UH Hilo Political Science Club hosts workshop on public testimony
Seventeen students attended the workshop where they learned how to prepare and submit in-person and written testimony for bills on state and county levels.
By Susan Enright.
The Political Science Club at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo hosted a Testimony Workshop on Friday sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences.
Guest speaker was M. Eileen O’Hara, PhD, a lecturer of economics at UH Hilo’s College of Business and Economics who served on the Hawaiʻi County Council in 2016-2018 for District 4.
Testimony tips
Seventeen students attended the workshop where they learned how to prepare and submit in-person and written testimony for bills on both state and county levels.
“Dr. O’Hara informed students that short testimony, about one page, catches the eyes of council members, state senators and representatives more easily,” says political science major Amaya Hirata, president of the Political Science Club.
“Her biggest points when submitting testimony: bullet your major points, state whether you support or oppose a bill, give information on who you are, and keep it respectful,” says Hirata.
O’Hara also guided students through the county and state websites to show how to submit testimony and look at specific bills.
Ashley Kierkiewicz, the current County of Hawaiʻi council member for District 4, stopped by the workshop to give students information about the process of bills within the county council.
“She also explained some of the bills she has been able to pass and how testimony is very important to her when making decisions,” says Hirata.
Story by Susan Enright, a public information specialist for the Office of the Chancellor and editor of UH Hilo Stories. She received her bachelor of arts in English and certificate in women’s studies from UH Hilo.
