First ever Honolulu Youth Commission sworn in
Commissioners for the first-ever Honolulu Youth Commission were sworn-in during ceremonies on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021 and Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021. Commissioners will serve staggered terms of one or two years and are selected by both the Mayor and the Honolulu City Council.
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi has appointed Grace Kostecki, Elijah Moniz, and Treston Lindsey to two year terms on the Honolulu Youth Commission, ending July 31, 2023. Honolulu City Councilmembers representing districts 2, 4, 6, and 8 selected the remaining four commissioners serving two year terms. They are Croccifixio “Cross” Crabbe, Ella J.S Matsui, Griffin Chen, and Trinity Silbanuz.
In addition, Mayor Blangiardi has appointed Michael Tong, Bronson Azama, and Keziah Ancheta to one year terms on the Honolulu Youth Commission, ending July 31, 2022. Councilmembers representing districts 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 selected the remaining five commissioners serving one year terms. They are Ke‘ala‘iliahi Ford, Pahonu Coleman, Daniel Pruder, Jahren Pintor, and Alexis Bugarin.
“I offer my heartfelt congratulations to the members of the first ever Honolulu Youth Commission and thank each and every one of them for stepping up to this task,” said Mayor Rick Blangiardi. “These young people have excellent credentials and are already active members of our community. I am impressed with the passion, vision and leadership exhibited by all of them and I am confident that the residents of the City and County of Honolulu will greatly benefit from their service.”
“I want to extend a warm mahalo to all of the youth that applied, and congratulate those members of the very first Honolulu Youth Commission that were selected. These young leaders are destined to become part of the most resilient generation Hawai‘i has ever produced. Their desire to serve and to help shape not only their future, but the O‘ahu they will leave to their own children, is admirable” said Tommy Waters, chair and presiding officer of the Honolulu City Council. Waters authored the Charter amendment that successfully created the commission.
“Congratulations and aloha to the newly inaugurated members of the Honolulu Youth Commission. I am heartened to see such a diverse group of young public servants stepping forward to answer the call to represent their communities and have their voices heard. Each of them has a unique perspective to bring to the Commission as it fulfills its kuleana to create a vision for the future of Honolulu. We at the City Council look forward to hearing their ideas and mana‘o on the important issues and challenges we face,” said Esther Kiaʻāina, vice chair of the Honolulu City Council.
The Honolulu Youth Commission provides those aged 14-to-24 with the opportunity to serve their community in one of the most dynamic and engaging levels of public government. These Commissioners are from all across the island and will serve as voluntary advisors to the Mayor and City Council on issues important to youth and their communities.
Because this is an active commission, commissioners will be expected to attend at least one commission meeting per month. Additional commitment(s) may be necessary subject to the needs of the commission.
