Legislative Members

31st Legislature, 2021
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Floor session convene times for Friday, March 5, 2021:
Senate: 11:30 a.m. | House of Representatives: 12:00 p.m.

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Senate District 2
Hawaii State Capitol
Room 213
phone: 808-586-6890
fax: 808-586-6899
sensanbuenaventura@Capitol.hawaii.gov

Member of the following committees:

Human Services

Commerce and Consumer Protection

Health

Documents and Links

March 2021 E-Newsletter
February 2021 E-Newsletter
January 2021 E-Newsletter
December 2020 E-Newsletter
November 2020 E-Newsletter
Mahalo-End of Term E-Newsletter
October 2020 Mid Month E-Newsletter
October 1, 2020 E-Newsletter
September 2020 Mid Month E-Newsletter
September 1, 2020 E-Newsletter
August 20, 2020 E- Newsletter
August 11, 2020 E-Newsletter
April-May 2020 Newsletter
March 2020 Newsletter
January-February 2020 Newsletter
April 2019 E Newsletter
March 2019 E Newsletter
February 2019 E-Newsletter
January 2019 E-Newsletter
January 10, 2019 HSH
May 2018 End of Session-Print Newsletter
May 2018 E-Newsletter
April 2018 E-Newsletter
March 2018 E-Newsletter
February 2018 E-Newsletter
January 2018 E-Newsletter
December 2017 E-Newsletter
November 2017 E-Newsletter
October 2017 E-Newsletter
September 2017 E-Newsletter
August 2017 E-Newsletter
2017 End-of-Session Newsletter
July 2017 E-Newsletter
June 2017 E-Newsletter
April 2017 E-Newsletter
March 2017 E-Newsletter
February 2017 E-Newsletter
January 2017 E-Newsletter
December 2016 E-Newsletter
November 2016 E-Newsletter
October 2016 E-Newsletter
September 2016 E-Newsletter
August 2016 E-Newsletter
July 2016 E-Newsletter
June 2016 E-Newsletter
End of Session 2016 E-Newsletter
April 2016 E-Newsletter
March 2016 E-Newsletter
February 2016 E-Newsletter
January 2016 E-Newsletter
December 2015 Supplemental E-Newsletter
December 2015 E-Newsletter
November 2015 E-Newsletter
October 2015 Supplemental E-Newsletter
October 2015 E-Newsletter
September 2015 E-Newsletter
August 2015 E-Newsletter
July 2015 E-Newsletter
June 2015 E-Newsletter
April 2015 E-Newsletter
March-April 2015 E-Newsletter
January 2015 E-Newsletter
Interview of the freshmen legislators to discuss their priorities on Hawaii Public Radio with Wayne Yoshioka

EXPERIENCE:
• Majority Whip
• State House of Representative, District 4 (Puna makai) from 2014-present
• Chair, Human Services & Homelessness
• Vice-Chair, House Judiciary Committee
• Per Diem District Court Judge 1991-1995
• Lecturer, UH-Hilo Business law 1986-1987
• Attorney since 1985 to present, having successfully argued in front of the Hawaii Supreme Court, winning 3 out of 3 Petitions for Writ of Certiorori

EDUCATION:
• J.D. from University of California, Hastings College of the Law
• B.Sci. from University of Nevada, Las Vegas
• McKinley High School graduate

COMMUNITY:
• Volunteer attorney with Self-Help Center
• Volunteer mediator with Ku'ikahi Mediation Center
• Member of Hawaii State Bar Association
• Member of Hawaii County Bar Association
• Current member of Hawaii Photo Shooters
• Former president and former member of Hilo Photography Club

Measures Introduced

	Title
SB3	RELATING TO HOUSING.
SB27	RELATING TO HOMEBUYER ASSISTANCE.
SB36 SD2	RELATING TO RENTAL DISCRIMINATION.
SB41	RELATING TO HOUSING.
SB60 SD1	RELATING TO SPECIAL NUMBER PLATES.
SB145 SD1	RELATING TO MEDICAL CANNABIS PRODUCTS.
SB146	RELATING TO THE UNIFORM PROBATE CODE.
SB147	RELATING TO CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES.
SB148 SD1	RELATING TO TAXATION.
SB149	RELATING TO PROPERTY FORFEITURE.
SB239	RELATING TO THE ALOHASAFE ALERT APPLICATION.
SB240	RELATING TO MASK AND QUARANTINE VIOLATIONS.
SB241 SD1	RELATING TO MEDICAL CANNABIS.
SB244 SD2	RELATING TO FOOD DONATION.
SB245 SD1	RELATING TO EDUCATION.
SB246 SD1	RELATING TO GOVERNMENT.
SB247 SD1	RELATING TO PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
SB248	RELATING TO PROCUREMENT.
SB249	RELATING TO SINGLE-USE PLASTICS.
SB339 SD2	RELATING TO THE IMPORTANT AGRICULTURAL LAND QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL COST TAX CREDIT.
SB342	RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES.
SB354	RELATING TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.
SB374	RELATING TO THEFT.
SB376	RELATING TO NOISE.
SB379	RELATING TO THE HAWAII HOUSING FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
SB382	RELATING TO PAYMENTS OF SUPPORT.
SB464	RELATING TO EDUCATION.
SB467 SD1	RELATING TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
SB489	RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL BUILDINGS.
SB537	RELATING TO AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE.
SB538	RELATING TO THE HAWAII CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION.
SB591	RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY INSPECTIONS.
SB592	RELATING TO THE UNIFORM INFORMATION PRACTICES ACT.
SB593	RELATING TO DIGITAL IDENTIFICATION.
SB594 SD1	RELATING TO GENERAL EXCISE TAX.
SB597 SD2	RELATING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE.
SB598	RELATING TO THE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE.
SB605	RELATING TO PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.
SB608	RELATING TO GENERAL EXCISE TAX EXEMPTIONS.
SB618 SD1	RELATING TO PARENTAGE.
SB619 SD2	RELATING TO ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSES.
SB620 SD1	RELATING TO ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSES.
SB630 SD1	RELATING TO CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT.
SB631	RELATING TO PAYMENTS OF SUPPORT.
SB689	RELATING TO LANDS CONTROLLED BY THE STATE.
SB697 SD1	RELATING TO KALAUPAPA MONTH.
SB698 SD1	RELATING TO COMMUNITY MEETINGS.
SB699	RELATING TO THE LAND CONSERVATION FUND.
SB700 SD2	RELATING TO SEARCH AND RESCUE.
SB701	RELATING TO EDUCATION.
SB703	RELATING TO SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING.
SB734	RELATING TO HOUSING DENSITY.
SB743	RELATING TO PERMIT PROCESSING.
SB792	RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.
SB793 SD1	RELATING TO THE MINIMUM WAGE.
SB815 SD2	RELATING TO EDUCATION FUNDING.
SB817	RELATING TO ATTACHMENT.
SB818	RELATING TO VACANT AND ABANDONED RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY.
SB819 SD2	RELATING TO THE HOSPITAL SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM.
SB820	RELATING TO THE NURSING FACILITY SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM.
SB821 SD2	RELATING TO CHILDREN.
SB824	PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII TO AMEND THE QUALIFYING AGE OF VOTERS FOR ANY STATE OR LOCAL ELECTION.
SB825	RELATING TO EDUCATION.
SB827 SD2	RELATING TO BREAST CANCER SCREENING.
SB829 SD1	RELATING TO ABUSE OF FAMILY OR HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS.
SB839 SD2	RELATING TO HEALTH.
SB850 SD2	RELATING TO BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES.
SB858 SD1	RELATING TO COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS.
SB883	RELATING TO SAFETY EQUIPMENT.
SB908 SD1	RELATING TO DRIVER'S LICENSES.
SB909	RELATING TO INTERNET ACCESS.
SB910	RELATING TO PUBLIC HOUSING.
SB912 SD1	RELATING TO THE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM.
SB913 SD1	RELATING TO SUSTAINABLE ELECTRONICS MANAGEMENT.
SB914	RELATING TO BROADBAND ACCESS.
SB952	RELATING TO PAROLE.
SB969 SD2	RELATING TO ANIMAL FUR PRODUCTS.
SB970 SD2	RELATING TO TELEHEALTH.
SB1020	RELATING TO FIREWORKS.
SB1243 SD2	RELATING TO THE PHASEOUT OF PRIVATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES.
SB1244 SD1	RELATING TO THE MODERNIZATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE.
SB1250 SD1	RELATING TO EMERGENCY FOOD MANAGEMENT.
SB1294	RELATING TO MEDICAID BENEFITS.
SB1295	RELATING TO PRESCRIPTIVE AUTHORITY FOR CERTAIN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS.
SB1296	RELATING TO BROADBAND.
SB1300	RELATING TO INCREASING THE ESTATE TAX.
SB1302	RELATING TO TAX HAVEN ABUSE.
SB1310	RELATING TO COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT.
SB1315	RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.
SB1318 SD1	RELATING TO KULEANA LANDS.
SB1319	RELATING TO HAWAIIAN FISHPONDS.
SB1323 SD2	RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.
SB1328	RELATING TO ACADEMIC TENURE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.
SB1329 SD2	RELATING TO PROCUREMENT.
SB1331	RELATING TO DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION.
SB1334 SD1	RELATING TO THE HAWAII COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
SB1372 SD1	RELATING TO MEDICAL CANNABIS.
SB1373 SD1	RELATING TO WAGE GARNISHMENT.
SB1374	RELATING TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE SECOND SENATORIAL DISTRICT.
SB1375	RELATING TO HEALTH.
SB1376	RELATING TO CANNABIS.
SB1404	RELATING TO HONOKOHAU SMALL BOAT HARBOR.
SCR7	REQUESTING THE DISABILITY AND COMMUNICATION ACCESS BOARD, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE OFFICE OF ENTERPRISE TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP ON ACCESSIBLE GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS.
SCR34	REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM AND THE COUNTY OF HAWAII OFFICE OF AGING TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE NECESSITY AND FEASIBILITY OF A SENIOR LIVING CENTER IN THE KA'U DISTRICT.
SCR36	REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR'S COORDINATOR ON HOMELESSNESS TO PROVIDE A STATUS UPDATE ON KUKUI'OLA VILLAGE AND WORK WITH THE HAWAII INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS TO FURTHER FUND THE KA LAMAKU SHELTER UNTIL THE CONSTRUCTION OF KUKUI'OLA VILLAGE IS COMPLETED.
SCR37	REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO REPORT ON CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION INSTRUCTION BEING OFFERED THROUGHOUT STATE DEPARTMENTS.
SCR39	URGING THE COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I TO UTILIZE THE DATA RESULTING FROM THE 2020 UNITED STATES CENSUS TO ESTABLISH, IF ALLOWABLE, A METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION FOR THE COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I.
SCR41	URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF INCREASING PAYMENT TO HAWAII'S COMMUNITY CARE FOSTER FAMILY HOMES(CCFFH) AND EXPANDED ADULT RESIDENTIAL CARE HOMES (E-ARCH) FOR MEDICAID RECIPIENTS.
SCR54	REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS TO CONDUCT AN ANALYSIS AND PROVIDE DATA ON THE NUMBER OF DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS BENEFICIARIES WHO HAVE APPLIED FOR AND NEED HOUSING IN EACH COUNTY, BY INCOME CLASSIFICATION, AND UNIT TYPE.
SCR57	URGING THE COUNTIES TO EXPAND KULEANA PROPERTY TAX RELIEF TO FAMILY MEMBERS THAT HAVE CONTINUOUS OWNERSHIP OF ANCESTRAL LANDS.
SCR58	AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF A LEASE OF CERTAIN SUBMERGED LANDS AT KANEOHE BAY, KANEOHE, OAHU, FOR NON-COMMERCIAL BOAT PIER PURPOSES, BY PUBLIC AUCTION.
SCR59	URGING THE HAWAIIAN HOMES COMMISSION TO APPROPRIATE ONE HUNDRED PER CENT OF LEASE REVENUES FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTY USES TO HOMELAND LOT DEVELOPMENT.
SCR60	REQUESTING THE UNITED STATES FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION TO ELIMINATE ITS BLOOD DONOR DEFERRAL POLICY ON THE COLLECTION OF BLOOD AND BLOOD COMPONENTS FROM MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN.
SCR61	REAFFIRMING THE STATE'S COMMITMENT TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE AND PRIORITIZE CLIMATE CHANGE LEGISLATION.
SCR63	REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO CREATE A MODEL STATEWIDE SCHOOL POLICY ON STUDENT SUICIDE PREVENTION, INTERVENTION, AND POSTVENTION IN GRADES K-12.
SCR64	REQUESTING THE DIRECTOR OF TAXATION TO WAIVE PENALTIES AND INTEREST SOUGHT FROM SMALL BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUAL TAXPAYERS AS A RESULT OF UNDUE HARDSHIP RELATED TO THE CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 PANDEMIC.
SCR65	REQUESTING THE HAWAII COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TO ADOPT ADMINISTRATIVE RULES TO SET, CHARGE, AND COLLECT FINES ON VACANT HABITABLE DWELLING UNITS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
SCR66	CONDEMNING AND DENOUNCING ALL FORMS OF ANTI-ASIAN SENTIMENT AND ALL ACTS OF RACISM, XENOPHOBIA, INTOLERANCE, DISCRIMINATION, HATE CRIME, AND HATE SPEECH AGAINST ASIAN AMERICANS AND ASIAN INDIVIDUALS IN THE UNITED STATES.
SCR69	REQUESTING THE HAWAII EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY TO DEVELOP AN EVACUATION PLAN FOR THE AREAS WITHIN LAVA ZONES 1, 2, 3, 4, AND 6.
SR5	REQUESTING THE DISABILITY AND COMMUNICATION ACCESS BOARD, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE OFFICE OF ENTERPRISE TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP ON ACCESSIBLE GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS.
SR23	REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM AND THE COUNTY OF HAWAII OFFICE OF AGING TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE NECESSITY AND FEASIBILITY OF A SENIOR LIVING CENTER IN THE KA'U DISTRICT.
SR25	REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR'S COORDINATOR ON HOMELESSNESS TO PROVIDE A STATUS UPDATE ON KUKUI'OLA VILLAGE AND WORK WITH THE HAWAII INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS TO FURTHER FUND THE KA LAMAKU SHELTER UNTIL THE CONSTRUCTION OF KUKUI'OLA VILLAGE IS COMPLETED.
SR26	REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO REPORT ON CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION INSTRUCTION BEING OFFERED THROUGHOUT STATE DEPARTMENTS.
SR28	URGING THE COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I TO UTILIZE THE DATA RESULTING FROM THE 2020 UNITED STATES CENSUS TO ESTABLISH, IF ALLOWABLE, A METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION FOR THE COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I.
SR36	REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS TO CONDUCT AN ANALYSIS AND PROVIDE DATA ON THE NUMBER OF DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS BENEFICIARIES WHO HAVE APPLIED FOR AND NEED HOUSING IN EACH COUNTY, BY INCOME CLASSIFICATION, AND UNIT TYPE.
SR39	URGING THE COUNTIES TO EXPAND KULEANA PROPERTY TAX RELIEF TO FAMILY MEMBERS THAT HAVE CONTINUOUS OWNERSHIP OF ANCESTRAL LANDS.
SR40	AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF A LEASE OF CERTAIN SUBMERGED LANDS AT KANEOHE BAY, KANEOHE, OAHU, FOR NON-COMMERCIAL BOAT PIER PURPOSES, BY PUBLIC AUCTION.
SR41	URGING THE HAWAIIAN HOMES COMMISSION TO APPROPRIATE ONE HUNDRED PER CENT OF LEASE REVENUES FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTY USES TO HOMELAND LOT DEVELOPMENT.
SR42	REQUESTING THE UNITED STATES FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION TO ELIMINATE ITS BLOOD DONOR DEFERRAL POLICY ON THE COLLECTION OF BLOOD AND BLOOD COMPONENTS FROM MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN.
SR43	REAFFIRMING THE STATE'S COMMITMENT TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE AND PRIORITIZE CLIMATE CHANGE LEGISLATION.
SR45	REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO CREATE A MODEL STATEWIDE SCHOOL POLICY ON STUDENT SUICIDE PREVENTION, INTERVENTION, AND POSTVENTION IN GRADES K-12.
SR46	REQUESTING THE DIRECTOR OF TAXATION TO WAIVE PENALTIES AND INTEREST SOUGHT FROM SMALL BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUAL TAXPAYERS AS A RESULT OF UNDUE HARDSHIP RELATED TO THE CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 PANDEMIC.
SR47	REQUESTING THE HAWAII COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TO ADOPT ADMINISTRATIVE RULES TO SET, CHARGE, AND COLLECT FINES ON VACANT HABITABLE DWELLING UNITS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
SR48	CONDEMNING AND DENOUNCING ALL FORMS OF ANTI-ASIAN SENTIMENT AND ALL ACTS OF RACISM, XENOPHOBIA, INTOLERANCE, DISCRIMINATION, HATE CRIME, AND HATE SPEECH AGAINST ASIAN AMERICANS AND ASIAN INDIVIDUALS IN THE UNITED STATES.
SR51	REQUESTING THE HAWAII EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY TO DEVELOP AN EVACUATION PLAN FOR THE AREAS WITHIN LAVA ZONES 1, 2, 3, 4, AND 6.

Senator Joy A. San Buenaventura of District 2, Puna-East Ka‘ū is a product of the Hawaii public school system. She attended Lunalilo Elementary School, Washington Middle School and graduated from McKinley High School. After graduating from high school, Senator San Buenaventura and her family moved to Las Vegas where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. In Las Vegas, she worked at the Environmental Protection Agency as a computer programmer and with Reynolds Electrical Engineering as a law clerk. Senator San Buenaventura went on to receive her Juris Doctorate from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.

The Senator was a lecturer of business law at the University of Hawaii at Hilo; and in 1991, she was appointed Per Diem District Court Judge, making her the youngest judge in Hawaii at the age of 32. In one of her earlier court-appointed cases, she represented the first geothermal protesters opposing the proposed geothermal well at Wao Kele O Puna. In 1992 she was the first attorney to prosecute and settle a breast implant case in the State of Hawaii. In 2013-2014 she was honored to have taken two of her clients' cases to the highest court in the State of Hawaii, the Hawaii Supreme Court; having won a petition for writ of certiorari years earlier. Senator San Buenaventura volunteers her time helping the public to access to the courts through the Self-Help Center.

Senator San Buenaventura was first elected to office as the Hawaii State Representative of District 4 in 2014. She was then elected to the Hawaii State Senate, District 2 seat in 2020. She has been a 30-year resident of Hawaii Island and currently lives in a photo-voltaic powered home in Hawaiian Paradise Park with her husband, "Weldin" Sheldon Lehman.