The Hawaii Legislature’s Keiki Caucus is one of the oldest children’s caucuses in the nation. It began in 1990.

As a freshman legislator, I attended a legislative meeting in Rensselaerville, N.Y., and learned about a children’s caucus. I loved this idea. It resonated with my passion to support our children and youth.

Returning to Hawaii, I spoke to long-time children’s advocate state Rep. Dennis Arakaki, and together we founded the Keiki Caucus.

This year is its 25th anniversary. The caucus, a bipartisan group of more than one-third of Hawaii’s Legislature, strongly advocates for children and youth. Monthly meetings are held to discuss issues affecting the well-being of keiki, and children’s advocacy organizations and individuals serve on the Keiki Caucus Resource Group. Through their work with children, issues and trends are identified.

Annually, the caucus conducts a statewide environmental scan of child well-being and invites government, local and national research and community organizations to educate the caucus and resource group about issues affecting Hawaii’s youngest residents.

Too often, there was focus on negative things that involved young people. The caucus wanted to acknowledge positives and thank Hawaii’s people for their support and love for children.

In 1994, the Keiki Caucus championed a bill to create a day and a week to honor Hawaii’s children. It was a way to build public commitment and a sense of purpose to focus on critical issues affecting the state’s children, to recognize their contributions and reiterate the state’s commitment to investing time, leadership and financial resources to address the needs of Hawaii’s children.

The Legislature passed and the governor enacted Act 243 to honor Hawaii’s children by establishing the first Sunday in October as "Children’s Day" and the following week as "Children’s Week."

Hawaii was the first in the nation to do this.

In 1997, Act 30 established October as "Children and Youth Day and Month," expressing the state’s continued commitment to Hawaii’s children and youth, and their contributions to society.

Children and Youth Day, along with the Children and Youth Summit, the Outstanding Children and Youth Advocates Luncheon and the "Leader for a Day" essay contest, were annual projects coordinated by caucus members.

Over 22 years, the Children and Youth Day celebration has grown in popularity.

We are now at a crossroads: Does the caucus continue to lead the coordination of this event?

Should this responsibility be transferred to another entity? Will the state continue to support this celebration?

The community continues to generously donate valuable time, financial and other resources to make this event a success.

Should the state law be amended to make clear that the Children and Youth Day event on the first Sunday in October is a state event, which was the original intent of the 1994 law?

Should the event be given to a private entity to coordinate with no state involvement?

Hundreds of people from across the state communicated with me, including legislative colleagues, overwhelmingly supportive of this celebration.

It has empowered and inspired many to become civically engaged in their government on behalf of children and youth.

Hawaii’s legacy to nurture and support its keiki (children) and ‘opio (youth) has been proudly demonstrated, from Hawaii’s congressional delegation, to state and county elected officials, to the daily actions of Hawaii’s people. Children and youth are a top priority.

My hope is that such a legacy will continue — that, through thoughtful deliberation, future decisions will support the empowerment of residents to be involved in their government; and that government will genuinely express care for Hawaii’s people, especially our children and youth.