Senator Mike Gabbard

October Newsletter

Vol. 19 Issue 10

Agriculture and Environment Committee, Chair

Judiciary Committee, Vice Chair

Government Operations Committee, Vice Chair

Aloha e friends,

Mahalo for staying connected with our office. As fall settles in, our team is gearing up for the 2026 legislative session, starting January 21, 2026—and we’d love your input on what matters most to West Oʻahu right now. Also, if there are any ideas you have for bills you’d like me to introduce, feel free to send along your thoughts. It doesn’t need to be a fully fleshed out bill; bullet points are fine to start the conversation—and now’s the perfect time to do that before our deadlines arise.  

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. 

Oct. 6 — Senator Mike Gabbard speaks with West Oʻahu youth (grades 6–12) from Child & Family Service’s Expanded Learning Program—students from ʻEwa, Kapolei, and Waipahu—inside the Hawaiʻi State Senate chamber

COMMUNITY UPDATES

Upcoming October Listen Story Meeting

Please join me for my next Listen Story Community Meeting on Saturday, October 25, from 9:00–10:00 AM at the Kapolei High School Teachers’ Lounge (91-5007 Kapolei Parkway, Kapolei, HI 96707).

I’ll be sharing updates on community priorities—where things stand, what’s next, and how everyone can kōkua. Keep an eye out for a guest speaker announcement in the coming days. This will be my last Listen Story of the year, so please come with your questions.



As always, we’ll also stream the meeting via Zoom for those who can’t join in person, just email us to RSVP — hope to see you there.

Senator Gabbard with Eddie Freeman and Sue Bauer — Co-Chairs, The Wall That Heals Oʻahu 2026 — and VFW Commander Donovan Cabebe.

Senator Gabbard introduces his staff—Meg Turner and Melanie June—and guest presenters Sue Bauer and Eddie Freeman, co-chairs of The Wall That Heals Oʻahu 2026, during the September Listen Story Meeting.

Mahalo to everyone who came out for September’s Listen Story on September 27—our focus was “The Wall That Heals Oʻahu 2026,” and the room was filled with aloha for our veterans and their families.

Makakilo residents, Sue Bauer and Eddie Freeman, co-chairs of the local host committee, shared how this three-quarter-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial will be welcomed to the UH West Oʻahu Great Lawn in January 2026. (Keep an eye out for day/time details in the media or check with my office.) The traveling exhibit stretches 375 feet, rises to 7½ feet at its apex, and bears 58,281 names across 140 panels. It arrives with a 53-foot Mobile Education Center featuring “Hometown Heroes,” the “In Memory” honor roll, and other displays that connect Hawaiʻi’s story to the national one.

Sue and Eddie walked us through the plan: an escorted arrival—expected to include several hundred motorcycles—followed by assembly on site (they’ll need roughly 60–75 volunteers for set-up). Once open, the exhibit will host guided school and community tours, name rubbings, and special ceremonies, including an evening “In Memory” event honoring those lost after the war due to Agent Orange exposure, PTSD, and related causes. They also shared meaningful local touches, like requests from families to carry the panel that bears their loved one’s name and a call for ti-leaf lei to adorn the wall.



The biggest takeaway was how much kōkua this homecoming will require—and how ready our community is to help. If you’d like to volunteer, sponsor, or organize a school or community tour, please reach out to my office and we’ll connect you with the host committee. Bringing The Wall That Heals to West Oʻahu is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to remember, learn, and care for one another. Let’s show our veterans and their ʻohana the full measure of our mahalo.

Senator Gabbard welcomes the community to his September Listen Story Meeting on 9/27 in Kapolei.

Honoring Parkway Village Preschool — Hawaiʻi’s First Pre-K–Only Public Charter

Senator Gabbard joins partners Lt. Governor Sylvia Luke, Rep. Kanani Souza, Dr. Ed Noh (Hawaiʻi State Public Charter School Commission), Trisha Kajimura, Ryan Kusumoto, Ben Naki, and Grace Nagel to celebrate the Parkway Village Preschool grand opening.

Mahalo to Parents and Children Together (PACT) and Kamehameha Schools for inviting me to the Parkway Village Preschool grand opening in Kapolei on September 19. It was a privilege to recognize this milestone for West Oʻahu families and to present a Hawaiʻi State Senate Honorary Certificate.

Parkway Village Preschool is Hawaiʻi’s first Pre-K–only public charter school—play-based, culturally grounded, and built around strong ʻohana engagement with a smooth bridge to kindergarten. Nestled within the broader Parkway Village at Kapolei, it sits alongside housing, retail, and community space—exactly the kind of family-centered neighborhood our keiki deserve.

Senator Gabbard presents a Senate Honorary Certificate to Trisha Kajimura and Ryan Kusumoto of PACT for their leadership in developing Parkway Village Preschool.

This opening also showcases Kamehameha Schools’ reach in the community at an important time. The partnership model here—KS as landowner/developer, PACT as operator, the Public Charter School Commission, and delivery support from the Kobayashi Group—shows what’s possible when we align mission and momentum.



From the Legislature side, I’ll keep backing policy and budget moves that expand high-quality early learning statewide. Let’s use the Parkway Village model to add capacity across the islands so every child—no matter the ZIP code—gets a joyful, strong start.

Senator Gabbard with Rep. Kanani Souza, Lt. Governor Sylvia Luke, and Ben Naki following the ceremony — a proud moment for West Oʻahu early education.

Senator Gabbard delivers remarks at the grand opening of Parkway Village Preschool in Kapolei, celebrating Hawaiʻi’s first Pre-K–only public charter school and a big win for West Oʻahu keiki.

Mahatma Gandhi Day & International Day of Nonviolence

A lei for Gandhi: Senator Gabbard helps place a garland during the floral tribute.

Kahu Kaleo Patterson, Raj Kumar - GIIP Founder, and Senator Gabbard gather after the interfaith blessing at Thomas Square.

Senator Gabbard shares remarks at the Gandhi statue ceremony on October 2 during the annual celebration of Gandhi Jayanti and the International Day of Nonviolence.

I was happy to serve as Guest of Honor for the 20th annual Mahatma Gandhi Day and International Day of Nonviolence at the Gandhi statue fronting the Honolulu Zoo on Oct 2. Mahalo to Dr. Raj Kumar and the Gandhi International Institute for Peace (GIIP) for inviting me to join this beautiful gathering of music, prayer, and reflection.

The Royal Hawaiian Band opened with the U.S. and India national anthems and “Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī,” followed by blessings and performances from faith and cultural groups across our community. I presented two honorary certificates—one on behalf of Governor Josh Green and one from the Hawaiʻi State Senate—recognizing GIIP’s two decades of steady, grassroots work to advance peace and nonviolence in Hawaiʻi.

From taiko and Indian classical dance to keiki voices and interfaith messages, the program reminded us that Gandhi’s principles align with our island values: aloha, mālama, and ʻohana. Peace is built in small, daily choices—listening before reacting, serving others, and caring for the most vulnerable.

Mahalo to GIIP, the Consulate General of India, the City & County of Honolulu, and all the community partners who keep this annual observance thriving. Let’s carry the spirit of nonviolence forward—in our homes, our schools, and our public square.

Proclamations honoring Gandhi Jayanti / International Day of Nonviolence on display.

AGRICULTURE & ENVIRONMENT UPDATES

Learning from New Zealand: Strengthening Hawai‘i’s Biosecurity

Senator Gabbard at Zealandia Ecosanctuary in Wellington, New Zealand: Exploring Zealandia’s world-renowned conservation model—an inspiring example of how community-driven restoration can bring native species back to the forest.

Senator Gabbard at New Zealand’s Parliament (Wellington): A quick stop during a biosecurity and agriculture learning trip, exchanging ideas on invasive species management and food security.

Last month, I had the privilege of joining a small group of legislative colleagues on a learning trip to New Zealand to study how their government manages biosecurity, agriculture, and environmental policy. New Zealand is recognized globally for its proactive approach to invasive species prevention and control—an issue that’s also close to home for us here in Hawai‘i.

As Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment, I wanted to see firsthand how New Zealand integrates early detection, border biosecurity, and strong partnerships between government, farmers, and communities. From what we observed, their success comes from a clear national strategy and public awareness that protecting native ecosystems is everyone’s responsibility.

Our visit provided valuable insight into how we can strengthen Hawai‘i’s biosecurity and food resilience, especially as we continue battling invasive pests like the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB) and Little Fire Ant. These lessons will help shape my committee’s 2026 legislative priorities, from improving inspection and detection systems to investing in local agriculture and public outreach.



I returned home inspired—and reminded that small islands like ours share big challenges, but also the same sense of aloha ʻāina that guides our work to protect what we love.

Hawai'i Invasive Species Council Meeting

I joined the Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council (HISC) meeting at the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Board Room on Sept. 29 to recognize the quiet heroes keeping invasive species at bay and to support a key step to strengthen our statewide response. Before the meeting, we presented a joint Senate–House Honorary Certificate to HISC Program Manager Chelsea Arnott for her steady leadership—coordinating agencies, managing grants, and helping the public report pests through tools like 643pest.org.Mahalo to Chair Dawn Chang, our House partners—Reps. Lisa Marten, Luke Evslin, Kirstin Kahaloa, and Chun—and the HISC ʻohana for coming together on this recognition; and mahalo, Chelsea, for your years of service to our ʻāina.

On the agenda was a proposal for DLNR, as HISC’s administrative host, to modernize the HISC Program Support structure —

Senator Gabbard joins colleagues Rep. Luke Evslin, Rep. Kirstin Kahaloa, and Rep. Lisa Marten, to present a joint Senate–House Honorary Certificate to Chelsea Arnott, Program Manager for the Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council (HISC), for her outstanding service coordinating Hawaiʻi’s invasive species response.

transitioning primarily to civil service roles, adding an Executive Director and admin capacity, and moving the program out of a single division “silo” so it can better coordinate across departments. This is about continuity and speed: keeping institutional knowledge in-house, retaining talent, and responding faster when new threats pop up at our ports, farms, forests, or neighborhoods.

This work aligns with the Legislature’s 2025 action renaming the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Agriculture & Biosecurity (Act 236) and giving it stronger tools to prevent and respond to pests and diseases. Together with HISC’s planning, risk assessment, and early-detection network, these upgrades tighten the weave in our statewide safety net—from plant screening to rapid response and public outreach.



Bottom line: invasive species hurt families, farmers, native ecosystems, and local businesses. A stronger HISC support team means fewer gaps and quicker action. As we head into “Stop the Ant Month” in October, please keep testing your yards and reporting suspect ants and other pests. Everyone has a role in protecting Hawaiʻi.

A warm exchange between Senator Gabbard and Chelsea celebrating her years of leadership and commitment to protecting Hawaiʻi’s natural resources.

Senator Mike Gabbard and Chelsea Arnott share a moment of aloha after the presentation.