HONOLULU (KHON2) -- Senate Republicans have set the tone for this year's legislative session. The minority leader used his opening comments to criticize state and city leaders for making the island what it's become. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news In opening this year's legislative session, Republican Senator Brenton Awa criticized several groups including the University of Hawaii for the new president's $675,000 salary, lawmakers for their lack of affordable housing solutions and the Governor. Senate highlights five areas of focus for 2025 legislative session "I don't wanna be the one to keep Governor Green from helping California fire victims, but if he wants to fly them in and offer hotel rooms for free, what if we offer that to all the Hawaiians who've been displaced out there," said Sen. Brenton Awa, (R) Senate Minority leader. "I wish I had journalism broadcast and had the ability to deliver content like he did," said Senate President Ron Kouchi (D). As for the California wildfire, it is expected to severely impact Hawaii's homeowners' insurance premiums. Lawmakers said that's a top priority this session. "We can't guarantee that prices will be at the levels that homeowners are accustomed to, but what we don't wanna do is leave homeowners to the forewinds to have to access unregulated, out-of-state insurance," said Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole, (D) asst. majority WHIP and Insurance Task Force chair. Another top priority is fireworks, especially after the deadly New Year's Eve explosion in Aliamanu. There are several bills lawmakers are looking at from using firework detection equipment on cargo coming in, to making them illegal altogether. "It's not a tradition in Hawaii," said Sen. Kurt Fevella, (R) asst. minority floor leader. "Hawaii was string fireworks. Never had bombs. And plus too, bombs was always illegal. String fireworks, not." Democrats outnumber Republicans 22 to three in the Senate and 42 to nine in the House. Despite that large advantage, both parties know it's gonna take cooperation to get things done this session. Get Hawaii's latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You "To get your people's work done, things get done for your community, you gotta build relationships across the aisle and you gotta make sure, that when you see your bill or bills you like or you wanna support your colleague's bill, you open your mouth and you support it," said Favella. "If it's good, you support it. If it's not, you don't." The legislative session is scheduled to run through May 2.