2025 HOUSE AND SENATE SESSION JOB OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE NOW

Photo of Jeanne Kapela

House District 5
Portions of Kea‘au and Kurtistown, Mountain View, Glenwood, Fern Forest, Volcano, Pāhala, Punalu‘u, Nā‘ālehu, Wai‘ōhinu, Hawaiian Ocean View, Ho‘okena
Room: 418
Phone: 808-586-9605
Fax: 808-586-9608
repkapela@capitol.hawaii.gov

Rep. Jeanne Kapela was born in Kona and raised on a small coffee farm in the nearby town of Captain Cook. She graduated from Konawaena High School in 2012 and currently serves as a member of the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival board of directors, Lions Club of Kona member, and communications chair for Konawaena High School's 100th Anniversary Committee.

Previously, Jeanne was a member of the Kona Coffee Farmers Association board of directors and Director of the Miss Kona Coffee Scholarship Competition. She founded Unite Hawai'i in 2015, an organization devoted to ending sexual exploitation through education.

Today, she serves as the prevention education coordinator for Imua Alliance, a nonprofit service provider for victims of sex trafficking. As a leader in Hawai'i's efforts to combat sexual slavery, she has facilitated anti-violence education programming to over 2,000 of Hawai'i's children and worked tirelessly to provide freedom and justice to women and children affected by sexual violence.

Jeanne grew up in poverty and is committed to uplifting working families like the one in which she was raised. She currently serves as Vice Chair of the House Education Committee, where she strives to deliver the schools our keiki deserve. Jeanne believes that economic and social justice are essential to our democracy. She is eager to craft a Green New Deal that protects people and our planet from the twin threats of economic inequality and climate change.

Jeanne is also a classically trained ballet dancer and has performed with some of the nation's most prestigious ballet companies, including Boston Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, and the American Ballet Academy. She served as Miss Hawai'i 2015 and won the title of Miss Congeniality at the Miss America competition.
• Prevention Education Coordinator, Imua Alliance (2019-present)
• Board of Directors, Kona Coffee Cultural Festival (2019-present)
• Communications Chair, Konawaena High School 100th Anniversary Committee (2019-present)
• Member, Lions Club of Kona (2019-present)
• Dance Instructor, Kona Dance and Performing Arts (2017-present)
• Committee Clerk, Rep. Amy Perruso (2019)
• Board of Directors, Kona Coffee Farmers Association (2019-2020)
• Executive Director, Miss Kona Coffee Scholarship Competition (2019-2020)
• Executive Director, Unite Hawai'i (2015-2019)
• Dance Instructor, American Renaissance Academy (2016-2017)

July 9, 2024

Rep. Kapela Calls for Enforcement of New Coffee Labeling Law

Photo of Representative Kapela

Lawmakers last year passed Senate Bill 746, expanding coffee labeling requirements to protect local farmers and consumers. Coffee with labels claiming it was grown or processed in Hawaiʻi must use 100 percent local coffee, or list how much of it is from out-of-state.

The measure gave companies a year to properly label their coffee, and will go into effect on July 1. But Rep. Jeanne Kapela, who represents Hawaiʻi Island and authored the companion bill to SB 746, recently issued a press release about her concerns that there still isn’t any compliance.

“If the department really doesn't have the money — which we know that they don't because the state has starved them and their budget as a whole — we have to have something simple where the public can get involved in enforcement and we can,” Kapela said.

For more, visit the following link: KONA COFFEE.
May 23, 2024

Ka'u residents rally to oppose Punalu'u development

Photo of Representative Kapela

Residents of Ka'u have been holding sign wavings in recent weeks to oppose development of the acreage surrounding Punalu'u Black Sand Beach.

The demonstrations come as the Hawai'i County Windward Planning Commission considers whether or not to allow a proposed commercial resort development to move forward in the area. The message was clear: Keep Ka'u country.

"I would like to see the community show up. I think that right now you're seeing individuals from across Hawai'i Island and here in Ka'u show up and protest the development of potentially a luxury hotel in one of our most untouched places," Rep. Jeanne Kapela told Island News.

For more, visit the following link: KEEP KA'U COUNTRY.
May 23, 2024

Rep. Kapela Opposes HECO Bailout Bill

Photo of Representative Kapela

This year, the State Legislature appeared poised to create a new way for Hawai'i electric utilities to pay for wildfire risk mitigation through Senate Bill 2922 by allowing utilities to pass on wildfire-related costs to ratepayers.

Yet, more than 1,200 survivors of the Aug. 8 inferno that destroyed most of Lahaina object to Hawaiian Electric, the state-regulated utility serving Maui, being able to charge ratepayers who lost homes, businesses, family and friends for wildfire-related costs, and opposed the bill in testimony.

"At the heart of this, this is a bailout bill for HECO at the expense of families across the state, " said Rep. Jeanne Kapela (D, Volcano-Hawaiian Ocean View ), who opposed the measure. "My electricity bill is already high enough. So for those reasons alone, I cannot support this bill."

For more, visit the following link: HECO BAILOUT.
March 18, 2024

Hawai'i lawmakers consider telehealth access for seeking gender-affirming care

Photo of Representative Kapela

A bill at the legislature aims to expand telehealth access to people seeking gender-affirming health services. Rep. Jeanne Kapela sponsored HB 2079. She said it is about protecting parental rights and the LGBTQ community in the islands. Kapela said the biggest misinformation about this bill is lack of any parental consent.

“On Hawai'i Island, we have very limited access to gender-affirming medication and services. To be able to reach a doctor in the comfort of your own home, with your family if you are a minor, and have that support from your family. That’s what this bill does. It will lift that veil so families have access,” said Kapela.

For more, visit the following link: LGBTQ RIGHTS.
March 18, 2024

Rep. Kapela sponsors bills that would support student inclusivity

Text that says Trans rights are human rights

Two bills moving through the Legislature would support the use of gender identity preferences for public school students.

House Bill 1799 and its companion, Senate Bill 2670, would require the state Department of Education to establish a procedure allowing students to use their preferred names over legal names in an effort to strengthen “inclusivity” within public schools.

Kapela introduced the House bill as a part of the Legislature’s Equality Caucus package. “This is the first time we’ve introduced this measure,” she said. “I think it’s so important that we support students in their decisions.”

For more, visit the following link: STUDENT INCLUSIVITY.
January 26, 2024

State House supports clean elections bill

Photo of Representative Kapela

House Speaker Scott Saiki has thrown his support behind an effort for full public financing for political candidates starting in 2028, which proponents say would reduce the temptation for political corruption and perhaps lead to a new generation of younger elected officials who aren’t beholden to special interests and corporations.

A previous effort introduced by state Sen. Karl Rhoads (D, Nuuanu-­Downtown-Iwilei) stalled last year. But Saiki’s introduction of House Bill 2321 on Wednesday could turn the idea into reality this session, according to House Rep. Jeanne Kapela (D, Volcano-Naalehu-­Hawaiian Ocean View).

“I’m so excited to see that Speaker Saiki is pushing for it,” Kapela said. “The leader of the House sees the importance of putting community first. I hope it is a new dawn for the House.”
For more, visit the following link: CLEAN ELECTIONS.
January 12, 2024

Hawai'i Legislators To Tackle School Safety Issues

Fire alarm sign

The recovery of Maui schools and students and expansion of fire prevention efforts on campuses statewide will be a top priority for the 2024 legislative session that begins next week.

Lawmakers also will grapple with educational problems carried over from previous years such as improving school transportation, repairing aging school facilities and reversing students’ learning loss from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Following a successful resolution from last year requiring the DOE to provide a list of broken fire alarm systems across the state, Rep. Jeanne Kapela plans on introducing another bill that would appropriate $25 million toward completing these repairs. “This should be a no-brainer for keeping students safe, especially after the Maui wildfires,” Kapela said.

For more, visit the following link: SCHOOL SAFETY.
January 11, 2024

Public Financing of Elections Being Revived At Hawai'i Legislature

Representative Kapela sitting at a conference table.

State lawmakers will resurrect a bill that would establish a comprehensive campaign financing system intended help attract a more diverse pool of political candidates. The system would give grants to qualifying candidates who are able to demonstrate sufficient support from voters.

“The reality is that representation matters,” said state Rep. Jeanne Kapela, who will introduce the companion bill in the House this session. For her, that especially includes greater representation of women, Native Hawaiians and working-class people.

“This is about ensuring that so many different people that oftentimes don’t have their voices heard in the Legislature will have their voices heard,” said Kapela. “When you have legislators who are catering to corporate interests, catering to their donors interests, they are not caring to the public’s interest.”

For more, visit the following link: CLEAN ELECTIONS.
November 17, 2023

School Fire Alarm Repairs Must Be Prioritized

A dome camera in the corner of the ceiling

A recent report from a House working group highlights the lack of working fire alarm systems in some public schools. In the 2023 legislative session, Rep. Kapela introduced and passed House Resolution 55, which requested the DOE to submit a list of schools with broken fire alarms and a timeline for completing these repairs.

Kapela said she plans to introduce a bill next year providing funding to fix schools’ fire alarm systems. DOE officials said the department would need to spend $10 million annually for the next five years to complete its repairs.

"There’s no alternative to having a working fire alarm," Kapela said.

For more, visit the following link: FIRE ALARMS.
October 23, 2023

Rep. Kapela Urges DOE to Remove Bathroom Cameras

A dome camera in the corner of the ceiling

Local media first reported about surveillance cameras outside of bathroom stalls at Kea'au High School Monday, Sept. 18, after receiving information from a frustrated parent. The story shined a light on privacy and safety concerns of students using the restroom, forcing the Department of Education (DOE) to take a second look at the issue.

As of Monday, Sept. 25, the DOE confirmed the cameras were moved away from the bathroom stalls. After seeing the story on KHON, Representative Jeanne Kapela said she was outraged.

"There’s no reason ever that would would rise the level of taking away someone's safety, someone's privacy and someone's security in a restroom setting," Kapela said. "You can very clearly, from the video that the students sent, although they’re in place in a breezeway, they are still within the scope of a bathroom. So however you put it, it was wrong. And the reality is that it needed to be rectified."

For more, visit the following link: BATHROOM CAMERAS.
August 3, 2023

Rep. Kapela calls for community services after dog attack



It was an unsettling tragedy for the Big Island community, a 71-year-old man was killed in a dog attack while walking near his home. Police identified the victim as Robert Northrop and his family is now calling for action and justice to prevent similar attacks.

Area State Representative Jeanne Kapela said stray and dangerous dogs are a top concern for her constituents. She is calling for more focus on rural communities by the county’s animal control services.

“We need to make sure that they are adequately funded and that they have enough people on the ground,” Kapela said. “And that they are working throughout the entire island not just servicing two main portions of the island. That for me is a big concern.”

For more, visit the following link: DOG ATTACK.
June 20, 2023

Final Budget Leaves UH Treading Water On Key Programs



The final legislative budget will likely leave the University of Hawai'i several hundred million dollars short of its request for fiscal years 2024-2025. The end result will have very clear consequences for the UH community.

The university’s proposed budget included capital improvement projects to improve energy efficiency, enhance outdoor study spaces and upgrade buildings around campus – many of which will now have to wait.

The UH Board of Regents Committee on Planning and Facilities had outlined those plans at over $550 million in its capital budget. In total, the Legislature approved roughly $385 million of that, and a third of that funds projects the university doesn’t want or requested a lesser amount for.

Rep. Jeanne Kapela, who voted no on the final budget bill, said it’s the “worst budget we’ve ever seen” in regards to public education. Chair of the House Higher Education and Technology Committee Amy Perusso also voted no and said it “did not fund the priorities of the system.”

For more, visit the following link: UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I BUDGET.
June 20, 2023

Kapela raises questions about school board shake-up



No one who knows why Gov. Josh Green removed Bruce Voss as chair of the state Board of Education is talking openly about the reasons. And observers say the lack of transparency over Voss’ replacement with business leader Warren Haruki is a troubling sign for the board that oversees Hawaii’s nearly 300 public schools.

Haruki “comes from a very corporate background,” said state Rep. Jeanne Kapela (D-Naalehu-­Captain Cook-Keauhou), a member of the state House Education Committee and vice chair of the Higher Education and Technology Committee. “These people that serve on the Board of Education are stakeholders for public education across the state, and he has never served in that capacity. … How will that impact his decisions? And will he put all children’s interests before his business interests or before the interests of his powerful friends in the Senate or in the Legislature?”

For more, see the following link: BOARD OF EDUCATION.
June 5, 2023

Bills aim to increase sex assault protections for students



Two bills aiming to reduce sexual violence at the University of Hawai'i have passed the legislative session and are awaiting final approval from Governor Josh Green.

House Bill 580 would work to ensure the confidentiality of victims. House Bill 540 would require increased sexual misconduct training for staff, as well as provide immunity to students that report sexual misconduct from disciplinary action across the university’s 10 campuses.

The other bill, HB 554, would require that the University of Hawai'i provide ”mandatory annual trauma-informed, gender-inclusive, LGBTQ+-inclusive” sexual misconduct prevention and awareness programming for all students and employees.”

It would also require that individuals involved in implementing disciplinary processes have training or experience in handling sexual misconduct complaints, as well as prohibit the university from taking disciplinary action against individuals reporting sexual misconduct.

Rep. Jeanné Kapela (District 5), who sponsored HB 554, noted that 9 percent of University of Hawai'i students have experienced sexual harassment and 6 percent have experienced sexual assault, according to the University of Hawai'i’s 2021 climate survey.

“Those numbers reveal a crisis that UH administrators have a responsibility to address,” said Kapela in an email response to The Garden Island. The 2021 survey states that it was completed by 6,726 out of the 40,1222 adult students enrolled across the university’s campuses in the 2021 spring semester.

“This bill is not meant as a criticism of the university. On the contrary, it is meant to support UH in delivering a trauma-informed response to sexual and gender violence. We know that when we provide effective systems of support for students, then incidents of gender violence decrease,” she said.

For more, visit the following link: CAMPUS SAFETY BILLS.
May 30, 2023

Civil Beat Interview: Rep. Jeanne Kapela Calls for Budget Transparency



Rep. Jeanne Kapela, who was first elected in 2020, was one of five Democrats who took the unusual step of voting against the final budget bill just before the Legislature adjourned. In an interview with Civil Beat that has been edited for clarity and length, she calls for an overhaul of the process.

"One thing that I will say, I’m used to voting this way," said Rep. Jeanne Kapela. "I have always voted with deep integrity. I represent an extremely impoverished community that’s 108 miles long. Within it there are so many struggles and so many people with deep needs. So I’ve never worried about the way that I vote, because I always vote with the integrity of the people that have deep needs."

To read the full interview, visit the following link: CIVIL BEAT INTERVIEW.
May 9, 2023

Kapela Criticizes Budget Priorities on Final Day of Session



The Legislature closed out its session for this year with an impassioned debate led by a handful of House lawmakers about spending cuts contained in the proposed state budget.

Rep. Jeanne Kapela said the new budget continues the historic underfunding of our public education system. Kapela said leading lawmakers reduced the budget for public schools by $167 million over the next two years from what the governor requested, and pointed out that is almost the same amount as the new teachers’ contract awards in raises to teachers over the next two years.

"We have a $2 billion surplus," she said. "It is immoral for us to pit the (Department of Education) against teachers by cutting school services to pay for a very modest pay raise for hardworking teachers that deserve so much more."

For more, see the following link: BUDGET DEBATE.
May 1, 2023

Resolution supports clemency for low-level cannabis offenses



The Legislature adopted a resolution sponsored by Rep. Jeanne Kapela in support of granting clemency for low-level cannabis offenses that has the support of Gov. Josh Green. Green plans to work with law enforcement agencies to look into low-level cannabis cases with the passage of House Concurrent Resolution 51, according to a spokesperson.

"If the governor and the attorney general are truly interested in bringing our cannabis policies into the 21st Century, as 22 other states have already done, then working with organizations to implement cannabis clemency is a great first step toward achieving that goal," she told the Star-Advertiser.

For more, see the following link: CANNABIS CLEMENCY.
April 25, 2023

Hawai'i Island Deserves A Bigger Slice Of Infrastructure Pie



This month, Civil Beat published my editorial about creating equity in Hawai'i's capital improvement budget. The southern half of Hawai'i island is home to some of the most impoverished communities in the state. Following last year’s reapportionment process, the remote and rural district I represent (House District 5) is now the largest in Hawai'i in terms of geographic size.

As lawmakers craft a new state budget, we must rectify the disparity in how capital improvement dollars are allocated. Historically, the infrastructure needs of rural and indigent communities have been perennially neglected. To truly advance the goal of delivering prosperity for all, that needs to change.

Capital improvement funds are intended to build the basic infrastructure that enables our community to thrive. While O'ahu has a larger overall population than the neighbor islands because of Honolulu’s urban cityscape, rural communities are far more impoverished in terms of aggregate household income and economic growth.

To read the full article, click the following link: CIP EQUITY.
March 17, 2023

Rep. Kapela Continues to Push for Paid Family Leave



Efforts to establish a family leave system in Hawaii similar to unemployment insurance have died again at the state Capitol. The issue was deferred for the year just as the the Hawai'i Working Families Coalition organized a rally for working families.

They are seeking tax relief, sick days and paid family leave to free workers to be caregivers. State Rep. Jeanne Kapela, a Democrat representing rural Hawai'i Island, said the issue is urgent. She said many families find themselves in debt after losing income while caregiving.

"No family should have to suffer or open a GoFundMe account on social media and beg for funding because they cannot afford to live in this state because they’ve had a child," Kapela told a gathering of workers and advocates.

For more, visit the following link: PAID FAMILY LEAVE.
March 10, 2023

Rep. Kapela Works to End the Tip Penalty



Oʻahu community members gathered at a town hall meeting on Wednesday to discuss their frustration with the tip credit — a wage system that many service workers have deemed as inequitable over the years.

Currently, restaurants and hotels are allowed to deduct $1 from the minimum wage of workers who receive tips. That dollar is officially called a tip credit, but affected workers say it should be called a tip penalty.

This legislative session, Rep. Jeanne Kapela of Hawaiʻi Island sponsored a bill that would have eliminated the tip credit. However, House Bill 1288 never received a hearing.

"The people who are donating to legislators are the Chamber of Commerce, they are the Restaurant Association, they are the big business that comes out and talks about how workers don’t deserve a living wage," Rep. Kapela said.

For more, visit the following link: TIP PEANLTY.
February 27, 2023

Rep. Jeanne Kapela Sponsors Bill to Make Community College Free



Community college could be free for Hawaii residents if measures being considered by the Legislature become law.

House Bill 78 and its companion, Senate Bill 172, would expand the Hawaii Promise program, a “last dollar" scholarship providing free in-state tuition for University of Hawaii community college students.

"This bill would make community college free for all Hawaii residents," said Big Island Rep. Jeanne Kapela, a Democrat who introduced the bill. "For me, this measure is a matter of basic educational equity. We need to make sure that all of Hawaii’s children have access to the same opportunities to achieve financial security and learn the skills necessary to participate in the 21st century workplace."

For more, vist the following link: FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
February 3, 2023

Want To Give Our Kids A Future? Change The Way We Tax Wealth



On February 3, 2023, Honolulu Civil Beat published the following op-ed from Rep. Jeanné Kapela Rep. Amy Perruso in support of tax fairness. An excerpt from the article appears below.

"Our current budget surplus is temporary. Consider that a one-time, $300 million investment in affordable housing can create roughly 1,500 affordable housing units. But we need more than 50,000 affordable housing units in the next three years just to catch up to our current demand.

We need a dedicated revenue stream — year after year — to deliver on the promise of opportunity for our people.

Instead of allowing our tax system to deepen wealth and income inequality — harming our democracy and putting the quality of our collective future at risk—we propose that our colleagues in the Capitol join us in embracing tax fairness, and in asking the rich to pay a fair share to fund our future."

To read the full article, click to the following link: TAX FAIRNESS.
January 26, 2023

Big Island’s Rep. Jeanné Kapela introduces sex trafficking bill to protect keiki



Sex trafficking is happening throughout Hawai‘i and Big Island state legislator Jeanné Kapela says students know they are the targets.

To tackle the problem, Kapela introduced House Bill 550. The measure, which passed its first reading Monday, would require the Hawai'i Department of Education to offer training for teachers, educational officers and school-based behavioral health specialists on sex trafficking prevention and response.

"We have the highest number of sex trafficking victims per capita in the entire nation and that ends by educating our children and preparing their educators to help the individuals who protect those kids in those classrooms," said Kapela, who represents House District 5 (Nāʻālehu, Ocean View, Captain Cook, Kealakekua and Kailua-Kona).

For more, visit the following link: TRAFFICKING PREVENTION.
January 23, 2023

Hawai'i Tax Fairness Coalition event supports higher taxes for ultra-wealthy



The Hawai'i Tax Fairness Coalition is calling on lawmakers to pass wealth taxes, and they came out in a peaceful protest Thursday at the Hawai'i State Capitol to call for tax justice.

Representative Jeanne Kapela said, "Hawai'i deserves tax justice. We know what our working families are struggling to put food on the table, to keep a roof over their heads, while some of the wealthiest among us are not paying their fair share of taxes."

Kapela added, "We're here joining along other states, six other states who are fighting for tax justice, the federal government is not going to put forward proposals that uplift working families, but yet saddle taxes on working families, then we're going to make sure we're going in at the state level."

For more, visit the following link: TAX JUSTICE.
January 19, 2023

Rep. Kapela pushes to legalize recreational cannabis in Hawai'i



A recent local government-led task force report on legalizing adult recreational cannabis use is neither for nor against making such a change in Hawai'i, but a concerted push has begun for the Legislature to do it this year.

Proponents of such legalization on Wednesday announced support for a bill to achieve the objective and also expunge past criminal records and end punishment for people charged with or convicted of offenses that wouldn’t be offenses under an amended state law.

Rep. Jeanne Kapela (D, Volcano-­Naalehu-Hawaiian Ocean View) has drafted a bill slated for introduction and aimed at permitting the legal use of cannabis by adults 21 or older beyond already regulated medical use under a system that would allow cultivation, retail sales and special taxation.

"It is time to stop making excuses," Rep. Kapela said in the rotunda of the state Capitol. “It is time to stop playing games with the lives of Hawaii’s families who have been harmed by our state’s rabid devotion to prosecuting cannabis use.”

For more, see the following link: CANNABIS LEGALIZATION.
December 5, 2022

Rep. Jeanne Kapela calls for more affordable housing for Hawai'i Island



Despite the threats of hurricanes, tsunamis, vog, earthquakes — and now another eruption from Mauna Loa — people continue to move to the more affordable areas of Hawaii island, including the Leilani Estates subdivision that was overrun by Kilauea lava in 2018. The reasons for buying vary among newcomers, retirees and working local families: the allure of living among 11 of the planet’s 13 ecosystems; the offer of cooler climates depending on the elevation on Hawaii island’s volcanic slopes (there are five); and, most importantly, more land and more house at less cost.

The risks that people are willing to take under the threat of multiple natural disasters ultimately underscore the need for more affordable housing all across Hawaii, said state Rep. Jeanne Kapela (D-5). “They’re moving to what I call crisis areas that are dangerous,” Kapela said. “We need to build truly affordable housing. The lack of access to housing only contributes to the brain drain. Your family can’t thrive when you’re just working to survive.”

For more, visit the following link: HOUSING CRISIS.
September 15, 2022

Rep. Jeanne Kapela Questions New DOE Appointments



The Hawai'i State Department of Education has a new deputy superintendent of strategy and another for operations. This comes after the Board of Education approved the two appointments during a recent BOE meeting. DOE Superintendent Keith Hayashi said the two new leaders will help strengthen the department's ability to get priorities done and mitigate negative impacts of the pandemic.

Yet, the Hawai'i State Teachers Association brings up concerns, adding this is money being funneled away from classrooms and students. Additionally, the Vice-Chair of the House Education Committee, Rep. Jeanne Kapela, is concerned about the lack of transparency of the hiring process.

"I am deeply concerned about the lack of transparency surrounding the recent deputy superintendent hirings," said Rep. Kapela. "The BOE approved the new positions without asking a single question of the nominees, which undermines public confidence in the selection process. We must make sure that the people appointed to these positions are committed to replacing test-and-punish education policies with well-rounded learning opportunities for our children."

For more information, see the following link: DOE APPOINTMENTS.
September 13, 2022

Rep. Kapela Calls for Systemic Solutions to School Bus Driver Shortage



In response to the chronic school bus driver shortage, Hawai'i public high school students are being offered free city and county bus passes to use on Oahu, Kauai and Maui under a pilot project launched Monday. On Hawai'i island, where Hele-On county buses already are free to ride, high school students are being encouraged to use them more, and to register with the new EXPRESS program so their county bus use can be counted.

The EXPRESS passes aren’t much help to rural students who would have to wait in the pre-dawn dark along roads without sidewalks, said state Rep. Jeanne Kapela (D, Naalehu-Captain Cook-Keauhou), whose Big Island district has been plagued with bus shortages. She said ultimately, more permanent solutions are needed, including better pay to attract school bus drivers for the long term.

School buses are contracted via companies such as Roberts Hawai'i School Bus and Ground Transport Inc. Some companies are reporting improved hiring through better pay and benefits, Kapela said.

School bus schedules make it hard to get a second job, so “we have to give them a living wage, along with more respect," Kapela said. “We have to understand the importance of these individuals within our education system.”

For more, visit the following link: SCHOOL BUS DRIVER SHORTAGE.
September 12, 2022

New online guide provides information on abortion access in Hawaiʻi



This month, the Hawai'i Abortion Collective released the state's first comprehensive resource providing information on abortion rights and services for patients and providers in the islands. The guide follows the U.S. Supreme Court’s June decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade and ruled that abortion is not a constitutional right.

"A majority of those seeking abortion care are young, socio-economically disadvantaged women of color,"said state Rep. Jeanne Kapela, representing District 5 on the Big Island. "Many neighbor island communities, like my home, are stricken with financial distress and are missing the essential health infrastructure available in urban Honolulu. Hopefully, this abortion guide being launched today will begin to rectify the gaps in our continuum of care for our sister Island residents in need in need of abortion services."

To access the abortion guide, visit: HAWAI'I ABORTION GUIDE.
July 26, 2022

Rep. Jeanne Kapela leads lawmakers' support for LGBTQ+ community



Following violent threats that led to the cancellation of a planned fundraising event for LGBTQ+ youth on Hawaii Island, 18 state legislators issued a statement this week to reaffirm their support for LGBTQ+ youth and their families.

The family friendly billed event was set to take place at Keauhou Shopping Center on Saturday with funds raised going to West Hawaii Children’s Justice Center, said Rep. Jeanné Kapela (D-South Kona, North Kona and Ka‘u). It was called off when organizers and participants received threats of violence, including death threats.

"Violent threats have no place on our shores, especially when they involve children. The outbursts of hate speech that caused the cancellation of this event show that we need to strengthen protections for LGBTQ+ youth and their families across Hawaii," said Kapela.

For more, visit the following link: LGBTQ+ SUPPORT.

July 21, 2022

Hawai'i lawmakers question Navy's timeline in Red Hill defueling plan



Hawaii legislators asked if the Navy could finish the job of defueling Red Hill faster than two and a half years. The Navy said it is a possibility, but supply chain issues may be a factor. The Navy plans to spend over a year on assessments, repairs, and securing the Red Hill facility for the job to come.

Rep. Jeanne Kapela warned the Navy, "You folks have talked about safety and moving at the speed of safety but the reality is that every second that we wait, and every moment that we wait to commence defueling operations, will lead and could possibly lead to another public health and environmental catastrophe."

For more, visit the following link: SHUT DOWN RED HILL.

May 4, 2022

Legislature Gives Final Approval To Minimum Wage, Mauna Kea And Teacher Pay Bills



Lawmakers took final votes on hundreds of bills Tuesday in one of the last days of a session that featured a historic, billion-dollar investment in housing and other programs for Hawaiians, and a major push to increase funding for education.

Rep. Jeanne Kapela told her colleagues that "a living wage is a human right," and said by passing the bill "we are resetting the conversation about what is possible in terms of delivering economic justice to working families, not just for our state but for the entire nation."

Public school teachers’ salaries were another major focus this year, with lawmakers earmarking $130 million in the budget for raises for about 8,700 more senior teachers to resolve an issue known as salary “compression,” and also provide additional pay for professional development.

Kapela, who represents rural Ka'u, thanked her colleagues Tuesday for supporting those initiatives to boost teacher pay this year. "The schools in my district are remote and highly impoverished," with an extremely high teacher turnover rate, she said. She blamed Hawaii’s chronic teacher shortage on low pay — public schools had a shortage of more than 1,000 qualified teachers in the 2018-2019 school year — and said the raises approved this year will go a “long way” toward addressing the problem.

For more, visit the following link: PASSED BILLS.
April 22, 2022

Fighting to Strengthen the Earned Income Tax Credit



State lawmakers and advocates for the working class on Monday urged the Hawai'i Legislature to extend a key tax credit for the poor. The Hawai'i Earned Income Tax Credit is set to expire at the end of the year. A new bill proposes to extend the credit for another six years. It also will allow Hawai'i's poorest families who don’t earn enough money to qualify for more benefits under the credit.

State Rep. Jeanne Kapela said her support for the measure comes from personal experience. "I grew up in an incredibly and extremely low income household. I know exactly what it’s like to not know where you’re next meal is going to come from," she said. "The creation of a refundable EITC might mean the difference between keeping ... children fed."

For more, see the following link: TAX CREDIT.
April 21, 2022

Supporters rally to raise minimum wage to $18



A bill that would incrementally raise the state’s minimum wage passed out of the state Senate on Tuesday.

House Bill 2510, in its current iteration, would increase the base pay in stages from the current minimum wage of $10.10 to $12 per hour in October of this year, then to $15 an hour starting January 2024 and finally $18 an hour in January 2026.

It would also reduce and eventually eliminate the “tip credit” — a practice that allows employers to use a portion of tips toward the calculation of the minimum wage.

"We know that the Legislature needs to step up and really have the political courage to ensure that we can deliver a living wage for all," Rep. Jeanne K apela said. "A living wage really means the difference between choosing whether you're going to use that $20 bill to put gas in your car or keep a roof over your head or put food on the table for your children."

For more, see the following link: MINIMUM WAGE.
March 10, 2022

Rep. Jeanne Kapela Fights for Stronger Minimum Wage Bill



Hawai'i lawmakers moved ahead with plans to dramatically increase the state minimum wage to $18 an hour after a stirring House floor debate Tuesday. Democratic Rep. Jeanne Kapela argued that the measure was too stingy. "This measure still falls short of what working families truly deserve," she said.

The last series of increases in the state minimum wage from 2014 to 2018 did not trigger any huge loss of jobs, Kapela said. In fact, the number of people employed by small businesses grew by 3 percent during those years, while the number of small businesses in Hawai'i grew by 8 percent, she said.

"When we hear people from the business community or from the restaurant industry saying that creating a living wage will lead to job losses, we know that, too, is a lie," Kapela told her House colleagues.

For more, see the following link: MINIMUM WAGE.
March 10, 2022

Proposal could give Hawai'i high school students, teachers LGBTQ-inclusive training



A bill moving through the State Legislature would provide more inclusive training for students and teachers to cull some of the stigmas around the LGBTQ community.

"When we're talking about schools being these safe spaces for students, you can't learn if you don’t feel like your teacher respects you for who you are," said Rep. Jeanne Kapela.

For more, see the following link: LGBTQ INCLUSIVITY.
February 1, 2022

Rep. Jeanne Kapela Launches Working Families Legislative Caucus



A diverse group of Hawai'i lawmakers has formed a new coalition to elevate legislative efforts aimed at improving economic conditions for much of the local working class, including households with children.

Fourteen lawmakers including the lone Republican in the state Senate have established the Working Families Caucus, which plans to sponsor five bills to bolster the finances of lower-income residents through wage, benefit and tax policy changes.

Rep. Jeanne Kapela (D, Naalehu-Captain Cook-Keauhou) led the formation of the caucus and will serve as its chairwoman. “I think it’s about time that we push for, fight for and pass legislation that will uplift Hawaii’s working families,” she said in an interview.

For more, see the following link: WORKING FAMILIES CAUCUS.
February 1, 2022

Rep. Kapela Introduces Legislation to Increase Teacher Pay



Rep. Jeanne Kapela, vice chair of the House Education Committee, also plans to introduce two bills — one addressing so-called salary compression in which teachers are not paid according to years of experience and another proposing to remove the cap on salary classes so teachers are more incentivized to seek professional development.

"We are heading into session with a billion-dollar surplus, which makes a lot of us hopeful that we can pass legislation that supports teachers and our working families," Kapela said. "We can absolutely afford to pay teachers more. We need to pay them what they’re worth."

For more, see the following link: TEACHER PAY.
February 1, 2022

Rep. Kapela Advocates for School Bus System Improvements



Hundreds of Hawai'i families are scrambling to get their children to school as a chronic school bus driver shortage worsened by the latest COVID-19 surge has led to the temporary suspension of dozens of routes, mostly on Hawaii island. State Rep. Jeanne Kapela, (D, Naalehu-Captain Cook-Keauhou), says she has received a flood of calls and emails from constituents who are frustrated by the bus interruptions.

"In a Jan. 18 House hearing with the DOE, Kapela said to interim school Superintendent Keith Hayashi, “With the (coronavirus) case counts skyrocketing basically throughout the DOE, cases being under-reported in schools, and thousands of teachers calling out sick, and kids not being able to get to the classroom … don’t you think it’s time that we maybe follow the lead of some other schools across the country and return to possible distance learning, at least until things normalize?”

For more, see the following link: BUS SHORTAGE.
October 25, 2021

Rep. Kapela Joins Lawmakers in Defending Mauna Kea Protectors



Although the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands had planned a sweep of individuals who continue to occupy the area around the Maunakea Access Road, three Hawaii lawmakers have formally asked the department chair to explore possibilities that would permit the protesters to remain on the mountain.

"If they were to do something like this, COVID or not, and even if our hospitals are full and even if we're in the very worst part of the pandemic that we’ve seen so far, people wouldn't hesitate to protect Maunakea. We would just continue to see case numbers skyrocket," Rep. Kapela said. "It's never a good time, but now is absolutely the wrong time."

For more, see: MAUNA KEA.
October 8, 2021

Rep. Kapela joins nationwide protests in support of reproductive rights



Nearly 100 West Hawai'i residents took to the streets on October 2, 2021 to join citizens across the nation rallying in support of abortion rights in Hawai'i and beyond.

"Today we are here to advance reproductive rights across our state and increase access to reproductive care, but also because there is an attack against reproductive rights in our nation right now," said one of the rally’s organizers Rep. Jeanne Kapela (D-South Kona, Ka'u and a portion of North Kona).

For more. click the following link: REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE.
July 21, 2021

Safety Must Be Prioritized As Schools Reopen



The Hawaii Department of Health is currently revising school guidance, but with two weeks until school starts, there’s still a lot of uncertainty. Meanwhile, state lawmakers are lending a helping hand in keeping classrooms safe.

"This past year, the legislature did appropriate money to the Department of Education," said Rep. Jeanne Kapela, (D) Naalehu, Ocean View, Captain Cook, and Kailua-Kona. "I'm hopeful that it's going to be used specifically for HEPA filters or bringing in more air filtration into our classrooms. Especially those that don’t have maybe windows or the possibility to have free flowing air coming into the classroom as easily as others."

For more, visit the following link: SCHOOL SAFETY.
July 6, 2021

Rep. Jeanne Kapela speaks out against Asian American discrimination



Hundreds rallied at the state Capitol and marched through Chinatown on Saturday in a show of unity against targeted attacks on Asian Americans in the U.S., most recently highlighted when a man shot and killed eight people, six of whom were women of Asian descent, at three spas in the Atlanta area earlier this month.

State Rep. Jeanne Kapela (D, Naalehu-Captain Cook-Keauhou) referred to the March 16 shooting in the Atlanta area "as another outbreak of the ongoing epidemic of mass gun violence here in our country, and it was also an act of racial terror against Asians and Asian Americans."

For more, click the following link: STOP ASIAN HATE.
July 1, 2021

Rep. Kapela fights for teacher bonuses, funding for Hawai'i’s education system



A bill that would give $2,200 bonuses to Hawai'i public school teachers is now on Gov. Ige's intent to veto list. The announcement came during the week of Monday, June 21, but one lawmaker believes it could work.

"There is a question about federal money being utilized in this bill and it has actually nothing to do with that $2,200 teacher incentive," said Rep. Jeanne Kapela. "There are whole states that have used money they’ve received through the American Rescue Plan to help give teachers an incentive or to give them a bonus of some sort."

For more, click the following link: TEACHER RETENTION INCENTIVE.
June 24, 2021

Rep. Jeanne Kapela Fights for Teacher Shortage Pay Increases



State Rep. Jeanne Kapela (D, Naalehu-Captain Cook-Keauhou), vice chairwoman of the House Education Committee, noted last week that the Legislature had left "significant holes" in the public schools' budget, including for the differentials. She urged the Board of Education to use some of the federal relief money that is targeted for learning loss to cover them.

"These differentials are critical to maintaining quality educators in my community's schools," Kapela said. "Nothing could be more critical to preventing learning loss than ensuring that our most vulnerable children are taught by highly qualified teachers." For more, click the following link: TEACHER DIFFERENTIALS.
May 14, 2021

Economic Recovery Should Focus On Working Families



Congress provided federal assistance to working families this winter through stimulus payments and tax relief provisions of the American Rescue Plan, such as the newly broadened child tax credit. The support offered by these measures is far short of what is necessary for most island residents to make ends meet, however, leaving local leaders with the duty of uplifting their economic well-being.

To help Hawai'i's workers, elected officials must act to create a living wage of at least $17/hour, pass paid sick and family leave programs, and exempt unemployment insurance payments from the state income tax. For more, visit the following link: WORKING FAMILIES.
April 29, 2021

Rep. Jeanne Kapela Calls for Board of Education to Consider Teachers in Superintendent Search



As Hawai'i's Board of Education prepares to choose a new school superintendent, the State Legislature passed a bill requiring it to prioritize candidates with at least a decade of administrative experience and a "working understanding" of local leadership processes. Rep. Jeanne Kapela expressed concerns about the measure, saying that it could prevent teachers from being considered as viable candidates.

"If we really want to uplift teachers and students, we have to make sure we have a superintendent who has served in a position of teacher," she said. By focusing mainly on departmental administrators like principals and complex area superintendents, "we are only continuing to reproduce the exact same shortcomings with the current administration," she said. For more, click the following link: TEACHERS.
April 28, 2021

Rep. Kapela Comments on Search for Hawaii DOE interim superintendent



The Board of Education has begun its search for an interim superintendent to head the Hawaii Department of Education until it appoints a permanent superintendent.

“I believe that the Board of Education should prioritize candidates from our home state in selecting a new superintendent,” Kapela said. "Ideally, the BOE should choose someone with a proven track record of classroom experience and a commitment to supporting the teachers who are tasked with crafting our keiki’s future." For more, click the following link: SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH.
March 30, 2021

Rep. Jeanne Kapela Supports Closing REITs Tax Loophole



State lawmakers have once again taken a pass at trying to abolish a tax break for real estate investment trusts operating in Hawai'i, but Rep. Jeanne Kapela is committed to continuing to work to close the tax loophole and fight for tax fairness for Hawai'i's people.

"As a strong supporter of taxing REITs, I am committed to doing all I can to move these measures forward during next year’s legislative session," Rep. Kapela said in an email. "Taxing REITs must be part of our strategy for sustaining our state’s fiscal recovery and creating an economy that advances the prosperity of all of Hawaii’s people. As we work to craft an economic recovery that uplifts working families, we need to generate revenue that puts people’s needs before corporate greed."

For more, see: KAPELA SUPPORTS CLOSING REITS LOOPHOLE.
February 22, 2021

It's Time for Hawai'i to Tax the Rich



Budgets are about allocating resources. Ultimately, our state’s fiscal choices - including decisions about raising revenue — reflect our political and socioeconomic priorities. As we craft the islands’ economic recovery, the choice is clear: Will we continue a status quo that damages our most vulnerable residents or will we finally put people before profit?

This year, I introduced an omnibus revenue generation bill to close the state’s $1.4 billion budget shortfall by increasing taxes on the wealthy. HB 3, and its Senate companion SB 56, would generate over $750 million per year to uplift our island home and uplift Hawai'i's most vulnerable residents.

For more, visit the following link: TAX THE RICH.
February 19, 2021

Hawai'i lawmakers push to legalize marijuana for personal use



With the state strapped for cash, some Hawai'i lawmakers are considering legalizing recreational marijuana. Rep. Jeanne Kapela introduced a bill that would allow people to have up to an ounce of cannabis. It would also create a process for cultivators to grow and sell marijuana which would then be taxed by the state, which could generate at least $150 million in revenue at a time when the state is in desperate need of money.

"This bill is a bill that will legalize marijuana and tax it that way we can utilize that revenue for essential services which right now in the middle of this budget shortfall are being cut. We should not be furloughing teachers, we should be generating revenue and utilizing this opportunity to allow people to do something that they've already been doing and making sure we are no longer going to disproportionately harm the working poor or Native Hawaiian," Kapela said.

For more, see the following link: CANNABIS LEGALIZATION.
January 25, 2021

Rep. Jeanne Kapela opposes crippling school budget cuts



A proposal to slice 10% from Hawaii’s public schools budget for the next two years - on top of the 6% cut already imposed this fiscal year — was approved Thursday by the Board of Education.

"As the Education Committee incoming vice chair, I believe it is my responsibility to prevent these draconian cuts from happening," said state Rep. Jeanne Kapela (D, Kailua-Kona to Naalehu). "What's before you today would create educational chaos. … I do promise to be an eager partner with you in resolving the department’s fiscal dilemma."

Link:

For more, click the following link: here.
December 22, 2020

Rep. Jeanne Kapela questions DOE officials about COVID-19 response plan



Jeanne Kapela, representative-elect whose district runs from Na'alehu to Kailua-Kona, asked if the DOE will provide extra personnel to disinfect frequently touched surfaces at schools and personnel to run isolation areas for students experiencing COVID symptoms, or if schools will have to pay for those services out of their own budgets.

"About 93, 94% or our budget is in the hands of schools," Kishimoto replied. "And so, what we are doing is providing guidance around and support around how to think about staffing, training the staff and making sure we hear from them what kind of training employee groups need to do this well. We also highly rely on part-time workers, so it's really been about re-deploying and hiring part-time staff to do different work, these days."

For more, click the following link: DOE COVID-19 RESPONSE PLAN.
2025 Committee Member of
 Measures Introduced in 2025
Measure and Title
HB85
RELATING TO THE LAND CONSERVATION FUND.
HB86
RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES.
HB87
RELATING TO SCHOOL MEALS.
HB88
RELATING TO STUDENT ATHLETES.
HB107
RELATING TO EARLY LEARNING.
HB129
RELATING TO YOUTH FEES AND FINES.
HB130
RELATING TO FEES FOR PUBLIC RECORDS UNDER CHAPTER 92F.
HB131
RELATING TO RESEARCH.
HB132
RELATING TO EXPUNGEMENT.
HB178
RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.
HB179
RELATING TO INCOME TAX.
HB180
RELATING TO GENERAL EXCISE TAX EXEMPTIONS.
HB182
RELATING TO THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT.
HB197
RELATING TO THE HAWAII SPACE COMMISSION.
HB206
RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE.