Kauaʻi state legislators to host town hall meeting

The Kauaʻi state House of Representatives delegation invites the Garden Isle community to get a preview of the upcoming 2025 session of the Hawai‘i Legislature.

Three island state lawmakers will host a town hall meeting from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Kauaʻi Philippine Cultural Center, located at 4475-F Nuhou St., in Līhuʻe.

The legislators attending are:

• House Speaker Rep. Nadine Nakamura, who represents state House District 15 (Hā‘ena, Wainiha, Hanalei, Princeville, Kīlauea, Anahola, Keālia, Kapa‘a, Kawaihau, portion of Wailua).
• House Majority Floor Leader Rep. Dee Morikawa, who represents House District 17 (Ni‘ihau, Kōloa, Po‘ipū, Lāwa‘i, Kalāheo, Ele‘ele, Hanapēpē, Kaawanui Village, Pākalā Village, Waimea, Kekaha, portion of ‘Ōma‘o).
• House Committee on Housing Chairman Rep. Luke Evslin, who represents House District 16 (Wailua, Hanamā‘ulu, Kapaia, Līhu‘e, Puhi, portion of ‘Ōma‘o).

Lawmakers will provide constituents with a legislative update and look ahead at the upcoming session.

The public is invited and encouraged to provide input for next year’s session.

Those who attend will also have the opportunity to hear from new Speaker of the House Nakamura, who assumed the role Nov. 6 and is the first woman in the state to hold the position.

Nakamura, who served as House Majority Leader for the past 2 years, replaced former Speaker Scott Saiki, who lost his bid for re-election in the August Democratic primary to Kim Coco Iwamato.

Although she received majority support from among 51 state House members in a petition to secure the speaker’s post, there will be an official vote once the 2025 legislative session begins Jan. 15.

Nakamura was first elected in 2016 to the state House of Representatives. Prior to serving as House majority leader, she was chairwoman of the House Committee on Housing.

Prior to that, she was Kauaʻi County managing director from 2013 to 2016 under former Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. She also served from 2010 to 2013 as a member of the Kauaʻi County Council.

“I’m deeply honored by the support of my House colleagues to lead the state House of Representatives. I’m committed to ensuring a smooth transition as we prepare for the 33rd Legislative Session,” Nakamura said in a statement Nov. 7, the day it was announced she would become the next House leader. “Our new leadership team is excited to step up and start working now to address the pressing needs of our state.”