Legislative Members

31st Legislature, 2021
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The 31st Legislature will convene on January 20th, 2021

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House District 34
Hawaii State Capitol
Room 404
phone: 808-586-6340
fax: 808-586-6341
reptakayama@Capitol.hawaii.gov

Member of the following committees:

Higher Education & Technology

Economic Development

Education

Labor & Tourism

District Information
34 - Pearl City, Waimalu, Pacific Palisades

NEIGHBORHOOD BOARDS
Pearl City Neighborhood Board

SCHOOLS
Highlands Intermediate School
Momilani Elementary School
Palisades Elementary School
Pearl City High School
Pearl City Highlands Elementary School
Waiau Elementary School
Waimalu Elementary School

Aiea-Pearl City Transit-Oriented Development Plan
Pearl City Foundation
Rep Takayama's Official Facebook page

Rep Takayama Community Update 2020
Rep Takayama Community Update Mid Session 2014
Rep Takayama Community Update Jan 2014
Dan Boylan interview in Midweek
MyPearlCity
Pearl City Community Association

Measures Introduced

No Measures Introduced

State Representative Gregg Takayama is proud to serve District 34, consisting of the Pearl City, Waimalu, and Pacific Palisades communities, where he has lived for several decades with his wife Linda Chu Takayama and raised their three daughters.

Rep. Takayama is a product of the public school system and a graduate of the University of Hawaii at Manoa with a degree in journalism. He is a former award-winning journalist who worked at KHON-TV as a news reporter for eight years.
Rep. Takayama also served on the staffs of U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye and then-Lt. Governor Ben Cayetano. He was spokesman for UH Manoa for six years until he was elected to the State House in 2012.
He currently serves as Chair of the House Public Safety, Veterans, &Military Affairs Committee, which oversees Hawaii's correctional system, State emergency services, armed services as well as veterans. His priority has been to improve public safety by modernizing correctional facilities and policies to better rehabilitate inmates. Rep. Takayama is also a member of the Judiciary and Intrastate Commerce committees.
He also serves as Co-Chair of the Legislature's Kupuna Caucus, which advances legislation important to senior citizens.

www.flickr.com

Go to Representative Gregg Takayama's photostream

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March 30, 2020

Community Survey March 2020

link to SURVEY

February 27, 2020

The Conversation: Gun Control Bills at the Legislature

by Catherine Cruz

The Honolulu Police Department is advocating for changes to Hawaii's gun laws in light of last month's fatal shooting of two of its officers. Representative Gregg Takayama, chair of the House Public Safety Committee, explains the proposed legislation that will be up for a vote today. Link to page to hear interviews.

February 26, 2020

Police chief makes public plea to lawmakers ahead of votes on tougher gun control measures - Hawaii News Now

By Lynn Kawano

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard publicly pleaded for lawmakers to approve controversial gun control measures ahead of key floor votes in both the House and Senate set for Thursday.

"We're asking them to please, please pass these bills, for law enforcement , for all of our public safety, for the safety of our officers, for the safety of our community,” Ballard said at a press conference Wednesday morning that included Jim Howe, Director of Emergency Services, and Rep. Gregg Takayama. View full news report

February 25, 2020

Youth Capitol Commentary 2020

Student Reporter Cole Yoshimoto of Hawaii Technology Academy was part of the team interviewing legislators for real world journalism experience.

February 21, 2020

Rep Takayama Community Update 2020

Highlists from the 2019 session and January 2020 updates.

February 10, 2020

Our Kupuna, Our Kuleana: Senior Care Crisis in Hawai'i - Hawai'i Business Magazine

Medicaid will cover long-term care but people often have to impoverish themselves to qualify, says state Rep. Gregg Takayama. View full article

April 26, 2019

Taking care of our Kupuna

by Kirstin Downey

The state Department of Public Safety may soon be subject to more effective public scrutiny, improved conditions in the jails for inmates and people suspected of crimes and see much-needed pre- sentencing reforms. View full article

April 16, 2019

Taking care of our Kupuna

HONOLULU (KHON2) - From housing to caregiving, the Kupuna Caucus was formed to advance specific goals for our seniors and to enact legislation to implement those needs. State Representative Gregg Takayama joined us in studio to talk about a couple of bills in legislation to support our seniors. View full article

April 15, 2019

Lawmakers & Staff Donate Clothing for YWCA’s Dress for Success Program -by Big Island Now

“This will be a great help for recently incarcerated women to look their best when applying for and working at a new job,” said Rep. Takayama, chair of the House Public Safety, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee. "I want to thank everyone for their compassion and generosity to help these women, especially the members of the Women’s Legislative Caucus." View full article

April 10, 2019

Live at the Legislature 2019 with Rep. Gregg Takayama

Carolyn Tanaka interviews Rep. Takayama about the recent events at Maui Community Correctional Center, prison overcrowding, bail reform, and this year's legislation addressing Public Safety issues. View full article

April 3, 2019

Plans to relieve overcrowding in Hawaii's jails are in motion

Wednesday, April 3rd 2019, 5:39 PM HST by Lei Ui Kaholokula Duration 2:47

State sharing how it will address the problem of overcrowded jails View full article

April 1, 2019

Editorial: Pursue purchase of federal jail - Honolulu Star Advertiser

The state is pursuing plans to build a new jail. A 280-page environmental impact statement recommended building a new facility on the animal quarantine station site in Halawa, and Gov. David Ige wants $5 million to figure out how to finance it. The estimated cost of construction is about $525 million.

Or, as state Rep. Gregg Takayama has proposed, the state could try to buy the FDC. If the federal Bureau of Prisons is amenable, it could be a better solution, and less expensive than the financial and political minefield of a major state construction project.

Takayama introduced House Bill 1177, which would put money on the table to convince the feds that the state is serious about buying the facility. The current administration, he noted, has “not said no.” View full article

March 24, 2019

Volcanic Ash: Hawaii deal for federal jail could be win-win solution

by David Shapiro

We so seldom see fresh ideas from local government that it’s a shame when a good one goes to waste.

Yet that seems the case with Rep. Gregg Takayama’s bill to explore state purchase of the underused Federal Detention Center near the airport to replace the decrepit Oahu Community Correctional Center in Kalihi.

The measure sailed unanimously through the House and had the support of the Ige administration and Oahu Democratic Party but was abruptly killed in Senate committee with little explanation. View full article

March 21, 2019

Prison reform frustrations: Bills to address overcrowding stalls in Senate

Overcrowded jails in Hawaii is a problem that has at least one State lawmaker claims the legislature this session is doing nothing about.
Representative Gregg Takayama fears more riots like last week's case at the Maui Community Correctional Facility will continue to happen if nothing gets done to reduce the state's prison population.
The House passed two bills this session that could've addressed the issue according to Takayama but both were shot down by the Senate this week.

March 12, 2019

Hawaii immigrant sanctuary bill dies in state Legislature.

March 12, 2019
Associated Press
A bill that would have made Hawaii the third so-called sanctuary state for immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally has died at the state Legislature.

The state Senate passed the bill and sent it to the House. But Rep. Gregg Takayama, the chairman of the House Public Safety Committee, said Tuesday he won’t be hearing it in his committee. That effectively kills the bill.

Takayama said that because most law enforcement occurs at the county level, he believes it would be more appropriate for the counties and not the state to consider creating sanctuaries. He noted local jurisdictions on the mainland have done so. View full article
View PDF file

March 4, 2019

The Roadblocks Are Rising For Much-Touted Bail Reform: Despite passing the Hawaii House with unanimous support, the bill may face a rockier time in the Senate.

by Kirstin Downey

. . . In an interview, [Rep. Gregg] Takayama said that holding people in jail who are “obviously not dangerous to the community” is costing Hawaii millions of dollars a year, at an average cost of $180 per inmate per night, money that he thinks could be better spent elsewhere.

CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC

Takayama said he isn’t sure what will happen with the legislation but he hopes it will pass.

“I think we have talked about bail reform for far too long to put it on a back burner now,” he said. View full article

March 4, 2019

Here’s What’s Not Passing The Hawaii Legislature This Year

by Kirstin Downey

Only about 10 percent of bills usually pass, however, and that means most measures won’t make it this year — although they do carry over to the 2020 session. It’s even possible some bills may be resurrected before session ends May 2.

For now, here’s a rundown of important legislation that did not make the cut. View full article

February 22, 2019

Hawaii Could Really Use This Federal Prison That Has Plenty Of Empty Cells

State Rep. Gregg Takayama, chairman of the House public safety committee, has a big idea.
He wants the state to buy the underutilized Federal Detention Center in Honolulu, a plan he thinks could save taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars and provide a quick fix to Hawaii’s overcrowded corrections system.
Hawaii’s eight jails and prisons are jammed to the rafters, forcing the state to ship more than 1,400 people to the mainland to a private for-profit prison. Meanwhile, the Federal Detention Center, a modern high-rise built in 2001 near Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, houses only 400 prisoners but has capacity for 1,200, according to Takayama. View full article

February 7, 2019

‘It’s A Crime’: Will Legislature Fix Hawaii’s Broken Bail System?

Many people sit in jail awaiting trial on fairly minor offenses simply because they can’t afford to get out. This may be the year that changes. View full article

February 6, 2019

Addressing Drug Addiction Key In Improving Safety

Nothing prepares you for the shock of returning home to find that your private space has been invaded, plundered and left in disarray. That happened to me and two other nearby Pearl City homes on the same November weekday...
View full article

January 28, 2019

Federal Detention Center eyed to replace Oahu Community Correctional Center

by Kevin Dayton
State Rep. Gregg Takayama hopes to convince the federal government to sell the Federal Detention Center next to the Honolulu airport to the state to use as a replacement for the aging Oahu Community Correctional Center in Kalihi. “It’s in good shape, and it’s in good shape largely because it’s mostly unused,” Takayama said. The website for the facility indicates it is holding about 400 prisoners today, he said, but about 160 of those are Hawaii inmates who are being held in leased beds at FDC because there is no room for them in OCCC. “In view of that, and with Congress passing a federal prison reform act that is expected to reduce the population of their prisons and jails, I think it makes sense for us to put money on the table and offer to buy it,” Takayama said.
View full article

January 24, 2019

Bill Proposes Purchase of Honolulu Federal Jail

“The federal jail is very under-utilized, while OCCC is tremendously overcrowded and in need of replacement,” said Rep. Takayama, chair of the House Public Safety, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee.
View full article

February 23, 2018

The Conversation: Options for Addressing School Shootings

February 23, 2018
By Chris Vandercook & Catherine Cruz
After last week’s mass shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida students, parents, and officials across the nation are all proposing steps to prevent future incidents. What should be done here in Hawaii? Our panel addresses school safety and some of the proposals improving security. Link to panel discussion

February 12, 2018

Rep. Takayama: Takeaway Lessons from the False Missile Alert

January 19, 2018

Hearing on False Missile Alert - Hawaii News Now Jan 19, 2018

January 3, 2018

Kupuna Caregivers Program A Shining Example - Civil Beat

Credit Hawaii leaders for creating social infrastructure for our future. This first-in-the-nation program has captured the attention of national experts and media, with the New York Times, MSNBC and the Washington Examiner running lengthy pieces on the new initiative. The national praise for the program tends to focus on the innovative approach to supporting family caregivers and kupuna, but it is also worth celebrating the strategic coordination from Hawaii’s legislative leaders as a case study in making progressive change.
View full article

December 19, 2017

One of the smartest ideas for balancing work and life just went into effect in Hawaii

Hawaii, the US state with the longest life expectancy, is the first in the US to implement this type of direct subsidy for long-term care. Germany, Austria, Japan, and a handful of other industrialized nations have developed universal insurance programs for their elderly’s long-term care.
View full article

December 5, 2017

Hawaii prepares to deliver New Year's present to caregivers - Washington Examiner

After 21 years of trying to pass long-term care legislation, Hawaii this summer became the first state to pass a bill that gives funding to caregivers who assist family members who have become disabled as they age or have cognitive challenges as their brains succumb to dementia or Alzheimer's disease.
View full article

November 8, 2017

‘Preferred’ Jail Site Currently Houses Animal Quarantine Station - Civil Beat

“The reason that I think it’s important to build a drug rehabilitation facility as part of OCCC is that, in the long term, it will help reduce recidivism rate of our drug offenders,” [Representative] Takayama said. “Right now, they’re not able to access drug treatment programs because of limitations in program space, and this will enable us to move forward in a constructive way.”
View full article

February 2, 2017

Aid to Independent-Living Seniors Focus of 2017 Kupuna Caucus Bills MauiWatch Feb 2. 2017

“These measures are aimed at helping seniors with some disabilities live out their lives at home, with help from State-sponsored services and family caregivers. The vast majority of elderly prefer to age in place instead of entering a nursing home,” said Rep. Gregg Takayama, House co-convenor of the Kupuna Caucus (Pearl City, Waimalu, Pacific Palisades).
View full article

February 24, 2017

Task force and legislators rethink new jail

A 13-member task force led by Hawaii Supreme Court Associate Justice Michael Wilson is recommending that the state hold off on its plans for building a new jail on Oahu until the group can issue a final report at the end of the year that provides a road map for reforming the state’s correctional system. View full article

2017 Youth Capitol Commentary

July 19, 2016

Star Advertiser 2016 Interview

I’ve served my community by getting on my knees to plant grass for a new playground while also fighting for more than $30 million for improvements to Pearl City schools in the past four years. Our district needs someone willing to invest “sweat equity” and be an effective advocate.
View full article

October 17, 2014

Hawai'i Herald : Gregg Takayama

It was a smooth transition from covering politics to becoming a politician for freshman State Representative Gregg Takayama. “Listening and communicating to people is what journalism is all about, and it’s essential for elected officials,” said Representative Takayama, a former award-winning news reporter at KHON-TV and former aide to the late U.S. Senator Dan Inouye.
View full article

March 31, 2014

Takayama: From Observer to Participant

MIDWEEK- Gregg Takayama seems both too old and too traveled to be a freshman legislator. Yet there he was last week, sitting in the State House on opening day, beginning his second session as the representative from Oahu's 34th District (Pearl City, Waimalu, Pacific Palisades).

He is, in fact, 61 years old, and he has indeed been around.

I first met Takayama when he was a young reporter for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, I a newly minted assistant professor at the University of Hawaii-West Oahu.

View full article

April 16, 2013

A New Hat for Gregg Takayama

For virtually every day of his life since graduating from college in 1974, Takayama either covered government as a reporter, or worked as a spokesperson for some of the state's most visible government leaders. Last fall, he decided to pursue a different view of government - from the inside - working on behalf of his neighbors in the newly created state House District 34 (Pearl City, Waimalu and Pacific Palisades) and articulating his own concerns. View full article

March 20, 2013

Ground is Broken for New Aiea Public Library

Hawaii News Now - A groundbreaking ceremony for the new, replacement Aiea Public Library was conducted on the site of the former Aiea Sugar Mill on Saturday, March 16. Governer Neil Abercrombie and other invited dignitaries attended and participated in the ceremony.View full article

March 1, 2013

Bill: Quit Feeding Pigeons, They're Crapping My Style

(Hawaii Civil Beat) You may no longer be able to feed that flock of feral fowl without fear of a fine in Hawaii. Lawmakers are getting serious about cracking down on pigeon poop.

House Bill 619, introduced by Rep. Gregg Takayama, would make it illegal to feed feral birds on your own property to the extent that they cause a nuisance on another property.

View full article

February 14, 2013

Older Isle Residents Unprepared for Cost of Long-Term Care

(AARP Hawaii) A new survey exploring the views of older Hawaii residents on long-term care shows that nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of people 50+ are not confident they can afford to pay for one year in a nursing home. Fifty percent of respondents say they are not confident they can afford the cost of care for one year in their home. The survey of 800 residents statewide-more than half of whom reported annual household income of less than $75,000-is the latest evidence that many residents are unsure how they'll pay for their care needs as they get older.
View full article

February 11, 2013

Gregg Takayama: Bird Feeding Bill

(Hawaii News Now) - Representative Gregg Takayama introduced a bill that would allow people to sue each other for injury or property damage from the birds... more specifically the poop. He joined Steve on Sunrise to discuss it in more detail.
Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL

February 11, 2013

Lawmakers amending bill to ban pigeon feeding

A bill to make it illegal to feed feral pigeons is heading through the Hawaii Legislature, although not everyone agrees on the dirty details.

Neighbors living near people who feed pigeons say they are being held hostage by the birds and their droppings. Now a group from Pearl City has teamed up and is trying to help write the law.
View full article

February 11, 2013

Pigeon problem pits neighbor against neighbor in Pearl City

Pigeon poop and feral feathers flying! It's a mess that's pitting neighbor against neighbor in Pearl City.

Residents say two nearby homeowners won't stop feeding, what's become, a daily flock of pigeons. It's a chronic, decade-long problem that they've tried to solve on their own - to no avail. The neighbors in question say: all these complaints - are for the birds.
View full article

February 11, 2013

Hawaiian panel OKs public LTC plan bill

Lawmakers in Hawaii are moving ahead with a public long-term care insurance (LTCI) program study measure.

Members of the Hawaii House Consumer Protection & Commerce Committee voted 10-0 Wednesday to approve an amended version of House Bill 1.

If passed as written, H.B. 1 would require the director of the state's executive officer of aging to hire actuaries to analyze the idea of setting up a "limited, mandatory, public" LTCI program for Hawaii's workers, according to the state legislative tracking system.
View full article

Hawaii State Legislature

Community Survey March 2020

The Conversation: Gun Control Bills at the Legislature

Police chief makes public plea to lawmakers ahead of votes on tougher gun control measures - Hawaii News Now

Youth Capitol Commentary 2020

Rep Takayama Community Update 2020

Our Kupuna, Our Kuleana: Senior Care Crisis in Hawai'i - Hawai'i Business Magazine

Taking care of our Kupuna

Taking care of our Kupuna

Lawmakers & Staff Donate Clothing for YWCA’s Dress for Success Program -by Big Island Now

Live at the Legislature 2019 with Rep. Gregg Takayama

Plans to relieve overcrowding in Hawaii's jails are in motion

Editorial: Pursue purchase of federal jail - Honolulu Star Advertiser

Volcanic Ash: Hawaii deal for federal jail could be win-win solution

Prison reform frustrations: Bills to address overcrowding stalls in Senate

Hawaii immigrant sanctuary bill dies in state Legislature.

The Roadblocks Are Rising For Much-Touted Bail Reform: Despite passing the Hawaii House with unanimous support, the bill may face a rockier time in the Senate.

Here’s What’s Not Passing The Hawaii Legislature This Year

Hawaii Could Really Use This Federal Prison That Has Plenty Of Empty Cells

‘It’s A Crime’: Will Legislature Fix Hawaii’s Broken Bail System?

Addressing Drug Addiction Key In Improving Safety

Federal Detention Center eyed to replace Oahu Community Correctional Center

Bill Proposes Purchase of Honolulu Federal Jail

The Conversation: Options for Addressing School Shootings

Rep. Takayama: Takeaway Lessons from the False Missile Alert

Hearing on False Missile Alert - Hawaii News Now Jan 19, 2018

Kupuna Caregivers Program A Shining Example - Civil Beat

One of the smartest ideas for balancing work and life just went into effect in Hawaii

Hawaii prepares to deliver New Year's present to caregivers - Washington Examiner

‘Preferred’ Jail Site Currently Houses Animal Quarantine Station - Civil Beat

Aid to Independent-Living Seniors Focus of 2017 Kupuna Caucus Bills MauiWatch Feb 2. 2017

Task force and legislators rethink new jail

2017 Youth Capitol Commentary

Star Advertiser 2016 Interview

Hawai'i Herald : Gregg Takayama

Takayama: From Observer to Participant

A New Hat for Gregg Takayama

Ground is Broken for New Aiea Public Library

Bill: Quit Feeding Pigeons, They're Crapping My Style

Older Isle Residents Unprepared for Cost of Long-Term Care

Gregg Takayama: Bird Feeding Bill

Lawmakers amending bill to ban pigeon feeding

Pigeon problem pits neighbor against neighbor in Pearl City

Hawaiian panel OKs public LTC plan bill