too.
26:32
And what we experience here in Hawai'i is more than enough for you to get started.
26:35
You're recognizing these things on a day to day basis that impact your life,
26:39
and you have the opportunity to change it.
26:41
You just have to go and be your own trailblazer.
26:43
Well, Issa Aviana, is there anything that we missed?
26:46
Real quick, I guess I would like to just once again
26:49
shout out, like everyone that's got me to the faces I'm in now.
26:52
It couldn't have done any of the things that I could I've been able to accomplish
26:56
without obviously, with my help with my parents,
26:58
the help of Chair Waters and his office, but also the help with, like,
27:02
the piano sustainability fellowship program that I'm a part of.
27:05
That program has been so instrumental in,
27:08
like, helping me achieve the things that I've been able to achieve.
27:11
And don't let that name for you.
27:13
It's not just a the thing.
27:14
It's from, it's like from kids across the island, from like,
27:18
I believe eight different schools.
27:19
And I believe that this shared experiences and, once again, being able to talk
27:24
and meet with very like minded people that have the same interests of me
27:28
and also like in different sectors, may not necessarily like the specific
27:32
environmentalism beliefs that I have, but maybe in fashion
27:36
or in a lot of different sectors of environmental, environmentalism itself.
27:41
I think that that experience has been so amazing for me,
27:44
and really taught me so many of the things that I've been able
27:46
to take over to my parents in the Youth Commission.
27:48
And once again, just to really be able to help people as best as I can
27:52
and really see what like the needs of the people are and the needs of the
27:56
youth are and be able to effectuate that at this lot, at this place.
27:59
Yeah. Have you on any last thoughts?
28:02
I think I too have to say thank you.
28:04
Of course.
28:05
I think it's really important to remember that
28:06
when we're in positions like these, we didn't just get here.
28:09
There were there is a lineage of people behind us
28:11
who made sure that we were able to be in this special position in which we are
28:14
and which we can make change in which we have
28:16
we are,
28:17
given the confidence to be able to speak to others
28:19
that we maybe wouldn't have before.
28:21
And I have to say thank you to my parents for that.
28:23
I have to say, thank you to the advisors at my school, like Mr.
28:26
Hanna, Mr.
28:26
Duncan, who pushed me to be able to,
28:29
compete in these various different model UN competitions
28:32
that helped grow my own confidence, but also, participate in different
28:36
study abroad so that I think all of that combined has given me
28:40
the confidence to really start an acting change here in Hawaii.
28:43
I'd say that I'd like to say thank you to Justice Canosa, who encouraged me
28:47
every step of the way and who, didn't shut down any of my ideas
28:51
and really made sure that I started growing my voice, like,
28:54
at the state level already.
28:55
And I think that I'm really grateful for those opportunities.
28:58
And I'm also really grateful for the challenges that tennis has
29:01
put in my way.
29:03
I think that, playing a sport is really special, but it also gives you,
29:08
a different type of challenge that you wouldn't face in the classroom.
29:10
And tennis itself is a really mental sport.
29:12
And those same mental exercises
29:14
that I face every day on the court are the same ones that I face when I go.
29:17
And I'm trying to, but I'm trying to do different things in my day to day life,
29:21
but also at a commissioner level or at a delegate level.
29:25
And so I'm really grateful
29:26
for all of these unique experiences that encompass who I am today.
29:29
And I'm grateful to the people who have helped create who I am today
29:33
that will, that have supported me and allow me to continue
29:36
making the changes that I have and making the changes that I will in the future.
29:40
Well said Ayeza, Shimizu and Abby on a more.
29:43
Thank you both for your time.
29:45
Thank you.
29:45
Thank you so much and thank you to all of you for listening.
29:48
And until next time. Aloha.