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Sample Testimony:

Subject: Urgent Request to Adopt the Hawaiʻi Water Safety Plan

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Aloha,

I am writing to respectfully urge your support for adopting the Hawaiʻi Water Safety Plan, as proposed in the resolutions SCR55 and SR53 before your committee.

Hawaiʻi is currently in the midst of a drowning crisis. Our state has the second‑highest drowning rate in the nation, and drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 15 in Hawaiʻi. It is also the number one cause of injury‑related death for Hawaiʻi’s visitors, highlighting the urgent need for coordinated prevention efforts.

The recent storms in Hawaiʻi serve as a reminder that Hawai‘i is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including drowning, which must become a disaster reduction priority.

This crisis is not equitable. Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NHPI) drown at approximately 1.5 times the rate of Hawaiʻi’s general population, and NHPI children drown at three times the rate of the general population. These disparities make clear that water safety is not only a public safety issue, but also a matter of health equity.

The Hawaiʻi Water Safety Plan was developed by the Hawaiʻi Water Safety Coalition, a statewide partnership of government agencies, first responders, medical professionals, nonprofits, and community leaders. The Hawaiʻi Water Safety Plan has been recognized nationally with a Safe Kids Champion for Children Award from Safe Kids Worldwide. It serves as a guide for strategic drowning and injury prevention initiatives state wide.

Adopting the Hawaiʻi Water Safety Plan would provide a comprehensive, data‑driven framework to reduce drownings, improve coordination, strengthen education and prevention, and ultimately save lives across our islands.

Mahalo for your time, leadership, and commitment to protecting the people of Hawaiʻi.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[City/Island]

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