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Quick Facts
Personal Details

Education

  • Attended, George Washington University
  • BA, Liberal Studies, University of Hawaii, 1975

Professional Experience

  • Attended, George Washington University
  • BA, Liberal Studies, University of Hawaii, 1975
  • Executive Director, Community Work Day Program Incorporated, 1983-1986
  • Communications Director, State Litter Control Office, 1979-1983
  • Coordinator, Windward Environmental Resource Center, 1973-1976

Political Experience

  • Attended, George Washington University
  • BA, Liberal Studies, University of Hawaii, 1975
  • Executive Director, Community Work Day Program Incorporated, 1983-1986
  • Communications Director, State Litter Control Office, 1979-1983
  • Coordinator, Windward Environmental Resource Center, 1973-1976
  • Majority Policy Leader, Hawaii State Senate, 2019-present
  • Senator, Hawaii State Senate, District 10, 1994-present
  • Former Majority Policy Leader, Hawaii State Senate
  • Majority Leader, Hawaii State Senate, 1997-2000
  • Majority Floor Leader, Hawaii State Senate, 1995-1996
  • Representative, Hawaii State House of Representatives, District 19, 1986-1994
  • Majority Floor Leader, Hawaii State House of Representatives, 1993-1994

Former Committees/Caucuses

Former Member, Commerce, Consumer Protection and Health Committee, Hawaii State Senate

Former Member, Economic Development, Environment and Technology Committee, Hawaii State Senate

Former Vice Chair, Government Operations Committee, Hawaii State Senate

Former Chair, House Intergovernmental Affairs Committee

Former Member, Housing Committee, Hawaii State Senate

Former Member, International Affairs and the Arts Committee, Hawaii State Senate

Former Co-Chair, Joint Committee on Aging in Place

Former Co-Chair, Joint Legislative Access Committee

Former Member, Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs Committee, Hawaii State Senate

Current Legislative Committees

Member, Hawaiian Affairs Committee

Member, Human Services Committee

Vice Chair, Labor, Culture and the Arts Committee

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

  • Attended, George Washington University
  • BA, Liberal Studies, University of Hawaii, 1975
  • Executive Director, Community Work Day Program Incorporated, 1983-1986
  • Communications Director, State Litter Control Office, 1979-1983
  • Coordinator, Windward Environmental Resource Center, 1973-1976
  • Majority Policy Leader, Hawaii State Senate, 2019-present
  • Senator, Hawaii State Senate, District 10, 1994-present
  • Former Majority Policy Leader, Hawaii State Senate
  • Majority Leader, Hawaii State Senate, 1997-2000
  • Majority Floor Leader, Hawaii State Senate, 1995-1996
  • Representative, Hawaii State House of Representatives, District 19, 1986-1994
  • Majority Floor Leader, Hawaii State House of Representatives, 1993-1994
  • Member, Board of Directors, Kettering Foundation, 2010-present
  • Member, League of Women Voters of Hawaii, 1998-present
  • Member, Waikiki Residents Association, 1995-present
  • Member, Board of Directors, Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), Kaimuki-Waialae, 1987-present
  • Member, Kaimuki Business and Professional Association, 1987-present
  • Member, Kaimuki Lions Club, 1987-present
  • Member, Kapahulu Business Association, 1987-present
  • Founder, Hawaii Citizens Network, present
  • Former Member, Advisory Committee, Diamond Head
  • Former Project Advisory Committee, Ala Wai Canal Watershed Improvement
  • Former Member, Deliberative Policy Making, National Network of State Legislators
  • Founder, Good Government Coalition
  • Former Member, Hawaii Pro-Democracy Initiative
  • Founder, Hawaii State Student Council Electronic Student Network
  • Former Director/Secretary, Honolulu Community Media Council
  • Member, Kaimuki/Kapahulu Community Network
  • Member, Kapahulu Chiho Jinkai
  • Former Member, National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation
  • Member, National Conference of State Legislatures
  • Former Treasurer, Palolo Community Council
  • Former Member, President's Council, Common Cause Hawaii
  • Founder, Right to Know Committee
  • Member, Honolulu Community Media Council, 2004-2006
  • Member, National Issues Forum Institute, 2002-2006
  • Founder, Citizen Voice, 2004
  • Founder, Hawaii Pro-Democracy Initiative, 2002
  • Founder, Ala Wai Watershed Association, 1997
  • Member, Waikiki Managers Against Crime, 1997
  • Founder, Kaimuki/Kaoahulu Neighborhood Security Watch Program, 1991
  • Member, Kapahulu Jaycees, 1987-1990
  • Founder, Statewide Network of Public School Parents, 1990
  • Member, New Kapahulu Business Association, 1988
  • Co-Founder, Friends for Diamond Head, 1985
  • Delegate, Democratic National Convention, 1984
  • Member, Palolo Neighborhood Board, 1977-1981
  • Delegate, State Constitutional Convention, 1978
  • Vice President, State Constitutional Convention, 1978
  • Chair, Jarrett School Community Council, 1974-1975

Other Info

— Awards:

  • * Shining Light Award, Hawaii Alliance for Retired Americans, 2008;
  • * Na Lima Kokua Ma Waena O Makua Award, Hawaii Pacific Gerontological Society Award, 2007;
  • * Good Government Angel Award, Hawaii Pro-Democracy Initiative, 2004;
  • * Unsung Hero Award, Hawaii's Thousand Friends, 2003;
  • * Lawmaker of the Year Award, Small Business Hawaii, 2003;
  • * Outstanding Civic Leadership Award, Hawaii Technology Trade Association, 2000;
  • * Good Government Award, Common Cause Hawaii, 1997 and 1993;
  • * Meritorious Achievement Award, Oahu County Committee, Democratic Party of Hawaii, 1995

Priority Issues:

Priority Issues

*Education- reform of education system to prepare our youth for the global knowledge economy

  • *Economy- our economy needs restructuring to allow a knowledge industry to grow and develop in Hawaii
  • *Elderly- an expanded senior service industry is needed to enable our elderly to "age in place" with dignity
  • *Environment- Hawaii's natural environment should not be sacrificed based on claims of a greater good
  • *Politics- political reforms are needed to reduce coersion and self-dealing in public decision-making
  • Policy Positions

    Hawaii State Legislative Election 2010 Political Courage Test

    Abortion and Reproductive

    1. Do you consider yourself pro-choice or pro-life?
    - Pro-choice

    2. Should abortion be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy?
    - No Answer

    3. Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
    - Yes

    4. Should abortion be legal when the life of the woman is endangered?
    - Yes

    5. Do you support requiring parental notification before an abortion is performed on a minor?
    - No Answer

    6. Do you support requiring parental consent before an abortion is performed on a minor?
    - No

    7. Do you support sexual education programs that include information on abstinence, contraceptives, and HIV/STD prevention methods?
    - Yes

    8. Do you support abstinence-only sexual education programs?
    - No Answer

    9. Other or expanded principles
    - No Answer

    Budget, Spending, and Tax

    State Spending

    Indicate what state funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.

    1. Education (higher)
    - Slightly Increase

    2. Education (K-12)
    - Slightly Increase

    3. Environment
    - No Answer

    4. Health care
    - No Answer

    5. Law enforcement
    - No Answer

    6. Transportation and highway infrastructure
    - Slightly Increase

    7. Welfare
    - No Answer

    8. Other or expanded categories
    - No Answer

    State Taxes

    Indicate what state tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.

    1. Alcohol taxes
    - No Answer

    2. Cigarette taxes
    - No Answer

    3. Corporate taxes
    - No Answer

    4. Gasoline taxes
    - Maintain Status

    5. Property taxes
    - Maintain Status

    6. Sales taxes
    - No Answer

    7. Income taxes (low-income families)
    - Slightly Decrease

    8. Income taxes (middle-income families)
    - No Answer

    9. Income taxes (high-income families)
    - Slightly Increase

    10. Other or expanded categories
    - No Answer

    Budget Stabilization

    Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing Hawaii's budget.

    1. Tapping into Hawaii's "rainy day" fund
    - Yes

    2. Issuing the early release of certain non-violent offenders
    - No Answer

    3. Increasing tuition rates at public universities
    - No Answer

    4. Instituting mandatory furloughs and layoffs for state employees
    - No Answer

    5. Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients
    - No Answer

    6. Privatizing certain government services
    - No Answer

    7. Legalizing and regulating gambling
    - No

    8. Other or expanded principles
    - No Answer

    Campaign Finance and Government Reform

    Do you support limits on the following types of contributions to candidates for state government?

    1. Individual
    - Yes

    2. Political Action Committee
    - Yes

    3. Corporate
    - Yes

    4. Political Party
    - Yes

    5. Should candidates for state office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits?
    - Yes

    6. Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
    - Yes

    7. Other or expanded principles
    - No Answer

    Crime and Public Safety

    1. Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
    - No

    2. Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders, such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment?
    - Yes

    3. Should the possession of small amounts of marijuana be decriminalized?
    - Yes

    4. Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
    - No Answer

    5. Should a minor who sends sexually-explicit or nude photos by cell phone face criminal charges?
    - No Answer

    6. Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
    - No Answer

    7. Other or expanded principles
    - No Answer

    Economic

    1. Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector?
    - Yes

    2. Do you support increased state funding for job-training programs that re-train displaced workers?
    - Yes

    3. Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
    - Yes

    4. Do you support providing financial incentives to the private sector for the purpose of job creation?
    - Yes

    5. Do you support increased spending on infrastructure projects for the purpose of job creation?
    - Yes

    6. Do you support providing direct financial assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure?
    - No Answer

    7. Other or expanded principles
    - No Answer

    Education

    1. Do you support national education standards?
    - No Answer

    2. Do you support requiring public schools to administer high school exit exams?
    - No Answer

    3. Do you support using a merit pay system for teachers?
    - Yes

    4. Do you support state funding for charter schools?
    - Yes

    5. Do you support the state government providing college students with financial aid?
    - Yes

    6. Should illegal immigrants who graduate from Hawaii high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
    - Yes

    7. Other or expanded principles
    - No Answer

    Environment and Energy

    1. Do you support state funding for the development of alternative energy?
    - Yes

    2. Do you support state funding for the development of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil)?
    - No

    3. Do you support providing financial incentives to farms that produce biofuel crops?
    - Yes

    4. Do you support state funding for improvements to Hawaii's energy infrastructure?
    - Yes

    5. Do you support state funding for open space preservation?
    - Yes

    6. Do you support enacting environmental regulations aimed at reducing the effects of climate change?
    - Yes

    7. Other or expanded principles
    - No Answer

    Gun

    1. Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?
    - Yes

    2. Do you support requiring background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
    - Yes

    3. Do you support allowing individuals to carry concealed guns?
    - No

    4. Do you support requiring a license for gun possession?
    - Yes

    5. Other or expanded principles
    - No Answer

    Health

    1. Do you support a universally-accessible, publicly-administered health insurance option?
    - No Answer

    2. Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform?
    - Yes

    3. Do you support interstate health insurance compacts?
    - No Answer

    4. Should individuals be required to purchase health care insurance?
    - No Answer

    5. Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits?
    - No Answer

    6. Do you support legalizing physician-assisted suicide in Hawaii?
    - No Answer

    7. Do you support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes?
    - Yes

    8. Other or expanded principles
    - No Answer

    Social

    1. Should marriage only be between one man and one woman?
    - No Answer

    2. Should Hawaii allow same-sex couples to form civil unions?
    - Yes

    3. Do you support state funding for stem cell research?
    - No Answer

    4. Do you support state funding for embryonic stem cell research?
    - No Answer

    5. Do you support the state's use of affirmative action?
    - Yes

    6. Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Hawaii's anti-discrimination laws?
    - Yes

    7. Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Hawaii's anti-discrimination laws?
    - Yes

    8. Other or expanded principles
    - No Answer

    Legislative Priorities

    Please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.
    - No Answer