Legislative Members

30th Legislature, 2019
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The Legislature has adjourned sine die for 2019.

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Senate District 1
Hawaii State Capitol
Room 213
phone: 808-586-6760
fax: 808-586-6689
senkkahele@capitol.hawaii.gov

Member of the following committees:

Water and Land

Hawaiian Affairs

Higher Education

Ways and Means

District Information

1st Senatorial District Map - Hilo

Experience

Educational Background
• Hilo High School - Class of 1992
• University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa: BA in Education, 1998
• Academy of Military Science: Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, 2002
• USAF Squadron Officer School: Completed Professional Military Course, 2013
• USAF Air Command & Staff College: Completed Professional Military Course, 2014

Government Service
• Hawaii State Senate:
• Chair, Committee on Higher Education
• Vice Chair, Committee on Education
• Member, Committee on Ways and Means
• Member, Committee on Housing

Current Profession
• Commercial Airline Pilot, Hawaiian Airlines
• Major, Hawai‘i Air National Guard

Prior Professions
• Adjunct Faculty Member, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo
• C-17 Globemaster III Instructor Pilot, Hawai‘i Air National Guard, 204th Airlift Squadron
• Active Duty Pilot, USAF (Aircraft Flown include T-37; T-38; T-38C; F15C; C-130H; C-17A; B-717; B-767; A-330)
• Major, USAF Field Grade Officer
• Head Coach, University Laboratory School's Varsity Volleyball Team

Honors and Awards
• Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Laurence P. Sharples Perpetual Award - March 2019
• Guard Officer of the Year, Hickam Air Force Base, 613th Air Operations Center - February 2016
• Guard Officer of the Quarter, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces - October 2015
• USAF Meritorious Service Medal - October 2015
• Guard Officer of the Quarter, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces - June 2015
• USAF Commendation Medal - May 2015
• Hawai‘i State Active Duty Ribbon - May 2015
• Outstanding Performer, 154th Operation Support Squadron, Command Unit Inspection - November 2013
• Global War on Terrorism Medal - November 2009
• Distinguished Graduate C-17 Co-Pilot Initial Qualification - March 2006
• USAF Air Medal, Combat mission flown in Afghanistan - November 2005
• National Defense Service Medal - August 2005
• Distinguished Graduate C-130 Co-Pilot Initial Qualification - March 2002

Documents and Links

HB1326 HD Proposed SD1
Summary of HB1326 Proposed SD1 Amendments

Newsletters

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2019 Newsletters
July 2019

Archives

2018 Newsletters
June 2018

2017 Newsletters
June 2017

2016 Newsletters
May/June 2016
December 2016

Measures Introduced

	Title
SB1 SD2	RELATING TO HOUSING.
SB5	RELATING TO EMINENT DOMAIN.
SB356	RELATING TO INSURANCE.
SB469	RELATING TO THE STATE BUDGET.
SB504 SD2 HD1	RELATING TO IOLANI PALACE.
SB554 SD2	RELATING TO STATE WATER CODE PENALTIES.
SB656 SD3	RELATING TO TAXATION.
SB657 SD2	RELATING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
SB666 SD2 HD2	RELATING TO AN AIRPORTS CORPORATION.
SB698 SD2	RELATING TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS.
SB887 SD2 HD2	RELATING TO TOBACCO TAXES.
SB895	RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.
SB897	RELATING TO WATER QUALITY MONITORING.
SB898 SD1 HD1	RELATING TO LAND RECORDATION.
SB899	RELATING TO MEDICAL RESIDENCY PROGRAMS.
SB900	RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.
SB901 SD1	RELATING TO ONSITE NON-POTABLE WATER REUSE SYSTEMS.
SB902	RELATING TO HEALTH CARE PEER REVIEW.
SB903	RELATING TO POSTGRADUATE RESIDENT PHYSICIANS AND FELLOWS.
SB904	RELATING TO MEDICAL MALPRACTICE.
SB905	RELATING TO PUBLIC LAND LEASES.
SB906 SD1	RELATING TO WAILOA SMALL BOAT HARBOR.
SB907 SD2	RELATING TO HIGHER EDUCATION.
SB908 SD2 HD1	RELATING TO SUSTAINABILITY.
SB909 SD2	RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.
SB910	RELATING TO HEALTH.
SB911 SD1 HD1	RELATING TO HEALTH.
SB912 SD1	RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOLS.
SB913	RELATING TO THE JOHN A. BURNS SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.
SB914 SD2 HD1	RELATING TO LAND DEVELOPMENT.
SB915	RELATING TO WATER.
SB916	RELATING TO THE DISPOSITION OF PUBLIC LANDS.
SB917 SD1	RELATING TO LAND.
SB918	RELATING TO PUBLIC LANDS.
SB919 SD2 HD2	RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII BOARD OF REGENTS.
SB920	RELATING TO PUBLIC LANDS.
SB921 SD2 HD1	RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.
SB922 SD1	RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES.
SB923 SD2	RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES.
SB924 SD2	RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES.
SB925	RELATING TO VACCINATION GUIDELINES.
SB926	RELATING TO VACCINATIONS.
SB927	RELATING TO HUNTING.
SB928 HD2	PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE X, SECTION 6, OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION, TO MODIFY THE APPOINTMENT PROCESS FOR THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.
SB929	RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE COLLEGE.
SB930	RELATING TO CLIMATE CHANGE.
SB931 SD2	RELATING TO MARINE AQUARIUM FISHING.
SB932	RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.
SB933	RELATING TO PUBLIC LANDS.
SB934 SD1 HD2	RELATING TO CONSERVATION DISTRICTS.
SB935 SD1 HD1	RELATING TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR WATER REUSE.
SB936	RELATING TO NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.
SB937 SD1	RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOLS.
SB938 SD1	RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.
SB939 SD1	RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOLS.
SB1024 SD1	MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE AGING AND DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTER.
SB1025 SD1 HD2	RELATING TO THE KUPUNA CAREGIVERS PROGRAM.
SB1026 SD1	RELATING TO THE HEALTHY AGING PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.
SB1027 SD2	RELATING TO HEARING AIDS.
SB1028	RELATING TO RETIREMENT SAVINGS.
SB1029 SD1	RELATING TO AGING.
SB1030	RELATING TO ACTIVE AGING.
SB1031 SD2 HD1	RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.
SB1032	RELATING TO HEALTH.
SB1138 SD1	RELATING TO THE IOLANI PALACE PARKING LOT.
SB1139 SD1	RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES.
SB1140 SD1	RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES.
SB1141 SD1	MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES.
SB1142 SD1	MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES.
SB1287 SD2	RELATING TO STATE PLANNING.
SB1298	RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
SB1299	RELATING TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
SB1300	RELATING TO THE KEA‘AU VILLAGE TRANSIT HUB.
SB1302	RELATING TO NATURAL DISASTERS.
SB1367	RELATING TO PROMOTING DANGEROUS DRUGS.
SB1368 SD1	RELATING TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.
SB1369	RELATING TO CESSPOOLS.
SB1370 SD2	RELATING TO CESSPOOLS.
SB1371 SD2 HD1	RELATING TO LAY NETS.
SB1372	RELATING TO UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS.
SB1407	RELATING TO COUNTIES.
SB1409	RELATING TO TEACHING HOSPITALS.
SB1410 SD2	RELATING TO EMERGENCY SERVICES.
SB1451 SD1 HD1	RELATING TO STATE HOLIDAYS.
SB1489	RELATING TO THE AHA MOKU ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
SB1490 SD2	RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES.
SB1491	RELATING TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE FIRST SENATORIAL DISTRICT.
SB1492	RELATING TO ENERGY.
SB1515 SD1 HD1	RELATING TO EDUCATION.
SB1533 SD1	RELATING TO TAXATION.
SCR24	REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO DESIGNATE THE HILO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AS THE GENERAL ALBERT KUALI‘I BRICKWOOD LYMAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
SCR45 SD1	SUPPORTING THE GOVERNOR'S EFFORTS IN INVESTIGATING AND URGING THE BANK OF AMERICA TO RETURN TO HAWAII TO MEET WITH NA PO‘E KOKUA AND THE HAWAII FAIR LENDING COALITION REGARDING A $150,000,000 LOAN COMMITMENT FOR NATIVE HAWAIIANS ON HAWAIIAN HOMELANDS.
SCR46	APPROVING THE SALE OF CERTAIN LAND OWNED BY THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS TO THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU.
SCR50	RENAMING THE NATURAL ENERGY LABORATORY OF HAWAII AUTHORITY AS THE GEORGE R. ARIYOSHI NATURAL ENERGY LAB.
SCR70	REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS TO CONDUCT AN INDEPENDENT FISCAL AUDIT OF ALL LIMITED LIABILITY CORPORATIONS CREATED OR CONTROLLED BY THE OFFICE.
SCR103	URGING THE INCLUSION OF NATIVE HAWAIIAN CULTURAL INTERVENTION TREATMENT PROGRAMS, WELLNESS PLANS, AND HOLISTIC LIVING SYSTEMS OF CARE IN THE STATE OF HAWAII'S RESPONSE TO THE RISE OF MISUSE AND ABUSE OF OPIOIDS OR ILLICIT SUBSTANCES IN HAWAII.
SCR203	URGING THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO RENAME THE RUSSIAN FORT ELIZABETH STATE HISTORICAL PARK IN WAIMEA, KAUA‘I, TO PA‘ULA‘ULA.
SCR204 HD2	URGING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIVE HAWAIIAN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP A SUI GENERIS LEGAL SYSTEM TO RECOGNIZE AND PROTECT NATIVE HAWAIIAN CULTURAL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, TRADITIONAL CULTURAL EXPRESSIONS, AND GENETIC RESOURCES.
SCR206	REQUESTING THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE TO ISSUE A COMMEMORATIVE POSTAGE STAMP IN HONOR OF ALFRED AHOLO APAKA.
SCR207	REQUESTING THAT THE HAWAII STATE LEGISLATURE DECLARE ‘AWA AS THE OFFICIAL BEVERAGE OF THE ALOHA STATE.
SCR213	URGING HAWAI‘I'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION AND THE GOVERNOR TO COLLABORATE WITH THE LEGISLATURE TO ENSURE EXPEDITED BURIALS FOR VETERANS, DECEASED ACTIVE DUTY MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES, AND THEIR SPOUSES AT VETERANS CEMETERIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF HAWAI‘I.
SCR214 SD1	SUPPORTING THE ‘IMILOA ASTRONOMY CENTER IN ITS EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS CONCERNING RESOURCES ON MAUNA KEA AT HALE POHAKU, ENCOURAGING THE TRANSFER OF EDUCATION OUTREACH AT HALE POHAKU, REQUESTING A REPORT REGARDING RESTRUCTURING OF THE INSTITUTE FOR ASTRONOMY AND MAUNA KEA SUPPORT SERVICES, AND REQUESTING THE CONTRIBUTION OF FINANCIAL CAPITAL TO CONSTRUCT THE ‘IMILOA UKA FACILITY.
SCR215 SD1	REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO IDENTIFY FACTORS AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO SUSTAIN CURRENT AND FUTURE ROBOTICS PROGRAMS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
SCR216	REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO CONDUCT A FEASIBILITY STUDY ON UNIVERSAL PILOT BADGES FOR AIRPORTS IN THE STATE.
SR17	REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO DESIGNATE THE HILO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AS THE GENERAL ALBERT KUALI‘I BRICKWOOD LYMAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
SR32 SD1	SUPPORTING THE GOVERNOR'S EFFORTS IN INVESTIGATING AND URGING THE BANK OF AMERICA TO RETURN TO HAWAII TO MEET WITH NA PO‘E KOKUA AND THE HAWAII FAIR LENDING COALITION REGARDING A $150,000,000 LOAN COMMITMENT FOR NATIVE HAWAIIANS ON HAWAIIAN HOMELANDS.
SR48	REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS TO CONDUCT AN INDEPENDENT FISCAL AUDIT OF ALL LIMITED LIABILITY CORPORATIONS CREATED OR CONTROLLED BY THE OFFICE.
SR132	URGING ALL APPLICABLE STATE AGENCIES TO WORK TOGETHER WITH INTERESTED STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING THE HONOLULU HARBOR USERS GROUP, IN ASSESSING THE RISK OF AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES TO HAWAII, VECTORS, AND POSSIBLE MITIGATIONS, IN PREPARATION FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW FEDERAL STANDARDS IN 2022.
SR163	URGING THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO RENAME THE RUSSIAN FORT ELIZABETH STATE HISTORICAL PARK IN WAIMEA, KAUA‘I, TO PA‘ULA‘ULA.
SR164	URGING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIVE HAWAIIAN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP A SUI GENERIS LEGAL SYSTEM TO RECOGNIZE AND PROTECT NATIVE HAWAIIAN CULTURAL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, TRADITIONAL CULTURAL EXPRESSIONS, AND GENETIC RESOURCES.
SR166 SD1	REQUESTING THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE TO ISSUE A COMMEMORATIVE POSTAGE STAMP IN HONOR OF ALFRED AHOLO APAKA.
SR172	URGING HAWAI‘I'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION AND THE GOVERNOR TO COLLABORATE WITH THE LEGISLATURE TO ENSURE EXPEDITED BURIALS FOR VETERANS, DECEASED ACTIVE DUTY MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES, AND THEIR SPOUSES AT VETERANS CEMETERIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF HAWAI‘I.
SR173 SD1	SUPPORTING THE ‘IMILOA ASTRONOMY CENTER IN ITS EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS CONCERNING RESOURCES ON MAUNA KEA AT HALE POHAKU, ENCOURAGING THE TRANSFER OF EDUCATION OUTREACH AT HALE POHAKU, REQUESTING A REPORT REGARDING RESTRUCTURING OF THE INSTITUTE FOR ASTRONOMY AND MAUNA KEA SUPPORT SERVICES, AND REQUESTING THE CONTRIBUTION OF FINANCIAL CAPITAL TO CONSTRUCT THE ‘IMILOA UKA FACILITY.
SR174 SD1	REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO IDENTIFY FACTORS AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO SUSTAIN CURRENT AND FUTURE ROBOTICS PROGRAMS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
SR175	REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO CONDUCT A FEASIBILITY STUDY ON UNIVERSAL PILOT BADGES FOR AIRPORTS IN THE STATE.

Senator Kaiali‘i "Kai" Kahele represents the 1st Senatorial District, which encompasses the greater Hilo area on the Island of Hawai‘i.

Senator Kahele is of Native Hawaiian ancestry and his family comes from the small fishing village of Miloli‘i in South Kona. A product of Hawai‘i's public school system, he graduated from Hilo High School, attended Hawai‘i Community College, the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, and earned his degree in education from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa in 1998.

Senator Kahele is a Major in the Hawai‘i Air National Guard, United States Air Force and an Iraq and Afghanistan combat veteran pilot of the C-17 Globemaster III and C-130 Hercules. He is also a commercial airline pilot, and flies the Airbus A330. He is a devoted husband and father of three daughters, and lives in Hilo with his wife Maria.

Senator Kahele is a strong proponent of job creation through strengthening workforce opportunities and small businesses. A staunch advocate for education, he continues to work towards making college more accessible and affordable for Hawai‘i's students.

Senator Kahele represents the next generation of willing and qualified young leaders ready to serve the community to build a better Hawai‘i for all. He is grounded by his kūpuna and the legacy that many before him have created for the State of Hawai‘i.

On February 16, 2016, Governor David Ige appointed Kaiali‘i Kahele as Senator for the 1st Senatorial District. He was sworn into office on February 17, 2016 during the 28th Legislative Session and was subsequently elected on November 8, 2016.

Senator Kahele serves as Senate Majority Floor Leader, Chair for the Committee on Water and Land, Vice-Chair for the Committee on Native Hawaiian Affairs, and also serves on the Committees for Ways and Means and Higher Education.

Go to Senator Kaiali'i Kahele's photostream

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Monday, April 8, 2019

Revitalizing Banyan: Bill to create agency on its way to final vote (Hawaii Tribune Herald)

Read the article on hawaiitribune-herald.com.

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Senator Kaiali‘i Kahele receives the 2019 Laurence P. Sharples Perpetual Award for his significant contributions to the advancement of aviation

All photos courtesy of Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and David Tulis.

Senator Kaiali‘i Kahele received the 2019 Laurence P. Sharples Perpetual Award for his significant contributions to the advancement of aviation.

Click here to download and watch a video (courtesy of AOPA) of the ceremony.