US Rep. Jill Tokuda meets with Kauaʻi residents to address local, national concerns

U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda visited Līhuʻe on Saturday to meet with residents and hear their questions and concerns about a variety of issues, including Immigration & Customs Enforcement operations, rising costs for farmers and accountability in Washington.

Among the many questions raised were whether the rumored Amazon warehouse next to the Līhuʻe Airport would be used as an ICE detention center; whether she supports the Israel actions and civilian casualties of Palestinians in Gaza, and what her stance is on federalizing elections.

“People are frustrated and scared,” Tokuda said.

More than 80 people attended the two-hour town hall at Elsie H. Wilcox Elementary School, part of a Tokuda’s series of in-person discussions aimed at strengthening local engagement.

“I’m very happy with those who came out, and I’m so grateful that they spent their rainy Saturday morning with us,” she said. “They want to know how individuals in government like myself are pushing back and fighting.”

Tokuda said it is important for residents to be heard.

“That’s why I really make a point that we do these in person town halls, listening sessions as often as I can,” she said.

Līhuʻe resident Tsige G., said she is concerned that President Trump is going to federalize the mid-term elections this year — an idea he has mentioned at least twice to reporters.

Tokuda said everyone in Congress should be made to go on the record, regardless of party, that it is against the U.S. Constitution to federalize elections.

“The federal government has no business in state and county elections,” she said. “I’d like a bill to actually force people to sign on or to vote.”

Tsige G. also said she is “terrified” that Trump is going to post ICE agents at election sites, another idea the president has floated.

“This country has got good principles,” Tsige G. said. “Freedom to speak your mind, freedom to protest in peace, and freedom for happiness to live my life as I want to live. Let’s not change that.”

She encourages community members to register and vote.

Tokuda cleared frustrations and said she doubted the rumored Amazon warehouse or any warehouse in the state would be used as a ICE detention.

“I don’t think that would be the case in Hawaiʻi,” she said, adding that she and her team have visited the Federal Detention Center in Honolulu four times.

Līhuʻe resident Jas Ikeda participated in the 2025 “Global Freedom Flotilla,” an international civilian maritime mission aimed at breaking Israel’s naval blockade, delivering humanitarian food and medicine to Palestinians, and raising awareness about the Gaza humanitarian crisis.

Ikeda said she “didn’t feel heard” by Tokuda.

“My ask was to stop funding the genocide and her stance on colonization,” Ikeda said. “I mentioned specific bills that are on the table; they were state bills, so she had no remarks on them, but she said that she’d get back to me.

“We could have and need to talk about these root issues, and she chose not to. She says she’s against genocide. If she is against genocide, then supposedly she’s against funding it. If she’s against genocide, then supposedly, she’s against the military and colonization as they are all intersecting. And I would like to hear a statement from her saying so.”

But Ikeda added she was thankful Tokuda came to listen to the people.

“With that, I’ll add Hawaiʻi is still illegally occupied and has been since 1893, and we need to collectively work towards our Nation’s sovereignty.”

Tokuda later met with several local farmers to summarize the Farm and Family Relief Act, a bill she reintroduced in December to provide fair SNAP benefits for Hawai’i’s rural households.

The bill delivers support “to hungry American families who could see their SNAP food assistance disappear because of Republican unfunded mandates imposed on states through the so-called Big Beautiful Bill.”

The bill would deliver supplemental economic assistance to family farmers struggling with high input costs and market losses caused by Trump’s tariffs and trade wars.

“I hope I answered all of the questions and concerns,” said Tokuda.

The representative added that any chance to travel to the outer islands and connect with the community is very meaningful to her and her team, and encouraged the community to continue to reach out with their concerns.

Residents who wish to send their questions and concerns to the representative can do so by clicking here.