Senator Mike Gabbard

December Newsletter

Vol. 19 Issue 12

Agriculture and Environment Committee, Chair

Judiciary Committee, Vice Chair

Government Operations Committee, Vice Chair

Aloha e friends,

Mahalo for staying connected with our office. I hope you and your ‘ohana are enjoying this beautiful Christmas and holiday season — hard to believe that Christmas is almost here and that the 2026 legislative session is right around the corner.

Opening Day is on January 21, and I’d love to see you at the Capitol. Please stop by my office for refreshments and help me kick off the new session. It’s always one of my favorite days of the year because I get to reconnect with so many of you from our West O‘ahu community.

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

Sen. Gabbard with his ʻohana on Thanksgiving 2025 — a special moment shared with some of his family at home in West O‘ahu. (L-R: Bhakti, Tulsi, Carol, Sen. Gabbard, Narayan) (Missing: Jai and Vrindavan)

COMMUNITY UPDATES

Celebrating ʻEwa by Gentry’s Legacy in West Oʻahu

November 7, 2025 — Representatives Alcos, Reyes Oda, and Diamond Garcia; Quentin Machida (President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Gentry Homes, Ltd.), Norman Gentry, and Mark Gentry; and Sen. Gabbard on stage as the State Legislature presents a joint Honorary Certificate recognizing the completion of the ʻEwa by Gentry master-planned community.

November 7, 2025 — Representatives Alcos, Reyes Oda, and Diamond Garcia alongside Sen. Gabbard during the program honoring nearly four decades of Gentry’s work developing West Oʻahu communities.

On November 7, I joined about 280 community members, Gentry Homes leaders, and partners at the Salvation Army Kroc Center in Kapolei for “Celebrating ʻEwa by Gentry.” The event marked the completion of the ʻEwa by Gentry master-planned community and honored nearly four decades of Gentry’s work helping local families put down roots on the ʻEwa Plain.

During the program, I was glad to team up with Rep. Diamond Garcia to present a joint Honorary Certificate from the State Legislature to President & CEO Quentin Machida, Norman Gentry, and Mark Gentry on behalf of the entire Gentry ʻohana. We thanked them for building thousands of homes across the island, including Kaʻulu by Gentry in Kalaeloa, which is in Senate District 21 and provides much-needed housing for our West Oʻahu families.



I shared my appreciation for Gentry’s long-term commitment not just to building houses, but to creating neighborhoods, parks, and gathering places that help turn a region into a real community. As ʻEwa by Gentry moves from “build-out” to long-term stewardship, I’m grateful for their partnership and look forward to continuing to work together to support smart growth and quality of life for our residents in West Oʻahu.

November 7, 2025 — Sen. Gabbard and Rep. Diamond Garcia at the Salvation Army Kroc Center in Kapolei for the “Celebrating ʻEwa by Gentry” event.

On November 10, 2025, Sen. Gabbard shares remarks at the State Capitol Rotunda, honoring the legacy of Semper Fidelis and the enduring contributions of the Marine Corps.

Sen. Gabbard shakes hands with Dr. Carl Vincenti on November 10, 2025, recognizing his leadership and the Veterans Movement Foundation’s support of Hawai‘i’s veteran community.

On November 10, 2025, Sen. Gabbard joins the oldest and youngest Marines in the traditional cake-cutting ceremony celebrating 250 years of the U.S. Marine Corps.

On November 10, I had the privilege of serving as Guest of Honor for the 250^th Governors Cake Cutting Ceremony in the State Capitol Rotunda, recognizing the 250^th birthday of the United States Marine Corps and the broader America250 commemoration.

The Veterans Movement Foundation and the Marine Corps League Aloha Detachment 363 brought together Marines, veterans, and community members for a short but meaningful ceremony. We raised the Marine Corps flag on the auxiliary poles along Beretania Street, heard the Commandant’s Birthday Message, and honored the “oldest” and “youngest” Marines present as part of the traditional cake-cutting ceremony.

I shared a few remarks about the Marine Corps motto, “Semper Fidelis – Always Faithful,” and how the courage, sacrifice, and commitment of our Marines and their families have helped safeguard our freedoms for 250 years. It was a powerful reminder that, here in Hawaiʻi and across our nation, we stand on the shoulders of those who have worn the uniform.



Mahalo to Dr. Carl Vincenti, the Veterans Movement Foundation, Marine Forces Pacific Band, and all the Marines and veterans who helped make this special day at the Capitol possible.

Marines ceremoniously raise the U.S. Marine Corps flag outside the Hawai‘i State Capitol on November 10, 2025, marking the start of the 250th Marine Corps Birthday celebration.

Breaking Ground on 300 New Rental Homes in the Heart of Kapolei

November 13, 2025 – Sen. Gabbard delivers remarks at the Kapolei housing groundbreaking, highlighting the project’s role in strengthening Oʻahu’s “Second City.”

November 13, 2025 – Sen. Gabbard with James Campbell Company President & CEO Kevin Penn at the site of Kapolei’s newest rental community.

On November 13, I joined the James Campbell Company, project partners, and community members to break ground on Kapolei’s newest residential development — a 300-unit rental community located between DreamHouse Charter School and Kapolei Lofts. This marks an important step forward in our ongoing work to bring more housing options to West Oʻahu families.

November 13, 2025 – Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke and Sen. Gabbard at the Kapolei residential groundbreaking, celebrating new housing for West Oʻahu families.

This $170 million project will deliver modern, high-quality homes in a walkable, mixed-use neighborhood right in the Kapolei town center — close to jobs, schools, transit, and community amenities. The development will include five stories of residences built around a structured parking garage, with design by TCA Architects and construction led by Moss and Associates. Once completed in 2027, Greystar will manage leasing and property operations.



At the ceremony, I shared how projects like this help strengthen Kapolei as Oʻahu’s “Second City,” ensuring our growing population has a place to live that’s sustainable, connected, and community-minded. My thanks to President & CEO Kevin Penn, the James Campbell Company team, our local contractors, and everyone working to expand housing opportunities for West Oʻahu.

It was an honor to join this milestone, and I look forward to seeing these homes rise — and to welcoming new families to Kapolei.

2025 Senate Majority Retreat: Planning for a Stronger, More Resilient Hawaiʻi

November 17, 2025 – Members of the Hawaiʻi State Senate Majority gather at Bishop Museum for their annual Senate Majority Retreat, where they reviewed fiscal updates, climate and green fee priorities, and key legislative goals for the 2026 session.

On November 17, I joined my Senate colleagues at Bishop Museum for our annual Senate Majority Retreat. It was a good chance to step away from the Capitol for a day, ground ourselves in where we’ve been, and focus on where we’re heading in the 2026 session. One of the highlights was taking a moment to honor my colleague Senator Henry Aquino on his retirement — he was absolutely lei-laden and surrounded by lots of aloha and appreciation for his years of service.

We heard first from Interim Budget & Finance Director Sabrina Nasir about the fiscal realities we’re facing, especially with shrinking federal support for key services. The Hawaiʻi Green Fee Advisory Council then shared how they plan to put our new visitor “green fee” to work for climate resilience and natural resource protection. We also heard from Kalani Kaʻanāʻanā and the Hawaiʻi Green Growth team about how we can keep moving forward on the Aloha+ Challenge and Local2030 goals, even in tighter budget times.

In the afternoon, each Senator shared their top legislative priorities. I talked about three areas I’ll be focusing on as Chair of the Agriculture and Environment Committee:

• Food Security & AgTech Workforce – growing more of our own food and building the next generation of climate-smart farmers and food innovators;
• Climate Protection Plan – creating a clear, statewide roadmap to protect our islands from sea level rise, wildfires, and other climate risks; and
• Biosecurity – building on Act 236 (2025), which renamed the Department of Agriculture as the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity and gave it stronger powers to prevent and respond to invasive species. In the coming year, we'll focus on making sure the new department delivers results — from faster inspections to stronger enforcement and real protection for our farmers and ecosystems.

My big takeaway from the retreat was simple: we’ve already laid a strong foundation with laws we’ve passed in recent years — now it’s time to fully implement them and deliver real, on-the-ground results for our communities. I’m looking forward to working with my colleagues, our partners, and all of you to make that happen in 2026.

Blessing Hawaiʻi Logistic Services’ New Truck Fleet in Campbell Industrial Park

Rep. Garcia, Sen. Gabbard, HLS President Jowell Rivera, and Sheila Medeiros pose in front of HLS's new truck fleet at Campbell Industrial Park after the blessing ceremony.

Sen. Gabbard, Jowell Rivera, Rep. Garcia, and HLS team members celebrate the blessing of HLS’s new fleet with the presentation of a Senate Honorary Certificate. 

Sen. Gabbard presents the Honorary Certificate to Jowell Rivera, honoring HLS’s leadership and essential role during the pandemic.

On December 3rd, I joined Hawaiʻi Logistic Services (HLS) in Campbell Industrial Park for the blessing of their brand-new 22-truck fleet — an important investment in keeping our communities supplied, safe, and moving. Under the leadership of President Jowell Rivera, HLS has been one of West Oʻahu’s quiet workhorses for nearly four decades, delivering groceries through C&S/Hawaii Logistics, transporting jet fuel to our military bases, and supporting jobs for local families.

During the pandemic, their unique role in both food and fuel made them a lifeline for Hawaiʻi. They didn’t lay off a single employee, and federal agencies designated them as an essential priority company to ensure that families across the islands could continue receiving food and critical supplies.

Sen. Gabbard behind the wheel of one of HLS’s newly blessed trucks, part of a refreshed 22-truck fleet that will keep food and fuel flowing across the islands.

The new truck fleet — refreshed every seven years — improves reliability and safety for drivers and the public, strengthens the company’s partnership with local clients, and supports new jobs at Kenworth Hawaiʻi in Kapolei, which will maintain the fleet.

I was honored to present an Honorary Certificate on behalf of the Senate recognizing HLS for its decades of service and its commitment to West Oʻahu. Many folks never see the behind-the-scenes work that keeps our grocery shelves stocked, our restaurants operating, and our communities connected — but companies like HLS make that possible every day.

Mahalo to Jowell and his entire team for all they do. West Oʻahu is proud of you.

Celebrating Class 63 of the Hawaiʻi National Guard Youth Challenge Academy

Graduates of Class 63 of the Hawaiʻi National Guard Youth Challenge Academy stand proudly at the Waikīkī Shell as the Color Guard opens the ceremony.

On December 7, I had the privilege of joining families, teachers, and community leaders at the Waikīkī Shell to celebrate the 63^rd graduating class of the Hawaiʻi National Guard Youth Challenge Academy (HYCA). This program has been transforming the lives of young people for decades, helping them build confidence, purpose, and the skills they need to succeed.

HYCA’s curriculum is grounded in eight core components — academic excellence, life coping skills, leadership/followership, responsible citizenship, service to community, health and hygiene, job skills, and physical fitness. Over the course of five intense months, these cadets push themselves in ways that often surprise even them. Watching them cross that stage is a reminder of what’s possible when hard work meets opportunity and support.

I was honored to present Honorary Certificates from the Senate to each of the graduates, along with a $500 scholarship fro me awarded to this class’s outstanding recipient, Romance Paris. Her dedication and future aspirations truly stood out, and I look forward to seeing where her journey leads.

This graduation was also especially meaningful because it marked the final ceremony for HYCA Director Sinaitaʻaga “Sina” Atanoa, who has served these cadets with incredible heart and leadership. Sina has guided thousands of young people during her time at HYCA, and her presence, compassion, and steady hand will be deeply missed. It was evident throughout the morning how much she is loved by staff, families, and cadets alike.

HYCA is one of the great success stories in our state — a place where young people are reminded of their potential and given the tools to pursue it. As someone who has been attending these graduations for more than a decade, I’m always lifted by the pride on parents’ faces and the joy on the graduates’ faces when they realize how far they’ve come.

Sen. Gabbard and HYCA Director Sinaitaʻaga “Sina” Atanoa present a $500 Sen. Mike Gabbard scholarship to graduate Romance Paris — honored for her outstanding dedication and future promise.

To the Class of 63 — alohacongrats. Your hard work has paid off. To Director Sina — mahalo nui loa for your years of service and aloha. And to the HYCA team — thank you for continuing to invest in the next generation of Hawaiʻi leaders.

The 63rd HYCA class lines the stage in red caps and gowns at the Waikīkī Shell, ready to celebrate months of hard work, growth, and achievement.

AGRICULTURE & ENVIRONMENT UPDATES

Groundbreaking: Central Oʻahu Agriculture & Food Hub 

Groundbreaking Ceremony – Central Oʻahu Agriculture and Food Hub (COAFH), November 14, 2025 (L-R: Sen.Gabbard; Wendy Gady, Director, Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC); Sean Tajima, HDOE Interim Assistant Superintendent, Office of Campus Operations and Support; Brian Miyamoto, President, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau (HFB); Meoh-Leng Silliman, Deputy Comptroller, Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS); Dane Wicker, Deputy Director, Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT); Jaime Green, First Lady of Hawai‘i; Sen. Dela Cruz; Kathleen Ho, Department of Health (DOH); Denise Yamaguchi, CEO, Hawai‘i Agricultural Foundation.)

On November 14, I joined partners in Whitmore Village for the groundbreaking of the Central Oʻahu Agriculture & Food Hub, a key piece of our long-term vision to rebuild Hawaiʻi’s local food system from the ground up.

Located on a 34-acre campus in Whitmore, this hub will bring together processing, storage, packaging, distribution, and small business space in one place — making it easier and more affordable for local farmers and food producers to get their products to market. It also ties directly into the new Food and Product Innovation Network (Act 237), which supports value-added products and “Hawaii made” businesses statewide.

Sen. Gabbard listening to remarks by Wendy Gady, Executive Director of the Agribusiness Development Corporation, at the Central O‘ahu Agriculture and Food Hub Groundbreaking. November 14, 2025.

This project helps put into action several laws we’ve passed recently:

• Act 151 (2019) – doubling local food production and exports by 2030;
• Act 175 (2021) – Farm to School goal of 30% local food in public school meals by 2030;
• Act 176 (2021) – Farm to State goals, building to 50% local food procurement by 2050; and
• Act 237 (2025) – establishing the Food and Product Innovation Network within ADC.

Sen. Gabbard and Sen. Dela Cruz at the Central O‘ahu Agriculture and Food Hub Groundbreaking on November 14, 2025. Mahalo to the Agribusiness Development Corporation for their leadership!

Together, these measures are about more than just numbers — they’re about making sure Hawaiʻi families can rely on food grown, prepared, and distributed here at home.



The Whitmore hub will also include a centralized DOE regional kitchen, which will serve as a model for how we can connect local farms directly to school cafeterias. That means more keiki eating fresh, local food, and more stable markets for our farmers.

Mahalo to ADC Executive Director Wendy Gady, Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT), Department of Education (DOE) our UH partners, and all the farmers, food entrepreneurs, and community leaders who’ve been working for years to make this vision real. This is a big step toward a more resilient, locally rooted food system for Hawaiʻi.

Joint Briefing on Biosecurity: Agriculture & Food Systems + Agriculture & Environment

Sen. Gabbard during the November 24, 2025, Joint Informational Briefing on Biosecurity at the State Capitol.

(L–R): Sen. Gabbard; Rep. Chun, Chair of the House Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems; Rep. Kusch, Member of the House Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems. November 24, 2025.

On November 24, I joined Representative Cory Chun, the new Chair of the House Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems, for a joint informational briefing with our Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment. Our goal was to check on how the State is implementing two major laws we passed to strengthen biosecurity — Act 231 (2024) and Act 236 (2025). Together, these measures represent the most significant investment in invasive species prevention and response in more than a decade.

The Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (DAB) walked us through progress on building out the new biosecurity division: hiring key staff, improving readiness at the ports, and coordinating more closely with partner agencies to prevent, detect, and respond to invasive pests.

A highlight of the briefing was DAB’s soft unveiling of a new Pest Dashboard, an online tool that will allow residents to look up pest detections, treatments, and reports by ZIP code. Once it’s fully launched at biosecurity.hawaii.gov, this dashboard will make it much easier for legislators, agencies, and the public to see what’s happening on the ground in real time.

Joint Informational Briefing on Biosecurity – November 24, 2025. Lawmakers convene to assess the implementation of Act 231 (2024) and Act 236 (2025), which enhance Hawaiʻi’s biosecurity infrastructure and invasive species response. (L–R: Sen. Gabbard (Chair, Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment); Rep. Chun (Chair, House Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems); Rep. Kusch; Rep. Matsumoto.)

We also heard from partners at Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Department of Health (DOH), College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) , Department of Transportation (DOT), Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT), Department of Law Enforcement (DLE), and the Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council (HISC) about how each of them fits into the broader biosecurity system. The message was clear: if we want to get ahead of invasive species instead of constantly playing catch-up, we need strong coordination across all of these agencies.

As I said at the briefing, the Legislature has finally started putting real resources behind invasive species control. Now our job is to make sure those dollars turn into results — more inspections, faster response, and better protection for our farmers, our native ecosystems, and our way of life.



Mahalo to Chair Chun, our House and Senate colleagues, and all the presenters who are working to keep Hawaiʻi safe from invasive species and to “keep paradise, paradise.”

Sen. Gabbard chats with Department of Agriculture Chair Sharon Hurd following the Joint Informational Briefing on Biosecurity. November 24, 2025.

(L–R): Sen. Gabbard; Rep. Chun; Rep. Kusch during the Joint Informational Briefing on Biosecurity. November 24, 2025.

2025 Hawaiʻi Food Systems Summit: Building a More Resilient Food Future

On December 8–9, the 2025 Hawaiʻi Food Systems Summit brought together farmers, educators, advocates, state and county agencies, and community leaders at the Wahiawā Value-Added Product Development Center. This statewide gathering is part of the Transforming Hawaiʻi’s Food System Together initiative — a multi-sector effort to strengthen local food production, improve disaster preparedness, and build a more resilient and equitable food system for Hawaiʻi.

I attended the Summit on Monday, December 8, and my Office Manager, Meg Turner, represented me on Tuesday, December 9. Over two days, participants dug deep into lessons learned from recent disasters, including the Lahaina wildfires, and shared how community food networks mobilized when it mattered most. We also heard from county food access coordinators, UH West Oʻahu, MA‘O Organic Farms, Hawaiʻi Foodbank, emergency management teams, and many others working every day to feed our communities.

Sen. Gabbard and Rep. Chun at the 2025 Hawaiʻi Food Systems Summit on December 8 at the Wahiawā Value-Added Product Development Center. They joined statewide leaders and community partners to strengthen Hawaiʻi’s food security and disaster preparedness.

Day One focused on understanding the current state of Hawaiʻi’s food system — where we’re strong, where we’re vulnerable, and how climate-driven emergencies have exposed gaps in food access and supply. Community organizations shared stories from the front lines, emphasizing the need for stronger, coordinated preparedness across government and grassroots partners.



Day Two, where Meg represented our office, shifted into planning and policy. Attendees participated in scenario planning exercises, open-space sessions, and cross-sector discussions aimed at identifying actionable steps to expand local food production, strengthen statewide coordination, and improve institutional food purchasing — all areas closely aligned with AEN’s priorities for the upcoming session.

As Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment, I’m encouraged by the strong collaboration shown across agencies and community partners. The message throughout the Summit was clear: food security is essential infrastructure, and we must continue investing in local production, workforce development, and systems that keep our communities fed during both everyday times and emergencies.



Mahalo nui loa to the Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute, UH West Oʻahu, the Summit Steering Committee, and all the presenters and participants for their dedication. Our office looks forward to carrying these insights into the 2026 legislative session.