Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate passed Senator Mazie K. Hirono’s bipartisan resolution celebrating the 20th anniversary of the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force, which brings together stakeholders from Hawaii and other coastal states and territories as well as twelve Federal agencies to build partnerships and support for coral reef...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono and the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii celebrated the success of over 70 participating Hawaii businesses at the Fifth Annual Taste of Hawaii on Capitol Hill this evening. More than 2,000 attendees were greeted with fresh orchid lei, and learned about an array of Hawaii businesses representing technology,...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii today welcomed more than 100 members of Hawaii’s business community to Capitol Hill for the Fifth Annual Hawaii on the Hill Policy Summit. Hawaii business leaders representing a full range of industries – from hospitality, manufacturing,...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) announced today that Community Health Centers across Hawaii will receive more than $10 million in funding from the Department of Health and Human Services to support the ongoing delivery of health care services to rural and underserved communities across the state. The health centers...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) joined members of Hawaii’s Congressional Delegation and the Hawaii State Society to honor Senator Daniel K. Akaka during the 49th Annual Kamehameha Day Lei Draping in Emancipation Hall of the U.S. Capitol. During her remarks, Senator Hirono paid tribute to Senator Akaka’s...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Representative Ted Deutch (D-FL) renewed their call for Congress to strengthen and improve the Social Security program. Earlier today, the Social Security Administration (SSA) released its annual Trustees Report, which indicated that while the program remained strong in 2017, improvements...

HONOLULU— Senator Mazie K. Hirono participated in the commemoration of operations ceremony for the Schofield Barracks multi-fuel power plant and highlighted how this facility serves as an example for future Department of Defense energy projects. Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) will operate the 50-megawatt power plant, which will serve three...

HONOLULU- Senator Mazie K. Hirono announced that the University of Hawaii will receive a $119,821 grant to study the ongoing volcanic activity on Hawaii Island. The project, RAPID: Tracking magmatic and volcanic changes in the May 2018 Kilauea Eruption, seeks to inform why the current volcanic activity is occurring and help...

HONOLULU – Senator Mazie K. Hirono, the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Seapower Subcommittee, attended the official change of command ceremony for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) today at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. The ceremony marked the formal transition from outgoing Commander Admiral Harry B. Harris to...

HONOLULU – Senator Mazie K. Hirono and Chamber of Commerce Hawaii President & CEO Sherry Menor-McNamara visited local businesses on Oahu who will participate in the Fifth Annual Hawaii on the Hill. The event, which includes the Hawaii on the Hill Policy Summit and the highly-anticipated Taste of Hawaii on Capitol Hill, will take...

HONOLULU – Senator Mazie K. Hirono joined Gold Star families, veterans, active duty military personnel, and local elected officials to pay tribute to fallen American service members on Memorial Day. Senator Hirono spoke during the Mayor’s Memorial Day Ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl and...

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Senator Mazie K. Hirono and a bipartisan group of 21 Senators introduced a resolution recognizing the importance of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and recognizing the contributions of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. “Each May, we come together to celebrate the contributions of the Asian...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono successfully included several provisions that will benefit Hawaii in the FY2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The bill, which sets policy and funding levels for the Department of Defense and the national security programs of the Department of Energy was approved by Senator...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono voted for S. 2372, the John S. McCain III, Daniel K. Akaka, and Samuel R. Johnson VA Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks (MISSION) Act today, comprehensive legislation that strengthens the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care...

HILO– Senator Mazie K. Hirono visited with Hawaii Island residents who have been displaced by volcanic activity in lower Puna. Senator Hirono received a briefing at Emergency Operations Center in Hilo from Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim, the Hawaii Volcanoes Observatory, the Hawaii National Guard, Hawaii County Civil Defense, Federal Aviation...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Mazie K. Hirono, Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) secured the passage of S. 346, the National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System Act. This legislation improves the nation’s volcano monitoring and early warning capabilities to help keep communities and travelers...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ahead of the successful Senate vote to restore net neutrality rules, Senator Mazie K. Hirono emphasized the importance of a free and open internet to local media. Senator Hirono highlighted how the Trump administration’s plan to undermine net neutrality protections could make it more difficult and expensive for...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono pledged to work with Small Business Administration Administrator Linda McMahon to assist Hawaii small business owners affected by recent natural disasters. Administrator McMahon also committed to visiting Hawaii. Senator Hirono urged her to meet with business-owners impacted by natural disasters on...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement on the President’s approval of a federal disaster declaration to bolster the response to volcanic activity on Hawaii Island.  “Federal, state, and county governments are coordinating and working together to ensure the safety of Hawaii Island...

WASHINGTON – Today, Hawai‘i’s Congressional Delegation urged President Donald Trump to act swiftly on Governor David Ige’s request for a presidential disaster declaration for areas on Hawai‘i Island impacted by the ongoing Kilauea Volcano eruptions. The declaration will help ensure that the affected communities can...