Submit Written Testimony Online

1. Visit https://hnldoc.ehawaii.gov/hnldoc/testimony.
2. Include your first and last name, phone number, and email address.
3. Select the appropriate meeting date and Council/Public Hearing Committee which the measure will be heard in. The meeting calendar and agendas are provided on the website.
4. Enter the Agenda Item. This is the measure you wish to testify on (a bill or resolution number).
5. Select your position on the measure: Support/Oppose/Comment.
6. Indicate whether you are testifying as yourself or an organization.
7. Type in your written testimony or attach it as .doc or .pdf.
8. Review for accuracy, then submit!

Submit Oral Testimony / Speak at Meeting Online

1. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in order to allow public participation in a manner consistent with social distancing practices, people may submit oral testimony remotely through the Zoom video conferencing platform.
2. A Zoom link and meeting number will be provided on the meeting agenda, posted six days before the Council meeting or Committee Hearing, which the measure will be heard.
3. You, as a registrant, will receive an email that contains links and information on joining the meeting by either phone or video conference.
4. Remote testimony will be taken at the start of the agenda and then closed. Each speaker is allowed:
   • A three-minute presentation on Public Hearing, New Business, and Sunshined items; and
   • A one-minute presentation on all other items
5. If you are testifying through Zoom, you are strongly encouraged to register at least 24 hours before the start of the meeting.

Submit Oral Testimony / Speak at Meeting by Phone

Ensure that your device is properly configured for interactive videoconferencing. Since we are not able to identify persons that utilize the telephone to call into the videoconference, we recommend using videoconference audio instead of a phone line.

Videoconference from a quiet location and utilize a headset if possible as it helps reduce background noise during your presentation.

Mute your television. The Council meeting broadcast on 'Olelo is on a televised delay from the actual meeting proceedings.

Be aware that backlighting may degrade the appearance of your video. Also, virtual backgrounds use more network resources and could affect video quality as well.

When speaking, state your name, and note if you are representing an organization. Indicate whether you support or oppose the measure, or if you are merely providing comment. To be effective, set down your comments in a prepared statement, being concise, yet accurate.

Submit Written Testimony by Fax

Written testimony may be faxed to (808)768-3826 and should include the testifier’s address, e-mail address, and phone number, which may be posted by the City Clerk and available to the public on the City’s website.

How do I register to speak at a meeting?

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, oral testimony is received by videoconference/phone. To register to speak at a meeting, please locate the videoconference registration instructions on the specific meeting agenda you are interested in.

The Council utilizes Zoom as its interactive videoconference platform. If you plan to testify before the Council frequently, we recommend downloading the Zoom App to your device from zoom.us.

Once you have completed the videoconference registration process, you will receive an email noting “Registration Approved for Web Seminar” with the videoconference login information.

Submission of written testimony is also accepted and highly encouraged during the COVID-19 pandemic.

What happens at meetings and how is videoconference/oral testimony received?

Upon registering and logging into the videoconference, testifiers are designated as an attendee of the meeting with the ability to view the meeting, but without interactive privileges. Your microphone will be muted but you will be able to hear and view the proceedings.

We recommend utilizing the “Grid View” to see all participants.

• The Chair of the meeting will call for testimony from videoconference participants at the start of each meeting prior to its deliberations.

• Testifiers are taken in the general order of registration and oral testimony may be presented for multiple agenda items. For meetings with numerous testifiers, the Chair will announce the names of several persons at a time and ask that each be ready to speak when called upon.

• At the appropriate time, the City Clerk’s staff will bring each testifier into the videoconference as an interactive participant. You will then be allowed to activate your camera and microphone.

• If testifying by phone using the toll free Zoom phone number, the committee staff will not have your name and full phone number. The Chair will identify callers by an area code and three digit phone prefix (XXX)YYY-_ _ _ _.

Unfortunately, due to testifier time limits, computer screen sharing will not be permitted unless a prior arrangement has been made/granted by the meeting Chair

Tips for Videoconferencing

• Ensure that your device is properly configured for interactive videoconferencing. Since we are not able to identify persons that utilize the telephone to call into the videoconference, we recommend using videoconference audio instead of a phone line.

• Videoconference from a quiet location and utilize a headset if possible as it helps reduce background noise during your presentation.

• Mute your television. The Council meeting broadcast on 'Olelo is on a televised delay from the actual meeting proceedings.

• Be aware that backlighting may degrade the appearance of your video. Also, virtual backgrounds use more network resources and could affect video quality as well.

• When speaking, state your name, and note if you are representing an organization. Indicate whether you support or oppose the measure, or if you are merely providing comment. To be effective, set down your comments in a prepared statement, being concise, yet accurate.