Sen. Troy Hashimoto

08/22/2026

It is always a privilege to join the Maui Disability Alliance and Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities Legislative Forum at University of Hawai'i Maui College. Engaging directly with advocates, families, and our community members about the issues that impact their daily lives is vital to the work we do.

During the forum, we heard loud and clear about the pressing need for better sidewalk and transportation accessibility. We also discussed the ongoing need for housing that is truly accessible for those with disabilities—an area I remain deeply committed to working on—and the challenges many families face as they work hard to maintain their essential benefits. It is critical for lawmakers to hear these priorities so we can continue making meaningful progress together.

This year’s forum was also bittersweet. We took time to recognize Daintry Bartoldus, the Executive Administrator of the Hawaiʻi State Council on Developmental Disabilities, who will be retiring in December. Daintry has been a fierce, tireless advocate for the community and the DD Council. I deeply appreciate all of her incredible work and wish her the very best in her retirement!

08/21/2026

Preserving the history of the families who helped build our island is incredibly important work.

I recently had a fascinating meeting with dedicated researchers from Changwon National University in South Korea who are visiting Hawaiʻi to trace the roots and uncover the personal stories of early Korean immigrants.

The history of Korean immigration to Hawaiʻi is unique. Following Hawaiʻi becoming a United States territory in 1898, the Organic Act of 1900 formally banned penal contract labor. As a result, when the first major wave of Korean immigrants arrived in 1903 to work on our sugar plantations, they came as free laborers. This initial wave was surprisingly short, effectively halting by 1905. However, many of the individuals who arrived during those few brief years chose to make Hawaiʻi their permanent home, putting down roots and creating the vibrant Korean community that contributes so much to our state today.

The researchers’ work recently brought them to Holy Rosary Church in Paia. In celebration of its 100th anniversary, the church opened a historical time capsule that contained a remarkable discovery - a booklet which lists the names of Korean immigrants who generously contributed to the Catholic parish.

Now, these researchers are taking those names, alongside names carefully gathered by visiting local gravestones, to trace these individuals back to their hometowns in Korea.

Their goal is to weave together the personal narratives of each immigrant so their legacies are not forgotten. They are hoping to present this vital research in a future showcase to share with our community.

A special thank you to Jeannie Archer for making the connection with these great researchers. It is wonderful to see this dedication to honoring the diverse histories that shape Maui today.

08/19/2026

Hearing firsthand how our legislative work impacts individual lives is one of the most rewarding aspects of public service.

I had the privilege of attending the Kam Scholars ceremony this afternoon, which provides vital scholarships to help our University of Hawai'i Maui College students with the cost of their nursing degrees. This generous support is funded by the Aileen and Gilbert Chuck Trust, represented by Ron Purdy a trustee.

Out of all the tables in the room, I happened to sit with two students who are pursuing their Bachelor of Science in Nursing. This is a monumental step for our island. This coming year marks the very first year of the BSN program at UHMC, which is an initiative the legislature worked incredibly hard to help launch.

One of the students I met is Avery, a Lahainaluna High School graduate who earned his diploma in May 2023 right before the devastating wildfires. After tragically losing his family home, Avery had to change his plans of attending college on the mainland. Instead, he enrolled at Maui College and recently began working as a Certified Nursing Assistant at Maui Health, and will now be joining the inaugural BSN cohort right here on Maui.

Stories of resilience like Avery and his journey are exactly why I and so many others work so hard to make degree programs like this one a reality. When we build pathways for our local students to receive their education at home, they are empowered to stay and give back to our community in the most meaningful ways.

I wish all of the scholars the best of luck as they help to take care of our community!

08/15/2026

Ahead of Tropical Storm Lala impacts, County of Maui emergency officials identified Temporary Evacuation Points (TEPs) across Maui Nui that are proactively opening or are planning to open if conditions worsen. These sites can convert to shelters if needed. Meanwhile, several County events and services, including Maui Bus, have been adjusted or cancelled due to the incoming storm.

Tropical Storm Lala is forecast to be at or near hurricane strength as it approaches Hawaiʻi Island on Saturday.

National Weather Service (NWS) early this morning issued a Tropical Storm Warning for all Maui Nui islands. A warning means that tropical storm conditions -- heavy rain, flash and coastal flooding, strong winds and dangerous surf -- are expected somewhere in the warning area within 36 hours.

A Flood Watch is in effect for Maui County starting tonight through Sunday, which anticipates widespread rainfall amounts of five to 10 inches; some areas could see as much as 12 inches. A watch means conditions are possible, but not certain or imminent.

Temporary Evacuation Points
TEPs provide a safe gathering area but do not have the supplies of a regular shelter; residents need to bring essentials. Pets are allowed only if they are in crates or cages. If necessary, TEPs can be converted into shelters, which provide cots, food and water.

The County and American Red Cross will be opening TEPs at 7 tonight, 8/14:
- Wailuku: Baldwin High School, 1650 Kaahumanu Ave.
- Hāna: Hana High & Elementary School Cafeteria, 4111 Hāna Highway
- Lahaina: Lahaina Civic Center gym, 1840 Honoapiʻilani Highway

The following TEPs will open at 6 a.m. Saturday, 8/15:
- Pukalani: Mayor Hannibal Tavares Community Center, 91 Pukalani St.
- Kīhei: South Maui Community Park and Gym, 1501 Liloa Dr.

County facility, park and service cancellations or changes
Department of Public Works (DPW) reconstruction project on Makawao Avenue cancelled work on Saturday and Sunday due to weather.

County of Maui Department of Transportation on 8/15 will suspend or end early certain Maui Bus services. Transit services for Sunday will be determined by midday Saturday. For updated information, visit mauibus.org.

On Saturday, Maui Bus commuter services to West and South Maui are suspended; the Kahului Transit Center will close once all routes have been completed; ADA Paratransit services will also end by 2 p.m., with most routes departing by noon; Maui Bus Fixed-Route services will end by 2 p.m., with most routes departing by noon (some will depart earlier).

County-sponsored event cancellations or changes
Office of the Mayor’s annual Holomua Kākou talk-story gathering and drop-in centers on Lānaʻi slated for Aug. 17-18, 2026, will be rescheduled.

County preparations
Maui Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) has been coordinating with other County of Maui departments, as well as state and nongovernment partners, to prepare for potential storm impacts.

Other County preparations include the following:

• Maui Police Department is increasing staffing for all districts to prepare for the storm; all stations tested generators to ensure they are operable. The public should be advised of the following:

Anticipate longer response times for nonemergency/non-in progress calls -- public safety will be prioritized during the storm.
If there is a situation where emergency evacuation is needed, call 911.

Crimes committed during an emergency proclamation have enhanced penalties.

If traffic signals go out or malfunction, treat intersections like a four-way-stop.

• Maui Fire Department stood up an Incident Management Team to assist in managing storm response. The department increased firefighters on duty at stations across Maui County.

• DPW crews have been preparing for the potential upcoming weather by ensuring all storm-response equipment are fueled and ready to go, inspecting and cleaning drainage and flood control infrastructure, and prepositioned traffic control devices and equipment for deployment if needed throughout Maui County, including in Lahaina, Wailuku, Makawao and Hāna, as well as on Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi.

Material is being removed from the Wailuku River Debris Basin as a safety precaution. All material remains intact and is being safely stored at a County facility in Waikapū. It can be returned to the watershed once the storm has passed.

• Department of Water Supply (DWS) and Department of Environmental Management (DEM) are prepping all system infrastructure sites that could potentially be affected by the approaching storm. DWS and DEM are checking and topping of fuel in all permanent and portable generators. All vehicles are being refueled daily in anticipation of the storm. Standby crews have been set up for response.

General safety information
Residents are encouraged to:
Review or update a family emergency plan.
Assemble or replenish emergency supplies, including enough food, water, medications and essential items to last at least 14 days.

Prepare an emergency go bag with essential items to take if evacuation becomes necessary.

Secure important documents and know your evacuation zone if you live in a coastal or flood-prone area.

Prepare your home by securing outdoor items, protecting windows if needed, and ensuring it is ready to withstand possible extended power outages.

Sign up for MEMA Alerts and Genasys evacuation notifications by visiting https://mauicounty.gov/MEMA.

For the latest information, visit NWS in Honolulu at https://www.weather.gov/hfo/ and subscribe to Genasys and MEMA alerts at https://mauicounty.gov/MEMA.

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08/14/2026

It is always a special moment when a new leader steps up to represent our youth, and today marked a significant milestone for our statewide Hawai'i Public Schools system.

We welcomed Micah Kalauli, a student at Waiakea High School, as he attended his first meeting as the new student member of the Hawaiʻi State Board of Education. It is especially wonderful to see this position return to the neighbor islands, as Micah is the first student from outside of Oʻahu to serve in this vital role in a few years.

It was a joy to gather with several former BOE student members to welcome him and wish him a highly successful term. Serving as the student member during my senior year was a deeply impactful experience in my own leadership journey. Because that opportunity shaped so much of my path in public service, I always want to support this incredible network and ensure that incoming members know they have a strong, enduring community behind them.

We also took the opportunity to express our profound gratitude to outgoing student member Mia Nishiguchi for her dedicated service. We wish her the absolute best as she begins her next chapter attending the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.

The legacy of the student voice carries on, and I am excited to see the great work Micah will accomplish for students across our state this year.

08/12/2026

It was great attending the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association’s Charity Walk Breakfast, where they distributed a record-breaking $1,793,769 to 78 local non-profit organizations.

The Visitor Industry Charity Walk is one of the largest single-day fundraisers in our state, and it holds a special place in our community. What makes this initiative so vital is that every single dollar raised in Maui County stays right here to benefit our local residents. Since the Maui Hotel and Lodging Association began hosting the walk in 1980, they have raised over $23 million for our island. In fact, our Maui community has proudly raised the most money per capita statewide for 17 consecutive years.

These funds provide a critical lifeline for organizations that do the heavy lifting to help those most in need on Maui, from providing essential services and shelter to supporting our kupuna and keiki.

I want to express my deepest appreciation to everyone who participated, donated, and raised money for the walk this year. The dedication of the Maui Hotel and Lodging Association and the overwhelming generosity of our community truly reflect the spirit of aloha that strengthens the island we all call home.

08/05/2026

It was an honor to join Governor Josh Green and Yamagata Governor Mieko Yoshimura for the official signing of the Yamagata-Hawaiʻi sister state-prefecture agreement.

Our connection with Yamagata has deep roots. Yamagata is highly regarded for its exceptional agricultural products, particularly its famous rice - Tsuyahime. This premium rice has been proudly imported to our state by Sun Noodle since 2016, and our bilateral relationship has naturally grown from that initial business partnership.

What makes this partnership even more exciting is a recent study from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, which found that high-quality Japanese rice varieties can thrive and grow exceptionally well right here in Hawaiʻi.

Senate President Ron Kouchi played a pivotal role in building and solidifying this meaningful relationship between our regions through Kauai.

I look forward to exploring Yamagata more, furthering the strong economic and cultural ties between our communities, and exploring how these international partnerships might one day help us revitalize our own local agricultural industries.

08/05/2026

Thanks to AsAmNews for featuring me as they profile the next generation of Japanese American leaders under 40 across the US.

The family of fifth-generation Troy Hashimoto landed in Maui partly due to the bubonic plague. Now he's working to keep people from leaving.

08/02/2026

Maui County is a stronger community because of leaders like Debbie Cabebe. I was incredibly proud to stand with her today and present a certificate on behalf of the Hawaii State Legislature to commemorate her retirement with State Representative Tyson K. Miyake and Kyle Yamash*ta.

From her early days fiercely advocating for Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc. at the County Council, to her exceptional leadership as Chief Executive Officer during the COVID pandemic and the Lahaina fires, Debbie has left an indelible mark on our community. She has dedicated her career to ensuring that the most vulnerable among us have a voice and a tangible pathway to success.

We will truly miss her steady guidance and deep compassion, but she leaves the organization with an incredibly solid foundation. Wishing you a wonderful, restful, and well-deserved retirement, Debbie. Thank you for everything you have done for Maui!

08/01/2026

A wonderful evening at the Wailuku Hongwanji Mission Buddhist Temple Bon Dance! 🌺

It is always a joy to see so many great friends gather together to celebrate this cherished summer tradition. My friend Councilmember Ellen Kamei who is visiting from Mountain View got to experience a Maui Obon along with Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami.

This year held deep personal significance for our family as we celebrated the Hatsu Bon for my Aunty Midori and Uncle Archie Inamasu. Honoring their memory while surrounded by our community was a truly special experience.

I want to extend a sincere thank you to Reverend Murakami for his dedication and hard work. A big mahalo is also owed to all of the Boy Scouts, Judo Club, 4H, BWA members and church members who dedicated their time and energy to make the event such a success!