If Tiana Maruyama were Hawai'i governor, one of her priorities would be redirecting mass transit spending to improve the state's public education system.

Yesterday, the 17-year-old Kalani High School senior was sworn in at the state Capitol to portray the governor and work with a new set of recently elected legislators as part of the YMCA Youth Legislative Session.

The program, in its 58th year, strives to expand participation and understanding of lawmaking and democracy while fostering skills such as public speaking and constituency building.

Maruyama is one of 88 students from grades 6 to 12 at 30 public and private schools spending their entire spring break week learning the legislative process.

Many of the bills and resolutions they will consider are particularly relevant to students, such as requiring all public and private school teachers to submit to random drug tests, extending the school day, requiring 50 hours of community service to graduate, and appropriating $5 million to replace old social studies textbooks.

But many of the roughly 60 measures also address general public issues, such as pedestrian safety, low-income housing, gill- net fishing and the amount of ethanol in gasoline.

"The challenges before you are huge and daunting," said state Sen. Clarence Nishihara, D-18th (Waipahu, Crestview, Pearl City), addressing the mock Legislature. "I applaud you for your efforts and energy, and participating in this great enterprise called democracy."

Maria Banao is the mother of Roosevelt High School ninth-grader Kendrick Banao, who introduced a piece of gun-licensing legislation. Kendrick's older sister was House speaker in a previous year. Maria Banao said the program has been a great experience for her children.

"It gives the kids experience with the (lawmaking process)," she said. "This is really good for them."

Students began their work in September by discussing issues, and proceeded to campaign for office, elect representatives, draft legislation and try to pass bills into law.

Yesterday, the opening ceremony — complete with hula, music and an audience of about 100 family members and a few real lawmakers — took place in the House chamber with mock legislators in suits filling the seats of their real representatives.

From today through Wednesday, hearings and votes will be held on bills, followed by a Thursday meeting with Gov. Linda Lingle. At that meeting, Maruyama will explain the passage or failure of her priorities, that in addition to redirecting transit funding, include providing housing for low-income families, enhancing protections for unborn children and reducing teen pregnancy.

"Children are our future," said Maruyama, who aspires to a career in child psychology and is participating in her fourth year in the Youth Legislative Session.

At the end of the mock legislative session, some promising bills may be offered for introduction in next year's real Legislature, according to program director Dave Endo.

Endo said one law passed in part because of an initiative presented in a past Youth Legislative Session was the lowering of the voting age in the early 1970s.

Former program participants also have gone on to high levels of public service, and include Sen. Suzanne Chun Oakland, U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono and retired Army chief of staff Gen. Eric Shinseki.

Reach Andrew Gomes at agomes@honoluluadvertiser.com.