Hawai'i Senate Democrats

06/17/2026

Join Senator Rachele Lamosao and Representative Diamond Garcia for a community town hall focused on disaster preparedness, emergency planning, and practical steps residents can take to protect themselves, their families, and their neighborhoods before, during, and after a disaster.

Featured speakers from the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency (HIEMA) and community resiliency leader Pastor Allen Cardines Jr. will share resources, preparedness strategies, and information to help our communities become more resilient.

📍 Honouliuli Middle School
📅 June 23, 2026
🕕 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM

Whether you’re building an emergency kit, creating a family preparedness plan, or simply looking to learn more, this conversation is an opportunity to get informed, ask questions, and connect with valuable community resources.

Join the conversation and help build a safer, stronger, and more resilient West Oʻahu.

06/10/2026

KAILUA TOWN HALL RERUN UPDATE:
***ʻŌlelo has changed the rerun schedule for the Kailua Town Hall. The July 16th 11 a.m. rerun will be moved to July 15th at 11 a.m.

Community members are invited to join their Windward Oʻahu state legislators for a Kailua Town Hall on Monday, June 29, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Kailua District Park Multipurpose Room.

Hosted by Senator Jarrett Keohokalole, Senator Chris Lee, Representative Scot Matayoshi, Representative Mike Lee, and Representative Lisa Marten, the town hall will provide an opportunity for residents to receive updates on the 2026 Legislative Session, learn more about state legislation and funding impacting Windward Oʻahu, and engage directly with their elected representatives.

Can’t make it in person? Tune in live on ʻŌlelo Channel 49 at olelo.org/49 or catch one of the scheduled reruns.

Join the conversation, share your manaʻo, and learn more about the issues and investments shaping the future of Kailua, Kāneʻohe, and our Windward communities.

06/05/2026

A landmark new law and a conversation about what’s next for campaign finance in Hawaiʻi.

Join Senator Jarrett Keohokalole, Senator Karl Rhoads, and Tom Moore of the Center for American Progress for a virtual town hall on SB2471 / Act 11 (2026), Hawaiʻi’s response to Citizens United and one of the most significant campaign finance reforms in state history. The discussion will also include a moderated audience Q&A.

Friday, June 12, 2026
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. HST
Virtual via Zoom

Registration is required.

Scan the QR code on the flyer to reserve your spot and register at the following Zoom link: https://senate-capitol-hawaii-gov.zoom.us/meeting/register/8TfGo0oXTYG9nCIIzEP6ow #/registration

06/03/2026

Senator Rachele Lamosao is proud to share that $500,000 in funding has been released for the East Kapolei Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Project, supporting the development of a master plan and environmental impact study for parcels surrounding the Keoneʻae Rail Station. 🚆

As West Oʻahu continues to grow, thoughtful planning is essential to creating vibrant, connected communities that support local families, businesses, and future housing opportunities. This investment will help guide the long-term vision for development around one of the region’s key transportation hubs and ensure future growth is both strategic and community-centered.

The East Kapolei TOD Project will help shape future development surrounding the rail station, laying the groundwork for housing, infrastructure, transportation connections, economic opportunity, and public spaces that serve residents for generations to come.

Mahalo to Governor Josh Green for releasing these funds and supporting investments that help build a stronger, more sustainable future for West Oʻahu. Together, we are creating communities where local families can live, work, and thrive.

05/27/2026

Last month, Senator Tim Richards had the incredible honor of recognizing Kahuna Nui Leimomi Moʻokini Lum in celebration of her 100th birthday — a remarkable milestone for one of Hawaiʻi’ most respected cultural leaders and public servants.

Aunty Momi, the Kahuna Nui of Moʻokini Heiau, carries an unbroken genealogical lineage tracing back to the founders of the sacred heiau in Kohala. She became the Kahuna Nui in 1977, the following year dedicated the heiau to the children of Hawaiʻi, transforming the sacred site into a living classroom where thousands of keiki have connected with and learned about their culture, history and the place they call home.

Beyond her cultural leadership, Aunty Momi was also a trailblazer in law enforcement, becoming one of Honolulu’s first policewomen in the 1950s and serving our community for more than three decades.

Her life reflects the very best of Hawaiʻi — resilience, leadership, service, and an unwavering commitment to future generations. Mahalo nui Aunty Momi for your lifetime of dedication to our keiki and kuleana to our beautiful home.

05/16/2026

Senator Donovan Dela Cruz and Senator Michelle Kidani joined First Lady Jaime Kanani Green, Superintendent Keith Hayashi, fellow legislators and key partners today at Mililani High School for the Nourishing Hawaiʻi’s Future memorandum of agreement signing ceremony — an important step forward in strengthening Hawaiʻi’s food resilience and supporting the future of local agriculture.

The event included food tasting samples from the school’s breakfast and lunch menu, along with a tour highlighting how Mililani High School is helping advance the Nourishing Hawaiʻi’s Future initiative through innovative farm-to-school and community partnerships.

At the heart of this effort is a vision to build a stronger, more resilient Hawaiʻi — creating reliable markets for local farmers and food producers, increasing locally grown and locally made foods in school meals, and developing infrastructure that can also serve communities during emergencies and natural disasters.

Mahalo to all of the partners across the Hawai'i Public Schools, State of Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, ADC, the State Legislature, Hawaiʻi’s agricultural community, and the many organizations working together to nourish our keiki, support local farmers, and strengthen Hawaiʻi’s future.

05/13/2026

Yesterday, Senator Dela Cruz joined Governor Josh Green, state leaders, community members, and project partners for the blessing and groundbreaking of the Wahiawā Dam Improvement Project — a major investment in public safety, water infrastructure, and Hawaiʻi’s agricultural future. 🌱💧

Following the devastating Kona Low storms earlier this year and the near-overflow conditions experienced at the dam, the Legislature prioritized $58 million this session to advance critical rehabilitation and safety improvements to the Wahiawā Dam and Irrigation System.

Speaking with Hawaiʻi News Now, Senator Dela Cruz shared the broader importance of the project for North Shore communities and local agriculture. “There’s farmers from Mokulēʻia all the way to Waimea that actually depend on this irrigation system,” Senator Dela Cruz said. “What you see here today is not just the lake, it’s not just the dam here in Wahiawā, but the miles and miles of irrigation system that traverses the North Shore.”

The project will help bring the dam into compliance with modern safety standards while improving long-term water reliability for agricultural communities across Central Oʻahu and the North Shore, while also strengthening flood mitigation efforts as Hawaiʻi faces increasingly severe weather events.

05/12/2026

Last week's moving Remembrance at the Hawaii State Senate for for former Congresswoman and Senate President Colleen Hanabusa ❤️

Remembrance for former Congresswoman and Senate President Colleen Hanabusa

05/11/2026

Last Friday during Sine Die, the Hawaiʻi State Senate proudly honored the retirement of Senate Sergeant at Arms Ben Villaflor following 47 years of dedicated service at the State Capitol, making him Hawaiʻi’s longest-serving Senate Sergeant at Arms.

Ben began his service with the Senate in 1979, serving through five of Hawaiʻi’s nine governors. Before his time at the Capitol, he was a celebrated professional boxer and two-time WBA and The Ring super-featherweight world champion. Known throughout the Capitol for his calm presence, professionalism, and deep care for protecting both the institution and the people within it, Ben became a steady and familiar figure through generations of lawmakers, staff, and members of the public.

During the Senate Floor recognition, Senators shared heartfelt, funny, and memorable stories about Ben throughout the years — reflecting on the deep respect and appreciation they have for him, and how greatly he will be missed around the Capitol. From maintaining decorum on the Senate Floor to mentoring others through wellness and boxercise programs, Ben carried out his role with humility, discipline, and quiet strength.

Mahalo nui loa, Ben Villaflor, for your extraordinary service to the Hawaiʻi State Senate and the people of Hawaiʻi. We wish you a well-deserved and fulfilling retirement. 🥊🏛️

05/09/2026

The 2026 Legislative Session has officially adjourned Sine Die 🏛️

Over the last few months, legislators engaged in collaborative work through committee hearings, public testimony, floor votes, conference committee negotiations, and long days of thoughtful discussion to advance legislation addressing the needs and future of Hawaiʻi.

This session marked the passage of a historic state budget that prioritized Hawaiʻi’s working families while advancing landmark legislation focused on the future of our state — from education and healthcare to public safety, economic development, technology, environmental stewardship, and protections for local communities across Hawaiʻi.

Today’s adjournment was also especially meaningful and emotional as the Senate recognized the retirement of Senator Karl Rhoads, Chair of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, after 20 years of service in the Legislature. Senators delivered deeply moving remarks reflecting on his leadership, integrity, mentorship, and the profound impact his work has had on Hawaiʻi’s government and people throughout the years.

Mahalo nui loa to every legislator, staff member, and community member who contributed their time, voices, and dedication throughout this session. As the gavel closed on the 2026 Legislative Session, the spirit of service, collaboration, and commitment to Hawaiʻi remained at the heart of the work carried out at the State Capitol.