HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	94
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

Urging the Department of Education, Department of Health, and Office of Wellness and Resilience to establish a statewide peer counselor program to address youth loneliness and social disconnection in Hawaii's schools.

 

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's youth are experiencing increasing levels of loneliness, social isolation, and disconnection, all intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted prolonged disruptions to in-person schooling and a growing reliance on digital communication platforms; and

 

     WHEREAS, national and state research demonstrates that loneliness is a significant risk factor for anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and suicidal ideation among adolescents and young adults; and

 

     WHEREAS, within the State, youth mental health indicators have worsened in recent years, with rising anxiety, depression, and unmet emotional support needs among public school students, particularly among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander youth; and

 

     WHEREAS, studies have emphasized that the well-being of Native Hawaiians and other local communities is deeply relational and grounded in connection to peers, community, and place, and that disconnection from these relationships can negatively impact health and resilience; and

 

     WHEREAS, the State Office of Wellness and Resilience was established pursuant to Act 291, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, to advance trauma-informed and healing-centered approaches across state systems through coordination, prevention, and
community-based strategies; and

 

     WHEREAS, students are often more likely to seek help or support from trusted peers than from adults, particularly when experiencing loneliness, stress, or early signs of emotional distress; and

 

     WHEREAS, peer counselor and peer-support models have been proven to reduce stigma, strengthen belonging, promote early intervention, and improve school climate when implemented with appropriate training, supervision, and referral protocols; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's unified statewide public education system and complex area structure provide a unique opportunity to implement peer-led programs that are locally responsive while maintaining centralized responsibility and consistency across the State; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, that the Department of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Health and Office of Wellness and Resilience, is urged to develop and implement a statewide peer counselor program for high school students; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is urged to design the peer counselor program to address youth loneliness and social disconnection by prioritizing face-to-face peer relationships, trust building exercises, and culturally responsive approaches to improving and maintaining well-being; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, as part of the program, the Department of Education is urged to provide standardized training for participating student peer counselors, including training in active listening, ethical boundaries, trauma-informed and healing-centered practices, cultural responsiveness, and clear referral pathways to licensed mental health professionals; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that student peer counselors are urged to serve as trained points of connection within their school communities, promoting belonging, normalizing conversations about well-being, and supporting the early identification of students experiencing isolation or distress; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Office of Wellness and Resilience is urged to support coordination among state agencies, provide guidance aligned with trauma-informed and healing-centered principles, and elevate youth voices and lived experiences in the design and evaluation of the program; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii State Youth Commission is urged to participate in the development, implementation, and evaluation of the statewide peer counselor program, including representing youth interests, gathering student input from across the State, and advising the Department of Education on the program's effectiveness, equity, and cultural responsiveness; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Chairperson of the Board of Education, Superintendent of Education, Director of Health, Director of Human Services, Director of the Office of Wellness and Resilience, and Chairperson of the Hawaii State Youth Commission.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

 

Report Title: 

BOE; DOE; DOH; Office of Wellness and Resilience; Hawaii State Youth Commission; Statewide Peer Counselor Program; Schools; Loneliness; Youth; Students