Hawaii elected officials as well as community leaders representing over 100,000 residents of the state have formed a coalition that is urging the U.S. Senate to pass a comprehensive climate and clean energy bill this year. Read Article

Asian Americans and Hawaii residents sound off after a civil unions bill passed in the state House moves to Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle’s office for her signature. Read Article

A majority of State Senators signed a letter that was delivered to Governor Linda Lingle today urging her to review and accept the final Environmental Impact Statement for the Honolulu Rail Transit Project in a timely manner once the document is released by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Read Article

Sixty eight years ago, four Marines gave their lives and were among the first American casualties of World War II. They witnessed the advance of Japanese bombers moments before the attack on Pearl Harbor. They struggled to save burning aircraft and fired at the enemy whenever the opportunity presented itself. Read Article

Sopogy president Darren Kimura and Gov. Linda Lingle flipped the switch to usher in a new era of solar power technology Thursday morning at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii. Read Article

Hawaii State Senator Mike Gabbard (D-19) was formally disciplined by his fellow state Democrats for opposing H.B. 444, a bill which extends the same rights, benefits, protections, and responsibilities of marriage to partners in a civil union. Read Article

(BASED ON PRESS RELEASE) — Senator Mike Gabbard, Senator J. Kalani English, and Rep. Hermina Morita of Hawaii received the 2009 University of Hawaii Stars of Oceania award at the Waikiki Sheraton in Honolulu on April 9.

This award is given to traditional leaders from Melanesia, Polynesia, and Micronesia who are elected public officials/community leaders and “advocate, practice, and lead in ways that demonstrate aloha, responsibility, and caring for the health, beauty and welfare of the Pacific Ocean and planet earth.”

Gabbard said, “I was humbled to receive this honor. A big mahalo to Dr. Tusi Avegalio and his staff at UH’s Pacific Business Center Program for the recognition and for doing such great work for Pacific Islanders.” ...Read Article

The Pacific Educational Conference in American Samoa officially opened Monday with Hawaii senator Mike Gabbard signaling the start of the four-day convention.

Cohosted this year by the American Samoa Department of Education, American Samoa Community College, and Pacific Resources for Education and Learning, the conference takes place from July 14 to 17.

One highlight will be the honoring Teachers of the Year from Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, American Samoa, Palau, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, the Marshall Islands and Hawaii.

Andrew Golden, a science teacher at the Saipan Southern High School has been named Teacher of the Year for the CNM. Golden has been teaching for five years and currently handles physics and chemistry classes in grades 10-12. (Saipan Tribune)

American Samoa educator turned politician Mike Gabbard has officially opened the largest gathering of Pacific Educators in Pago Pago.

The Hawaii based senator told teachers attending the conference that they have the expertise to make learning more relevant, exciting and fulfilling for Pacific children.

And he says he’s confident the four day conference will be a huge success because of the calibre of delegates.

“What I find truly impressive is the incredible amount of expertise that’s assembled at this conference, as I flip through the listings of workshops, presentations and seminars being offered this week I was amazed at the breadth of subject areas that are being covered.16”

Hawaii's Sen. Mike Gabbard addresses 25th Pacific Educational Conference
by Fili Sagapolutele
Samoa News Correspondent

The 25th Pacific Educational Conference opened yesterday at Tafuna High School with keynote speaker Hawaii state Sen. Mike Gabbard offering two models for each Pacific education nation to consider in order to help improve education for the Pacific Islands. ...Read Article

by Fili Sagapolutele
Samoa News Correspondent

Hawaii state Sen. Mike Gabbard, a son of American Samoa, is the keynote speaker at today's opening of the four-day Pacific Education Conference, which is considered one of the largest educational conferences in the western Pacific, and a major source of professional development opportunities for educators. . Read Article