Senator Mike Gabbard

April Newsletter

Vol. 19 Issue 4

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. As we head into the home stretch of the 2025 Legislative Session, I wanted to take a moment to share some of the bills I’ve been working on. From growing more local food to protecting our keiki, cleaning up our waste, and taking care of our ʻāina and ocean, these measures are all about fixing what needs fixing and building a more self-reliant Hawai‘i. 

Most of these bills have been moving along — heard in multiple committees, passed out of the Senate, and now through the House. If they pass, they’ll head to what we call conference committee — where members from both chambers work out the final version together. That’s the real grind — plenty long hours, last-minute changes, and negotiating to make sure we’re doing right by the people. 

Still, lots of work ahead, but I’m proud of the progress we’ve made. Below are some highlights — real talk, local solutions, and some good ol’-fashioned teamwork. 

Check www.capitol.hawaii.gov to get updates on any of the bills you’re following.  

The journey a bill goes through is quite arduous! But this ensures we’ve gone through all the checks and balances – dotted our i’s and crossed our t’s in order to get the bill across the finish line.  

But it’s also when we have the chance to do some real good for our communities. My team and I are doing everything we can to advocate for West Side priorities and policies that mālama our ‘āina, keiki, kūpuna, and the future of Hawai‘i nei. 

If you’ve got questions, or if there’s anything I can do to help you or your ‘ohana, don’t hesitate to reach out: (808) 586-6830 or sengabbard@capitol.hawaii.gov. 

And if you want to keep up with the action, check out my pages on Instagram (@SenatorMikeGabbard), Facebook, YouTube, or X. 

Best wishes to you and your ‘ohana. 

Me ke aloha pumehana, 

Former House member, Ryan Yamane, being congratulated after being confirmed by the Senate on April 2, 2025, as the new Director of the Department of Human Services. 

Blaine Miyasato, being congratulated after being confirmed by the Hawai‘i State Senate on April 2, 2025. A huge AlohaCongrats to Blaine on achieving 40 years of dedicated service with Hawaiian Airlines and for being appointed new Chief Brand Officer by the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement. 

COMMUNITY UPDATES 

Listen Story Meeting 

Senator Gabbard’s Listen Story Community Meeting on March 29, 2025 (Pictured L-R: Greg Peterson, former VOKA (Villages of Kapolei Association) Pres, Reverend Mark & Jill Haworth, Joey Manahan (Director of Public Involvement and Relations at HART), Melanie June (Senator Gabbard's Community Liaison), Mitch Hughes, and Rose Shin).

On Saturday, May 10, from 9:00–10:00 AM, I’ll be holding my Legislative Wrap-Up Listen Story Community Meeting at the Villages of Kapolei Rec Room 2 (91-1050 Kama‘aha Loop).

There won’t be a Listen Story in April due to the busyness of conference, so I hope you can join us in May! I’ll be sharing highlights from this year’s legislative session and taking your questions. 

At our last meeting on March 29, we were joined by Joey Manahan, Director of Public Involvement and Relations at HART (Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation). 

Joey gave an update on the Honolulu rail project and answered some great questions from community members. My Community Liaison, Melanie June, ran the meeting on my behalf and helped facilitate a great discussion. If you missed it, you can watch his presentation on my YouTube channel.



To RSVP or request the Zoom link to join virtually, please email me at sengabbard@capitol.hawaii.gov. 

Senator Gabbard smiles on the Senate floor as he recognizes Honouliuli Middle School students during Education Week on March 20, 2025.

Senator Gabbard joins students, staff, and supporters from Honouliuli Middle School for a group photo in the Gallery prior to their recognition on the Senate floor.

Senator Mike Gabbard signing autographs for students from Honouliuli Middle School during their visit to the Hawai‘i State Capitol as part of Education Week 2025.

Senator Gabbard delivers remarks honoring students and educators from Honouliuli Middle School as part of the Legislature’s annual Education Week celebration.

As part of this year’s Education Week at the Capitol, I had the chance to recognize a few special guests from the West Side — students and staff from Honouliuli Middle School, who visited the Senate floor on March 20. 

It’s always nice when our keiki get to come see where statewide decisions get made. We talked story a bit, I introduced them during session, and they got a small taste of how this side of government works — suits, microphones, the whole thing. 

Big mahalo to Principal Todd Fujimori, Student Activities Coordinator Gay Young, and Counselor Evie Joy Chan for making the visit happen and for supporting our keiki. 

And props to the students — Milana Sabal, Max Huang, Sofia Silverman, Diesel Roncal, Annelyn Guieb, and Ysabelle Closa — mahalo nui for showing up and representing your school. They were respectful, asked a few solid questions, and soaked it all in. That’s a win in my book. 

Always happy to see our West Side schools at the Capitol. If any other classes want to come by, my office is just a phone call away. 

Dedication Ceremony for the Daniel K. Akaka State Veterans Home 

Melanie June, Senator Mike Gabbard’s Community Liaison, delivers remarks and presents an Honorary Certificate from the Hawai‘i State Senate on his behalf during the March 26 dedication ceremony.

A traditional blessing ceremony concludes the March 26 dedication of the Daniel Kahikina Akaka State Veterans Home in Kapolei. The event brought together veterans, community members, and state leaders to celebrate this long-awaited milestone.

A framed copy of the Honorary Certificate from the Hawai‘i State Senate, presented by Senator Mike Gabbard’s office in recognition of the dedication of the Daniel Kahikina Akaka State Veterans Home.

On March 26, a powerful and long-awaited moment unfolded in the heart of Kapolei as our community gathered to dedicate the new Daniel K. Akaka State Veterans Home — a skilled nursing facility created to serve Hawai‘i’s veterans and their loved ones with the care and dignity they deserve. 

I wasn’t able to be there in person, but I was proud to send my Community Liaison, Melanie June, to represent my office and present a Senate Honorary Certificate during the ceremony. The certificate was co-sponsored by Senators Elefante, Aquino and myself. Also, Representatives Souza, Kila, Pierick, Oda, and Garcia presented a certificate from the House of Representatives. The milestone event brought together veterans, military leaders, the Akaka ‘ohana, and elected officials to celebrate the life and legacy of the late Senator Daniel K. Akaka, the first Native Hawaiian U.S. Senator and a true champion for veterans' rights and Native Hawaiian causes. 

Melanie expressed our deep mahalo to all who worked to bring this vision to life — from the Office of Veterans’ Services, project coordinator Tommy Driskill, Ron Han, the Akaka family, state leaders, and the many hands that made this home possible. 

Located right here in District 21, in the Villages of Kapolei, the DKA SVH is more than just a building. It’s a symbol of mālama, respect, and aloha for those who’ve served. I look forward to continuing supporting this facility as it opens its doors and begins serving our kūpuna and their ‘ohana. 

Mahalo to all who made this moment happen — and to those who continue to serve. 

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES 

Honoring Representative Gene Ward 

Rep. Gene Ward and Sen. Mike Gabbard at Sunscreen Press Conference - January 30, 2020.

I wanted to take a moment to send a heartfelt mahalo to my longtime friend and colleague, Rep. Gene Ward, who recently left his body after a lifetime of service to our state. 

Gene and I were both elected to the Legislature back in November 2006, and we’ve been working side by side ever since. We didn’t always agree on everything, but we always respected each other — and we both shared a deep commitment to the people we serve. 

One thing about Gene — he never forgot who he worked for. He was completely dialed in to his district, always listening, always showing up. The folks in Hawai‘i Kai, Kalama Valley, and Portlock knew they could count on him, and he carried that kuleana with pride. 

Gene also had a real respect for Hawai‘i’s culture and values. You could see it in the way he spoke, the issues he fought for, and how he carried himself — always with humility, sincerity, and a strong moral compass. 



I had a chance to talk about Gene’s legacy during a recent KHON2 interview — if you’d like to watch, you can check it out here:

Gene’s presence at the Capitol will truly be missed. He brought wisdom, steadiness, and a fierce love for his community. It won’t be the same without him.



To the Ward ‘ohana, please know you have my deepest aloha and prayers. Gene lived a life of service, and I’m grateful I got to walk alongside him for part of that journey.

Hawai‘i Takes Ag Priorities to D.C. - 2025 USDA Policy Summit

Hawai’i Delegation at 2025 USDA Policy Summit.

In late March, Hawai‘i’s agricultural leaders and stakeholders gathered in Washington, D.C. for the 2nd Annual Hawai‘i–USDA Policy Summit, a powerful opportunity to strengthen partnerships between our state and federal agriculture agencies.

Although I wasn’t able to attend in person this year, I was proud to have my Acting Committee Clerk, Lia, represent me and the Senate Committee on Agriculture & Environment. Lia joined Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke, Senator Tim Richards, and a broad cross-section of our agricultural community for three full days of meetings with USDA leadership and national industry organizations.

The theme of this year’s summit was “Offering Solutions”, and the Hawai‘i delegation did just that—advocating for priority issues like:

• Biosecurity protections to guard our unique ecosystems.
• Truth in labeling to support local producers.
• Increased agricultural production through rural infrastructure investment.
• Key programs in the upcoming 2025 Farm Bill

This summit was also a great chance to spotlight the work we’ve been doing in Hawai‘i—from our farmers’ resilience in the face of climate challenges to innovative efforts in food security and regenerative agriculture. Mahalo to Lieutenant Governor Luke and her team for organizing this important gathering and ensuring our local voices were heard on the national stage.

I’ll continue pushing these priorities at the State Capitol, and I encourage you to stay engaged. If you have thoughts on how we can improve Hawai‘i’s food systems and ag policies, my door’s always open.

Measures Headed Toward Conference (We Hope!)

More soon. Stay tuned. Check www.capitol.hawaii.gov to get updates on any of the bills you’re following

🌿 Agriculture & Environment (AEN) Measures 🌿

Senator Mike Gabbard, pictured wearing a “Lā ʻUlu – Breadfruit Day” shirt, continues to champion local agriculture and food sustainability efforts at the Capitol.

🤝🏼 Non-AEN / Community Measures ⚖

Senator Gabbard at the Ilima at Leihano Grand Opening in 2017.