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Act 46 of the Executive and Advisory Councils of the Provisional Government of Hawaiʻi , passed on 18 August 1893, authorized the Commander in Chief to organize independent sharpshooter units under the National Guard of Hawaiʻi.

The last legislature of the Republic of Hawaii adjourned sine die on July 7, 1898. Annexation of Hawaii to the United States followed quickly, but the Organic Act, which established the Government for the Territory of Hawaii, did not take effect until June 14, 1900. Consequently, Hawaii was without a formal legislative body until the First Legislature of the Territory of Hawaii, consisting of a Senate and House of Representatives, whose members were elected in November 1900, convened, as specified in the Organic Act, on February 20, 1901. The first Senate was made up of 15 members from 4 Senatorial Districts; the House of Representatives had 30 members from 6 Representative Districts. The Organic Act also enumerated the powers of the Legislature, the qualifications of the legislators and the lengths of legislative sessions; and it required, inter alia, that all proceedings be in English. The Legislature of the Territory of Hawaii met in 30 regular biennial sessions, 13 special sessions and 3 extra sessions between 1901 and 1959.

In these sessions, the legislature organized itself into several standing and special committees which carried on the work of hearing testimony, investigating claims, evaluating bills and resolutions, etc. In addition, the legislature occasionally created, usually by joint resolution, holdover committees, to meet between legislative sessions, investigate specific situations or pursue matters which were not dealt with completely during regular and special sessions, and report their findings and recommendations at the succeeding session.

The 30th and last Legislature of the Territory of Hawaii, which, pursuant to a change to the Organic Act that went into effect for the 1958 election, consisted of 25 Senators from 6 Senatorial Districts and 52 Representatives from 18 Representative Districts, adjourned for the last time on May 2, 1959. In August 1959, Hawaii became the 50th State of the United States of America.

Family caregiving has always been a universal experience of all ethnicities, lifestyles, and income levels. Recently, however, caregiving of family elders has become more than an act of love and familial responsibility. Due to a shortage of care providers in Hawaii, family caregiving has become a critical element of our health and long-term care system. By 2020, more than one in four individuals is expected to be sixty years old or older. The need for personal care assistance due to physical, sensory, cognitive, and self-care disabilities increases with age. As Hawaii’s population ages, many more families will be providing higher levels of long-term care to frail and disabled older adults at home. A comprehensive public policy to strengthen support for family caregivers is essential.

Legislative Mandate
Your Joint Legislative Committee (JLCFC) was created by Senate Bill No. 3253, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, C.D. 1, which was enacted as Act 285, Session Laws of Hawaii (SLH) 2006. The JLCFC members are: Senator Les Ihara, Jr. and Representative Marilyn B. Lee, Co-Chairs; Senators Rosalyn Baker, Suzanne Chun Oakland, and Gordon Trimble; and Representatives Josh Green, M.D., and Alex Sonson. Former Representatives Dennis A. Arakaki and Anne V. Stevens have also served on the JLCFC.

Hawaii has a strong tradition of family caregiving. Family caregivers are family members, friends, and neighbors who provide unpaid assistance to those over the age of 60 (older adults) or grandparents raising their grandchildren. Recently, however, caregiving of family elders has become more than an act of love and familial responsibility. Due to a shortage of care providers for Hawaii’s elderly, family caregiving has become a critical component of our health and long-term care system.
By 2020, more than one in four individuals in Hawaii is expected to be an older adult. As the State’s population ages, many more families will be providing higher levels of long-term care to frail and disabled older adults at home. Family caregivers provide great economic value to our community, and it is the intent of the State of Hawaii to support and encourage them. Family caregiving delays institutionalization and allows our elders to remain in their homes.
Many family caregivers face added burdens in caring for their loved ones while fulfilling other family and workplace responsibilities. A continued effort to create comprehensive public policies to strengthen support for family caregivers is essential as the population ages. The State can build on and encourage the strong tradition of family caregiving in Hawaii by developing a plan for the future that includes research, development of best practices, and measurement of intended outcomes.