Community Leaders Call for Use of Sirens During Wildfires
Sirens were never activated on Maui during the wildfires because they’re not meant to be used for that type of emergency. That’s the official word from the state and county. Experts and community leaders say it’s time to change that strategy. The state and Maui County say emergency sirens are normally used for hurricanes and tsunamis. But some people say wildfires have become a regular threat, so we should use whatever resources are available to warn residents about them. “During the … Continue Reading
August 14, 2023
Hawaii Rep. Jill Tokuda on Relief Needed for Maui Fire Destruction
NPR's Juana Summers speaks with Jill Tokuda, who represents Hawaii in the U.S. House of Representatives about the search and rescue efforts continue in Maui after wildfires. JUANA SUMMERS, HOST: Search and rescue efforts continue on Maui after wildfires devastated much of the island last week. The fires have been largely contained, but the death toll is expected to rise in the coming days. And the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, estimates that it will cost more than $5 … Continue Reading
August 12, 2023
“We underestimated the lethality, the quickness of fire,” Hawaii Congresswoman Jill Tokuda says
Speaking with CNN’s Amara Walker on CNN This Morning on Saturday, Rep. Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii) said the state “underestimated the lethality, the quickness of fire,” and failed to plan for redundancies in its emergency alert system. Tokuda said these days, emergency alerts are received on cell phones, but that there was no cell phone coverage in the area at the time. “It's not like hurricane force winds are unknown to Hawaii, or dry brush, or red flag conditions. We saw this before in … Continue Reading
August 11, 2023
Off The News: Recalculating SNAP for rural Hawaii
Although many rural Hawaii residents receiving federal food assistance face higher prices than those in urban Honolulu, current U.S. law on the Supplemental Nutrition Program (SNAP) program, once known as “food stamps,” bases its grants to Hawaii recipients on Honolulu’s food costs. Hawaii’s U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda’s Feeding Rural Families Act would amend SNAP formulas to take regional disparities into account. There is precedent: SNAP funding for Alaska, unlike Hawaii, factors in these … Continue Reading
August 10, 2023
Hawaii Will Still Be Recovering from 2023 Wildfires For ‘Generations,’ Rep. Tokuda Says
August 09, 2023
‘We Fear The Worst’: Hawaii Congresswoman Offers Dire Assessment As Images Show Extent of Devastation From Wildfires
CNN’s Brianna Keilar interviewed Democratic Congresswoman Jill Tokuda of Hawaii on Wednesday to discuss the wildfires ravaging the state as an offshore hurricane kicked up winds. Tokuda “represents actually most of the Hawaiian islands, including Maui, and in particular this where we’re seeing all of these pictures come into,” Keilar began. “Congresswoman, I’m so sorry for what your constituents are dealing with. This looks horrific. What is the very latest that you can tell us?” she … Continue Reading
August 09, 2023
Tokuda proposes more help for low-income families to buy healthy food
U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda introduced legislation to shore up the federal Supplemental Nutrition Program — or SNAP — to help more than 37,000 low-income families in Hawaii afford healthful and nutritious food. Tokuda’s Feeding Rural Families Act of 2023 would adjust the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Thrifty Food Plan — Alaska and Hawaii, which Tokuda said in a news release Tuesday is “based on food cost data from Honolulu and (does) not account for the higher cost of food for those living on … Continue Reading
August 03, 2023
Tokuda visits Hilo, talks story with curious residents
What began as an event to help East Hawaii residents file federal paperwork became an impromptu town hall with a U.S. congresswoman Wednesday. Rep. Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii) visited the Hilo Public Library to hold her first “Tokuda in Your Town” event, which was intended to help her constituents navigate the federal bureaucracy — attendees could receive direct one-on-one assistance with filing for Social Security benefits, veteran’s benefits and more. But while several attendees did bring … Continue Reading
August 03, 2023
Congressional Delegation Reacts to Latest Trump Indictment
Hawaii’s Congressional delegation reacted to Tuesday’s news of a third indictment of former President Donald Trump with a mix of historical reflection, moral resolution and a dash of told-you-so. (tee’s note: this subheading sounds really weird to me, which is why I am flagging) In a statement released shortly after the announcement that a federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., had indicted Trump on charges related to his alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential … Continue Reading
August 02, 2023
U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda hosts “Tokuda In Your Town”
Beginning Wednesday, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda, will begin her community outreach tour, "Tokuda in Your Town". Making its first stop in Hilo, and spanning locations throughout Congressional District Two, the event will serve as an opportunity for Representative Tokuda way of getting into the community and act as a bridge between government and it's constituents. Now unlike a typical town hall, the "Tokuda in Your Town" events will be solely focused on helping community members … Continue Reading
July 29, 2023
Tokuda Speaks Up for Rural Health Reform
WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda took to the House floor on Wednesday to raise the alarm about rural health care and introduce the new Congressional Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus, which she relaunched last month and for which she now serves as co-chair. “As the representative of one of the most rural and remote districts in the country, I have seen and heard firsthand the devastating consequences of inadequate access to care,” Tokuda told her House colleagues. “On every island in Hawaii, … Continue Reading
July 28, 2023
Representative Jill Tokuda Announces “Tokuda in Your Town Events”
KPUA Radio On Wednesday, August 2, Representative Jill Tokuda will be in Hilo for the first installment “Tokuda in Your Town.” The event, which will help constituents navigate the federal government and its agencies, will be held at the Hilo Public Library from 12:00pm-3:00pm. “Navigating the federal government and its agencies can be difficult and time consuming. As your U.S. Representative, I am committed to making sure that you have an advocate on your side and that you can access … Continue Reading
July 26, 2023
Rep. Jill Tokuda Shares Behind-the-Scenes Of Living In D.C.
Making good on a decades-long promise. That's what U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda has done for her younger self after moving to D.C. from Hawaii with her family. KITV4's Rick Quan was able to visit her office and see how she's making the adjustment to living in Washington D.C. When Tokuda was at Castle High School, her first trip to the mainland was to Washington DC. While walking through the Capitol she remembers putting her hand on a desk and whispering that she would be back one … Continue Reading
July 24, 2023
Hawaii Lawmakers Ask for $4 Million Bill to Study Red Hill Effects
KPVI News Hawaii's legislative delegation is asking for $4 million to study the effects of the fuel leakage at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility. Thousands were sickened, and some were forced from their homes in November 2021 when fuel leaked from the facility into the water system. A separate incident happened a year later when more than 1,100 gallons of aqueous film-forming foam were released in a separate incident a year later. U.S. Sens. Brian Schatz and Mazie K. Hirono, and … Continue Reading
July 14, 2023
Fate of Defense Bill Falters After Republican Wedges On Social Issues
Press News Agency The fate of the annual defense bill was in doubt Friday, after Republicans loaded the legislation with a series of conservative social policy restrictions limiting access to abortions, gender transition procedures and diversity training for the military personnel, alienating Democrats whose votes Republican leaders had seen as critical to passing the law. Democrats vowed to oppose the bill in a vote scheduled for Friday morning, accusing Republican leaders of turning … Continue Reading
July 13, 2023
House Narrowly Passes Divisive Pentagon Policy Bill
The Washington Post Congress’s decades-long streak of bipartisan support for its annual defense policy and spending plan collapsed Friday, after House Republicans rammed through the most conservative National Defense Authorization Act in decades — restricting military personnel’s access to reproductive care and diversity protections, and imperiling lawmakers’ mandate to set major national security priorities. The NDAA, which sets Pentagon policy and spending limits for the year ahead, … Continue Reading
July 10, 2023
Biden Officials Had To Charter A Plane So They Wouldn’t Get Stuck On Molokai
Civil Beat As Biden administration officials descended on Honolulu last week to discuss efforts to advance equity, justice and opportunity for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, a small cohort of the president’s aides, led by Rep. Jill Tokuda, chartered a plane to Molokai to assess the island’s shaky health care infrastructure. The chartered flight on Mokulele Airlines ensured that the federal officials wouldn’t be left stranded overnight on the remote island by … Continue Reading
July 06, 2023
Native Hawaiians Discuss Housing Challenges with U.S. HUD Secretary
Big Island Now At the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands in Kapolei on Oʻahu, government officials convened earlier this week to engage with Native Hawaiian beneficiaries and individuals who have received U.S. Housing and Urban Development counseling and services. The visit served as an opportunity for HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge, U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda and HUD Regional Administrator Jason Pu to listen to the struggles, successes and valuable feedback shared by the … Continue Reading
July 04, 2023
HUD Secretary Touts Federal Investments During Hawai’i Visit
Hawaii Public Radio The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is investing $3.1 billion in the continuum of care programs. Whether or not some of that money can go to Hawaiʻi is yet to be determined. The money will be part of competitive grants allocated throughout the country. HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge, announced the investment during her trip to Hawaiʻi this week. "We are hopeful that Hawaiʻi and the locals here will apply for those resources because what we know is … Continue Reading