Senator Mike Gabbard

January Newsletter

Vol. 19 Issue 1

Agriculture and Environment Committee, Chair

Judiciary Committee, Vice Chair

Government Operations Committee, Vice Chair

Aloha e friends,

I hope you and your ‘ohana are well. Mahalo to everyone who stopped by my office on Opening Day. My staff and I enjoyed seeing you. (More photos will be posted, so stay tuned!) 

It’s been a whirlwind of activity at the Capitol – with tight deadlines for bill introductions, last-minute requests, and a packed schedule of events, site visits, informational briefings, and meetings.  

As always, please contact me at (808) 586-6830 or sengabbard@capitol.hawaii.gov if I can help you or your ‘ohana in any way. I also invite you to follow me on social media: Instagram @SenatorMikeGabbard, Facebook, YouTube,& X @SENMIKEGABBARD. Also, if you’d like to be added to my mailing list, you can send an email to sengabbard@capitol.hawaii.gov with “mailing list” in the subject line.

Listen Story Meeting:

Please join me at my first Listen Story Community meeting of 2025 on Saturday, January 25th, from 9am-10am at Kapolei High School in the teachers’ lounge. I’ll be sharing updates on my legislative priorities for this year and providing important community updates for District 21. There will also be time for questions and answers. You can view past recordings of Listen Story meetings on my YouTube channel here (Click on the “Community” Playlist.) For those who prefer to attend virtually, call or email my office for a link to the Zoom meeting.  

Sen. Mike Gabbard and his wife Carol on January 15th, 2025, for Opening Day of the 2025 Session. 

COMMUNITY UPDATES 

Youth Challenge Academy Graduation 

Senator Mike Gabbard and Retired Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Curtis pictured at Youth Challenge Academy Graduation on December 17th, 2024. 

Senator Mike Gabbard and Retired Civil Military Director is General Bruce Oliveira presenting graduate KT Ketter with the Mike Gabbard Scholarship.

As the state senator for Senate District 21, neighbor to YCA in Kalaeloa, and former high school English teacher, I can't say enough about this wonderful life-changing program for the cadets who graduate. I attended the graduation for the Youth Challenge Academy Class 61 at the Nakasone Performing Arts Center (Pearl City Cultural Center) on December 17 and as I do at all of their graduations, I presented the $500 Mike Gabbard Scholarship to a deserving cadet, KT Ketter, who has plans to attend Honolulu Community College to pursue classes in welding. I also prepared Honorary Certificates for each of the graduating cadets.  

Youth Challenge provides 16 to 18-year-old "AT-PROMISE" students a second chance to obtain their high school diploma and become successful, responsible, and productive citizens. The Academy instills discipline and a sense of self-worth by using military training to significantly improve the life skills and employment potential of young people. The five-month residential phase of the program is followed by a year-long mentoring relationship with specially trained members of each graduate's community. The Academy was founded in August 1994 and is administered by the Hawai‘i Army National Guard. It has campuses in Kalaeloa on O‘ahu and in Hilo on Hawai‘i Island. Keep up the good work cadets, YCA Director Sina Atanoa, and all the YCA staff! 

Senator Gabbard and Rep. Souza presenting Alana Kobayashi an Honorary Certificate on December 17 at Parkway Village Grand Opening.

Senator Mike Gabbard speaking on December 17 at Parkway Village Grand Opening.

Senator Mike Gabbard, Makani Maeva (President & Managing Director of Āhē Group), and Governor Josh Green at the Parkway Village Grand Opening on December 17.

It was an honor to join the Grand Opening of Parkway Village at Kapolei, located at 689 Manawai Street, a project that brings 401 affordable rental homes to the community. I had the privilege of presenting an Honorary Certificate to Kobayashi Group for their outstanding work in completing this transformative development in my district on December 17th. 

This affordable housing community is a crucial step in addressing the housing needs of our families, providing homes for those earning 30 to 60 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI). The homes are designed with energy-efficient features, and the development includes a photovoltaic battery system to reduce energy costs, ensuring long-term sustainability. 

I’m grateful for the collaborative efforts between Kobayashi Group, Āhē Group, Hawai‘i Housing Finance and Development Corporation (HHFDC), and the many financial partners, including CREA LLC and Bank of Hawai‘i, who made this project possible. Thanks to their dedication, Parkway Village is not just a place to live, but a community that offers early childhood education, green spaces, and innovative features like a Freight Farm, where residents will learn about farming and sustainability. 

I’m proud to have this project in my district. It’s a testament to what we can achieve when we work together. This is more than just about housing; it’s about building a thriving community with opportunities for education, health, and sustainability. I look forward to seeing Parkway Village grow and be a model for future affordable housing projects in Hawai‘i.  

LEGISLATIVE AEN (Agriculture & Environment) UPDATES 

2025 Session Priorities 

On January 15, 2025, the 33rd Legislature convened at the Hawai‘i State Capitol, ushering in a new legislative session filled with opportunities to address the most pressing issues facing our state. This session will run until May 2nd, and there is much work ahead to make meaningful progress on key issues.

As we begin this year, I’m focused on three core priorities: food security, regenerative agriculture, and cesspool conversions. With about 3,000 bills expected to be introduced this session, I encourage everyone to stay engaged and involved.

Food security continues to be a top concern as nearly 90% of our food is imported, costing us about $3 billion annually. I’m hoping we’ll expand important initiatives like the Farm to School Program, with a goal of sourcing 30% of school meals locally by 2030, and the DA BUX Program, which helps low-income families access locally grown produce.

To promote sustainable farming and incentivize our farmers, I’m working to make the Carbon Smart Land Management Pilot Program (which ends this year) a permanent program. I’m also seeking to promote sustainable practices through the Healthy Soils Program. In addition, I’m tackling the issue of Hawai‘i’s nearly 88,000 cesspools and pushing for solutions to protect our groundwater and reefs.

Another priority is advocating for a Visitor Green Fee to ensure that tourists contribute to the maintenance of our parks, beaches, and trails, similar to successful programs around the world. These efforts aim to safeguard Hawai‘i’s environment and ensure a sustainable future for our keiki and communities. I’ve talked with many tourists over the years who agree they should be paying their fair share to help keep paradise, paradise.

WAM (Ways & Means) / AEN (Agriculture & Environment) Informational Budget Briefing  

Senator Mike Gabbard and Senator Donovan Dela Cruz, WAM (Ways and Means Chair), on January 7th, 2025 for WAM/AEN Joint Briefing. 

As Chair of the Agriculture and Environment Committee (AEN), I participated in a critical briefing on January 7th, where the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture (HDOA) gave a preview of their biennium budget request. In the hearing, the HDOA addressed invasive pests such as the Macadamia Feltid Coccid and Nettle Caterpillar, which pose serious threats to our farms and forests.  

I’m pleased to report that our Apiary Program, crucial to pollination services, certified seven queen breeders, helping meet the high demand for Hawai’i’s honeybee queens. This program enhances the state's agricultural sustainability by ensuring a steady supply of quality queens, which are vital for maintaining healthy bee colonies.

On the pesticide front, we successfully implemented Hawai’i’s first commercial pesticide disposal program in over 15 years, removing nearly 40,000 pounds of harmful chemicals. Additionally, our aquaculture industry is thriving, contributing over $89 million in value. I remain committed to protecting Hawaii’s unique agricultural resources and ensuring a sustainable future for our farmers and the environment. 

Lonohana Estate Site Visit  

(Left) Danny Rubenstein, Director of Oʻahu RC&D, (Middle) Senecca Klassen, Lonohana Founder, Chocolate Maker & Cacao Farmer, (Right) Senator Mike Gabbard pictured at Lonohana Farms site visit on January 10th, 2025. 

On January 10, 2025, I visited Lonohana Estate Chocolate, where I saw firsthand how they are revitalizing former sugar cane land into a thriving cacao farm. Their commitment to sustainable farming and locally produced chocolate is inspiring. It was incredible to see how their efforts are helping to regenerate the land and reduce the environmental impact of agriculture. 

In addition to supporting their amazing work, we’re experimenting using their organic cacao in our homemade toffee! For years, we used Hershey’s chocolate chips in our toffee through our small family business, Hawaiian Toffee Treasures, which closed down in 2017. Now, we’re trying out Lonohana’s local cacao to bring a fresh, Hawai‘i-grown twist to the recipe. Carol makes it, but I’m the official taster and quality control expert (a job I’m happy to take on for free). Who knows, maybe after I retire from politics, we’ll reopen our toffee business. Stay tuned! 

Red Mass  

I attended the Annual Red Mass with the Prayer of Blessing for Government Officials on January 14th, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. at the historic Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in downtown Honolulu. The Red Mass, celebrated during the week of the opening of the Hawai‘i State Legislature, is an annual prayer to the Holy Spirit for guidance and wisdom for Hawai‘i’s civic leaders. Bishop Larry Silva presided over the service. 

Kerry Alys Robinson, the President and CEO of Catholic Charities USA, was the keynote speaker. She reflected on the topic, “Blessed Are the Peacemakers: Reflections on Servant Leadership,” and emphasized the need for virtuous public servants and how compassion and empathy can help build a more harmonious society, particularly in times when the political landscape is often marked by pessimism and apathy. 

The Red Mass has been a tradition since 1955, bringing government officials and the community together at the start of the Legislative Session to pray for guidance. The first Red Mass is believed to have been celebrated in the Cathedral of Paris in 1245, and it spread throughout Europe. 

Participate in Farmer Training Survey 

I’m excited to share an important opportunity for our farming community. The State Department of Agriculture (HDOA), in collaboration with Leeward Community College (LCC), is working to design a statewide farmer apprenticeship program. This initiative, established under Act 304 by the Hawai‘i State Legislature in 2022, aims to support the future of sustainable farming in our state. 

Under the leadership of LCC Chancellor Dr. Carlos Peñaloza and researchers Dr. Saleh Azizi Fardkhales and Dr. Aulii Silva, this program seeks to address the unique needs and challenges of Hawai‘i’s farmers. To ensure its success, we need your input. 

The Farmer Training Survey is a critical step in this process. Your insights will directly shape an apprenticeship program designed to equip aspiring farmers with the tools and skills necessary to thrive in Hawai‘i’s agricultural sector. 

Who Should Participate: 

• Farmers with 5+ years of direct food production experience 
• Agricultural managers who have hired, trained, or supervised farm personnel. 
• Farm owners involved in hiring, training, or management. 
• Practitioners of traditional or Indigenous food production methods (e.g., subsistence farming) for 5+ years 

How to Participate: Please take a few moments to complete the survey linked below. Your feedback is invaluable in shaping the future of farming in Hawai‘i. 

Click here to take the survey 

Mahalo nui loa for your contributions to our community and your dedication to mālama ʻāina. Together, we can cultivate a sustainable and prosperous agricultural future for Hawai‘i.