Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono applauded the reestablishment of Japan Airlines’ direct service from Narita International Airport in Tokyo to Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport following a seven year hiatus. Renewed service from Tokyo to Kona, which began today, will further strengthen Hawaii Island’s visitor...

Washington, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) announced today that Hawaii organizations will receive more than $500,000 in Native Hawaiian Library Services grant funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to enhance access to Native Hawaiian language and cultural resources. “By increasing access to Native...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) introduced legislation to expand access to affordable child care for Hawaii families. “For many of Hawaii’s working parents, child care has become unaffordable —exceeding other household costs and expenses and eating into their hard-earned income,”...

WASHINGTON, D.C.-  Senator Mazie K. Hirono and Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard announced that Congress will honor Filipino World War II veterans with its highest civilian honor, the Congressional Gold Medal, at a ceremony in the U.S. Capitol on October 25. The ceremony is a result of Senator Hirono and Congresswoman Gabbard’s bill to honor...

Washington, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) today announced that the University of Hawaii's Pacific Island Ocean Observing System (PacIOOS) will receive over $2.8 million in National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) funding to develop and enhance forecasting and modeling tools that promote resiliency and sustainability...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) introduced legislation to help provide support for survivors of sexual assault on college campuses. The Survivor Outreach and Support on Campus Act (S.O.S. Campus Act) would require colleges and universities to ensure that an independent advocate is...

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Senator Mazie K. Hirono pressed Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer and Chief of Naval Operations Admiral John Richardson for answers on recent collisions involving Navy ships in the Seventh Fleet. In 2017, four Navy ships were involved in incidents, including two major collisions, resulting in the tragic loss of life of...

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) released the following statement announcing her support for Senator Bernie Sanders’ (I-Vt.) Medicare for All bill: “We are all one diagnosis away from a major illness. When that time comes, no one should have to worry about whether they can afford the care that might save their...

Approximately 143 Million Americans’ Identities Released in Equifax Data Breach Current Equifax Agreements Limit Consumer Ability to Pursue Class Action Lawsuits WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono, Al Franken (D-Minn.), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) called on Equifax—the credit bureau that recently made public a...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono reaffirmed Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford’s commitment to protecting Hawaii from the North Korea threat, and continuing strong support for Hawaii’s military resources ahead of his confirmation hearing. General Dunford also provided an update on his recent...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono is one of 46 “women who are changing the world” featured in TIME Magazine’s FIRSTS series. The project is available online, as a book, and will also be featured in the September 18, 2017 issue of TIME, available on newsstands today. From Senator Hirono’s feature: “Women are...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) today announced that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has launched a Global Entry pilot program with Japan. The pilot program allows up to 1,500 Japanese citizens as determined by the Government of Japan and CBP, who have received a promotional code to apply for Global Entry. The Global...

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement on the Trump administration’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program: “After months of empty rhetoric to the contrary, the President took the cruel and unnecessary step to eliminate DACA – exposing more than 800,000 young...

HONOLULU –Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, released the following statement on William Bradford’s resignation as Director of the Department of Energy’s Office of Indian Energy after media reports exposed bigoted and misogynistic comments Bradford made online: “I...

HONOLULU –Senator Mazie K. Hirono, Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin, and Clare Hanusz from the Hawaii Coalition for Civil Rights today spoke out on the importance of protecting Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients as the President threatens to take action that could end the program. Ten Republican state attorneys...

HILO – Senator Mazie K. Hirono today met with Bay Clinic staff to discuss how the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has impacted Hawaii Island community health centers (CHCs) and the patients they serve through the ACA’s expansion of federal funding for CHCs and Medicaid.  “The ACA’s Medicaid expansion has covered more...

HONOLULU –Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement on the Hawaii State Legislature’s announcement of a bill to fund the Honolulu rail project: “Today’s announcement is critical for the completion of the rail project, and I appreciate what has been a difficult decision for the State Legislature. As a...

HONOLULU - Senator Mazie K. Hirono today announced that University of Hawaii Maui College (UHMC) will receive $999,239 to improve diversity in computer science education for secondary schools in Hawaii. “Supporting a strong, diverse computer science education for our youth is critical to ensuring that Hawaii’s students have the tools...

HONOLULU – Senator Mazie K. Hirono today highlighted the importance of federal partnerships and investments in minority-owned small businesses at the third annual Native Hawaiian Organizations Association (NHOA) Business Summit Conference. “Small businesses have a unique perspective on not only growing their business, but growing...

HONOLULU - Senator Mazie K. Hirono today announced that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has awarded $646,886 in grant funding to restore the Kawaihae watershed in West Hawaii. Kawaihae is considered to be one of the state’s most degraded watersheds.   “Protecting and restoring our forested watersheds is...