HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	211
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

HONORING the O AHU VETERANS COUNCIL, ARMED SERVICES YMCA HAWAI I, U.S. VETS HAWAI I, and ALA HAWAI I GIRLS STATE FOR THEIR DEDICATED SERVICE TO VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN HAWAI I.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, the State of Hawai i is home to over 100,000 veterans whose service and sacrifice have spanned periods of peace and combat that include World War II, the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam Era, and the Gulf War Era, and will continue into present day conflicts, in order to safeguard the freedoms enjoyed by the people of our State and nation; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawai i's veterans are a vital part of the State's social and economic fabric, yet many veterans face ongoing challenges related to housing affordability, employment opportunities, and access to services, including higher-than-average unemployment rates and significant housing cost burdens; and

 

     WHEREAS, national assessments of the quality of life of veterans have highlighted these challenges, with Honolulu ranking eighty-sixth out of one hundred major U.S. cities in a recent evaluation of veterans' well-being, including low rankings in employment and economic opportunity, underscoring the importance of continued investment in support systems for veterans; and

 

     WHEREAS, veterans and their families continue to benefit from the dedication of community-based organizations that provide critical services, foster meaningful connections, and promote long-term well-being and a better quality of life; and

 

     WHEREAS, the O AHU VETERANS COUNCIL serves as a unifying force for veterans across the island of O ahu, providing a dedicated forum for collaboration among veterans service organizations and operating the O ahu Veterans Center as a gathering place for special events and activities, community engagement, and access to trusted resources; and

 

     WHEREAS, since 1917, the ARMED SERVICES YMCA HAWAI I has improved the lives of military service members, veterans, and their families through a wide variety of programs that promote family resiliency, youth development, and access to essential food and other resources, serving more than 111,000 service members, veterans, and their families across O ahu in 2025 alone; and

 

     WHEREAS, U.S. VETS HAWAI I is dedicated to ending homelessness for veterans across the State by providing critical services, housing assistance, and workforce development opportunities that empower veterans to achieve stability, self-sufficiency, and a renewed sense of purpose; and

 

     WHEREAS, for many decades, ALA HAWAI I GIRLS STATE has been preparing generations of young women for civic leadership through hands-on education in government, civic responsibility, advocacy, public service, and volunteer opportunities in support of veterans and their families; more recently, in 2016, the program experienced a revitalization of its local leadership core and rededicated itself to the group's mission, leading to better results and greater impact for those being served; and

 

     WHEREAS, as our nation approaches the two hundred fiftieth anniversary of its founding, it is an opportune time to recognize the enduring contributions of those who have served and the organizations that continue to support them and their families; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawai i, Regular Session of 2026, that this body hereby honors the O AHU VETERANS COUNCIL, ARMED SERVICES YMCA HAWAI I, U.S. VETS HAWAI I, and ALA HAWAI I GIRLS STATE for their dedicated service to veterans and their families in Hawai i and extends to them its warmest aloha and best wishes for continued success in all future endeavors.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

 

Report Title: 

Oahu Veterans Council; Armed Services YMCA Hawaii; U.S. VETS Hawaii; and ALA Hawaii Girls State