2025 HOUSE AND SENATE SESSION JOB OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE NOW

Photo of Joy A. San Buenaventura

Senate District 2
Puna
Room: 213
Phone: 808-586-6890
Fax: 808-586-6899
sensanbuenaventura@capitol.hawaii.gov

Senator Joy A. San Buenaventura of District 2, Puna is a product of the Hawaii public school system. She attended Lunalilo Elementary School, Washington Intermediate 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 three of her clients' cases to the highest court in the State of Hawaii, the Hawaii Supreme Court; and won all three petitions for writ of certiorari. Senator San Buenaventura volunteers her time helping the public's access to the courts through the Judiciary's 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 is the Chair of the Senate committee on Health and Human Services and a member of the Government Operations and Judiciary committees. In 2019 she received the Healthcare Association of Hawaii's Legislator of the Year Award. In 2021, she was awarded the Women of Excellence award from the National Foundation for Women Legislators and the Legislative Champions Award from Mental Health America.

Senator San Buenaventura has been a 30-year resident of Hawaii Island and currently lives in a photovoltaic powered home in Hawaiian Paradise Park with her husband, "Weldin" Sheldon Lehman.
EXPERIENCE:
• State Senate, District 2 (Puna) from 2021-present
• Chair, Committee on Health and Human Services
• Member, Committee on Government Operations
• Member, Committee on Judiciary
• 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 Certiorari

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


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Friday, May 3, 2024

May 2024 E-Newsletter


May 2024 E-Newsletter From the Office of Senator Joy A. San Buenaventura



Friday, April 5, 2024

April 2024 E-Newsletter


April 2024 E-Newsletter From the Office of Senator Joy A. San Buenaventura



Friday, March 8, 2024

March 2024 E-Newsletter


March 2024 E-Newsletter From the Office of Senator Joy A. San Buenaventura



Friday, February 9, 2024

February 2024 Mid-Month E-Newsletter


February 2024 Mid-Month E-Newsletter From the Office of Senator Joy A. San Buenaventura



Monday, January 29, 2024

February 2024 E-Newsletter


February 2024 E-Newsletter From the Office of Senator Joy A. San Buenaventura



Wednesday, May 3, 2023

SENATOR SAN BUENAVENTURA SECURES OVER $49 MILLION IN THE STATE BUDGET FOR EAST HAWAI‘I



Monday, April 24, 2023

April 2023 Mid-Month E-Newsletter


April 2023 Mid-Month E-Newsletter From the Office of Senator Joy San Buenaventura



Thursday, April 6, 2023

April 2023 E-Newsletter


April 2023 E-Newsletter From the Office of Senator Joy San Buenaventura



Thursday, April 6, 2023

March 2023 Mid-Month E-Newsletter


March 2023 Mid-Month E-Newsletter From the Office of Senator Joy San Buenaventura



Thursday, April 6, 2023

March 2023 E-Newsletter


March 2023 E-Newsletter From the Office of Senator Joy San Buenaventura



Thursday, April 6, 2023

February 2023 Mid-Month E-Newsletter


February 2023 Mid-Month E-Newsletter From the Office of Senator Joy San Buenaventura



Thursday, April 6, 2023

February 2023 E-Newsletter


February 2023 E-Newsletter From the Office of Senator Joy San Buenaventura



Thursday, April 6, 2023

January 2023 E-Newsletter


January 2023 E-Newsletter From the Office of Senator Joy San Buenaventura



Monday, December 19, 2022

December 2022 Mid-month E-Newsletter


December 2022 Mid-month E-Newsletter From the Office of Senator Joy San Buenaventura



Monday, December 19, 2022

December 2022 E-Newsletter

December 2022 E-Newsletter From the Office of Senator Joy San Buenaventura



Monday, December 19, 2022

November Mid-month 2022 E-Newsletter

November 2022 Mid-month E-Newsletter From the Office of Senator Joy San Buenaventura



Thursday, October 27, 2022

Halloween 2022 E-Newsletter

November 2022 E-Newsletter From the Office of Senator Joy San Buenaventura



Thursday, October 27, 2022

October 2022 Mid-month E-Newsletter

October 2022 Mid-month E-Newsletter From the Office of Senator Joy San Buenaventura


2025 Committee Member of
 Measures Introduced in 2025
Measure and Title
SB18
RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
SB24
RELATING TO LIMITED-PROFIT HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS.
SB26
RELATING TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SB31
RELATING TO PROPERTY.
SB38
RELATING TO HOUSING.
SB40
RELATING TO STATE FINANCES.
SB41
RELATING TO THE CONVEYANCE TAX.
SB44
RELATING TO HOUSING DISCRIMINATION.
SB46
RELATING TO INSURANCE.
SB48
RELATING TO THE STATE BUILDING CODE COUNCIL.
SB50
RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.
SB51
RELATING TO PUBLIC FINANCING FOR CANDIDATES TO ELECTED OFFICE.
SB58
RELATING TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.
SB65
RELATING TO HOUSING.
SB66
RELATING TO HOUSING.
SB77
RELATING TO RESIDENTIAL LEASEHOLDS.
SB92
RELATING TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONSE.
SB104
RELATING TO CORRECTIONS.
SB109
RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE.
SB120
RELATING TO BUILDING CODES.
SB127
RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL GRANTS.
SB130
RELATING TO SEARCH AND RESCUE.
SB133
RELATING TO ENERGY.
SB134
RELATING TO ELECTIONS.
SB139
RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES.
SB140
RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES.
SB142
RELATING TO INSURANCE.
SB143
RELATING TO SPECIAL NUMBER PLATES.
SB146
RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS.
SB149
RELATING TO ACCESSIBILITY.
SB152
RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.
SB161
RELATING TO COUNTY PERMITTING AND INSPECTION.
SB163
RELATING TO THE RENTAL HOUSING REVOLVING FUND.
SB167
RELATING TO PERMITS.
SB169
RELATING TO REDRESS FOR WRONGFUL CONVICTION AND IMPRISONMENT.
SB170
PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION ESTABLISHING THE RIGHT TO OWN ONE'S OWN DATA.
SB173
RELATING TO CHILD CARE.
SB175
PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE VI, SECTION 3, OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION TO INCREASE THE MANDATORY RETIREMENT AGE FOR STATE JUSTICES AND JUDGES.
SB224
RELATING TO IDENTIFICATION.
SB225
RELATED TO DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE.
SB253
RELATING TO CONDOMINIUM RESERVES.
SB292
RELATING TO SEXUAL EXPLOITATION.
SB293
RELATING TO REAL PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS.
SB294
RELATING TO HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
SB295
RELATING TO DOMESTIC ABUSE PROTECTIVE ORDERS.
SB296
RELATING TO MINORS.
SB297
PROPOSING A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII TO PROTECT THE RIGHT TO REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM.
SB298
RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES.
SB299
RELATING TO LOAN REPAYMENT FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS.
SB300
RELATING TO STATE LEGISLATIVE VACANCIES.
SB301
RELATING TO DOGS.
SB305
RELATING TO MEDICAL RECORDS.
SB311
PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION REGARDING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
SB315
RELATING TO FERAL PIGS.
SB316
RELATING TO INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE IN HOUSING SUBDIVISIONS.
SB317
RELATING TO LACTATION CONSULTANTS.
SB318
RELATING TO GENETIC INFORMATION.
SB319
RELATING TO MARIJUANA.
SB320
RELATING TO PROPERTY FORFEITURE.
SB321
RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.
SB322
RELATING TO MEDICAID.
SB323
RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH.
SB324
RELATING TO PHARMACISTS.
SB327
RELATING TO INTERNSHIPS.
SB329
RELATING TO WATER POLLUTION.
SB337
RELATING TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.
SB339
RELATING TO NEEDS ALLOWANCE.
SB350
PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE HAWAII CONSTITUTION TO PROTECT THE RIGHT TO CONTRACEPTION.
SB373
RELATING TO ONLINE FANTASY SPORTS.
SB384
RELATING TO VICTIM RESTITUTION.
SB385
RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS.
SB386
RELATING TO WATER SYSTEMS.
SB388
RELATED TO TEACHER LOANS.
SB389
RELATING TO THE GENERAL EXCISE TAX.
SB418
RELATING TO REGULATORY SUNSET REVIEW IN HAWAII.
SB421
RELATING TO LITERACY.
SB422
RELATING TO EDUCATION.
SB434
RELATING TO TREATMENT FOR MENTAL ILLNESS.
SB440
RELATING TO EDUCATION.
SB450
RELATING TO AUTISM.
SB451
RELATING TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.