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HONOLULU (AP) — The latest from Hawaii Gov. David Ige's State of the State address (all times local):
1:15 p.m.
Democratic state Rep. Chris Lee is calling Gov. David Ige's school cooling proposal groundbreaking. He said Monday it's great that Ige is talking about using energy-efficient cooling systems.
Ige says the first step in cooling schools is to reduce energy use in each building. He says it's important to do electrical and lighting upgrades before adding air conditioning units to buildings.
Democratic Hawaii lawmakers are saying they agree with many of Ige's priorities. But they say they need to see more details about his proposals.
Democratic House Speaker Joe Souki says he's pleased that the governor has put a lot of money in the budget for elderly Hawaii residents.
12:35 p.m.
Hawaii state senators are saying they share many of the priorities Gov. David Ige outlined in his annual speech.
Sen. Majority Leader J. Kalani English says the Legislature shares the governor's concern about homelessness and affordable housing. He says with everyone working together there should be a good plan by the end of the session.
Sen. President Ronald Kouchi said Monday he's surprised the governor didn't say more about early childhood education.
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11:07 a.m.
Hawaii Gov. David Ige is saying the state's highest obligation is to take care of its children. He says classrooms are a sacred learning space.
Ige said Monday that his goal is to cool 1,000 public school classrooms by the end of this year and thousands more every year. He plans to use $100 million on energy-efficient cooling solutions, including air conditioning units.
Ige also says it's time to create a new mental health hospital on Oahu. He wants to invest $160 million to build a new facility in Kaneohe.
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10:38 a.m. :
Hawaii Gov. David Ige is talking about the need to tackle homelessness and affordable housing.
He says the state is in the final stages of building a new facility that can provide short-term shelter for up to 240 people per year.
The state is investing $5 million to jumpstart a new partnership with Aloha United Way. It's expected to provide immediate relief to 1,300 households.
Ige says the state needs an estimated 66,000 housing units in the coming years. He's seeking more money for loans to developers for low-income rentals.
He says the biggest roadblock to developing more housing is the lack of adequate infrastructure. He's asking for a $25 million increase to fund infrastructure improvements.
He says private sector developments will provide more than 10,000 units in the next few years.
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10:22 a.m.
Hawaii Gov. David Ige is beginning his annual State of the State address by recognizing the Maui workers who are losing their jobs as the last sugar plantation closes.
Ige said Monday that like sugar, many aspects of the Hawaii we once knew are gone. But he says an exciting new world is beckoning.
Ige says he's committed to pursuing the Thirty Meter Telescope project even though a judge recently halted construction. He says the state needs to do a better job of listening to the people.
The governor is also concerned about unfunded pension and benefit liabilities for state retirees. He's pushing a plan to more aggressively pay down the state's obligations to those workers.
He's also encouraging the state to do a better job of spending federal money.
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