As Your Senator, I Have Focused On…

Celebrating Our Schools By:
  • Showcasing the artwork of our district’s public and private schools and emphasizing the importance of educating the whole child through the integration and appreciation of the arts. Our Senator Tokuda’s Art Review Program, our STAR, has displayed over 700 pieces of art in the State Capitol since 2007.
  • Including an entire section dedicated to focusing on positive things happening at each school and ways that the community can be involved in helping our schools, as part of our Year in Review Legislative Newsletter.
  • Recognizing Windward school leaders on the floor of the Hawaii State Senate for their outstanding accomplishments and local and national recognitions.


Opening the Door for Future Leaders By:

  • Creating my “A Capital Experience” (ACE) Paid Internship Program, providing at least one Windward High School student with an opportunity to learn and work in my office during the legislative session.
  • Providing in-office volunteer internship opportunities for Windward youth, ranging from middle school to college students.

  • Serving as a mentor for high school students completing their Senior Projects in order to obtain the Board of Education Recognition Diploma.

  • Regularly teaching sessions on Legislative Advocacy to high school students involved in the State Leadership Workshop and assisting with the Hawaii State Secondary Student Conference.


Keeping on the Pulse of the Community By:

  • Holding bi-annual Legislative Town Hall Meetings with fellow Windward Legislators to discuss legislative priorities and outcomes and answer questions and concerns raised when walking door-to-door during the interim to connect with constituents, listen to their
    concerns, and assist them with any problems they may have.

  • Regularly convening community discussions on the restoration and rehabilitation of Kawainui Marsh.

  • Attending monthly Neighborhood Board meetings in Kaneohe and Kailua.

 

Serving Through Service By:

  • Volunteering at numerous school and community events each month, from spaghetti dinners to clean up projects to homecoming games and school reading programs.

  • Helping to co-sponsor community events, such as the Aloha Aina Day Fundraisers for various Windward groups (KEY Project, Castle HS, Koolaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club), the Kapunahala Health Fair, and the Ulupo Heiau Youth Work Day.

  • Helping schools and organizations get the word out about fundraisers and events by sending out information via Twitter and Facebook.

 


Reading to Kids @ Kapunahala
Waving at CTAP in Kailua
  
Volunteering at the Kaneohe Kiwanis Mother’s Day Pancake Breakfast
  
Volunteering for the Hawaii Food Bank at Windward City Shopping Center with the Carpenters Union
  
With Representative Chong at Annual Pre-Legislative Session Town Hall