Name: Gerald Michael (Mike) Gabbard

Date of birth: January 15, 1948

Place of birth: Fagatogo, American Samoa

Parents:
Was the fourth of seven children born to Benjamin Harrison Gabbard, Jr. and Agnes Yandall Gabbard, who also adopted a daughter

Current Residence: Kapolei, Oahu

Party Affiliation: Democrat

Religion: Catholic. St. Jude Catholic Church in Makakilo, serves as a lector

Ethnicity: Polynesian (Samoan) / Caucasian

• Married to former Board of Education Member Carol Gabbard for 41 years
• Five children (Bhakti 39, Jai 36, Ryan 34, Tulsi 29 (former State Representative for District #42), Vrindavan 26)
• Six grandchildren

Political Office:

• Honolulu City Council (2003-2005)
• Hawaii State Senate (2006-present)

  Senate Committees:
  
  ENE - Energy and Environment (Chair)
  TIA - Transportation and International Affairs (Vice-Chair)
  SHF - Joint Task Force to Conduct a Review of the State Highway Fund
  JGO- Judiciary and Government Operations
  PSM - Public Safety and Military Affairs

Awards:

• First Senator of Samoan Ancestry in the Senate of the State of Hawaii Legislature Award - Samoan Heritage Week (2009)
• Legislators Who Made a Difference - Sierra Club, Hawaii Chapter (2009)
• Lifetime Achievement Award - Knights of Columbus (2009)
• Stars of Oceania Award - University of Hawaii Pacific Business Center (2009)
• Compassionate Legislator Award - People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (2008)
• Shining World Leadership Award (2008) - given to Mike and 6 other Senators who sponsored a resolution requesting that the Department of Education offer nutritious vegetarian options for school lunches in public schools in Hawai'i.

Public Service:

• Legislative advocate (volunteer)
• Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative – Steering Committee (2010-Present)
• Hawaii Invasive Species Council (2010-Present)
• Civil Air Patrol - Legislative Squadron (2009-Present)
• Hawaii Energy Policy Forum (2008-Present)
• Ignition Interlock Implementation Task Force (2008-2009)
• Access to Justice Commission (2008-Present)
• Hawaii 2050 Sustainability Task Force (2007-2008)
• Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization (OMPO) - Policy Committee (2003)
• Ewa Transportation Coalition - Chair (2003-2005)

• Student, Mother of Good Counsel Seminary, Warrenton, MO (1961-1962)
• High School Grad, Choctawhatchee H.S. Fort Walton Beach, FL (1965)
• Bachelor of Arts degree in English, California State University, Sonoma (1971)
• Masters of Education degree in Adult Education with emphasis on community college administration, Oregon State University (1980)

Professional:

Teacher/Educator/Coach

• Counselor at drug rehab program through Sonoma State (9/70 to 12/70)
• Intern at emergency psychiatric ward, Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital (1970)
• Faga’itua High School—taught English and Language Arts to sophomores and juniors (1/71 to 6/72)
• Samoana High School— Program director/instructor in Pilot Project with 60 “problem” seniors (8/72 to 6/73)
• American Samoa Community College (ASCC)— Psychology and English teacher (8/73 to 6/74)
• American Samoa Community College Guidance Counselor (8/74 to 9/76)
• American Samoa Community College Assistant Dean of Instruction (9/76 to 8/77)
• American Samoa Community College Dean of Adult and Continuing Education, State Director of Adult Basic Education (6/80 to 6/83)
• Ponomauloa School, Wahiawa— Headmaster/teacher (7/83 to 6/87)
• Home schooling (1/78 to 6/80, 8/87 to 1/88, 1/91 to 6/95)
• Created and directed free junior development tennis program in American Samoa (1976 to 1983)
• Head Instructor Tennis— Kuilima Hyatt Resort, North Shore, Oahu (1977)
• Volunteer— teaching school children the importance of protecting Hawaii’s watershed, our aina, and improving individual and community health (Activities of Healthy Hawaii Coalition which Mike founded) (2001 to present)
• Substitute Teacher— DOE Certified in public and private schools in West Oahu (2005 to present)

 

Small business

• Owned and operated Mike’s Sport Shop (1974 to 1978)
• Owned and operated The Natural Deli, a natural foods restaurant (1988 to 1992)
• Family business, MC Services – distribute air and water purifying systems, nutritional supplements, and do family counseling (1994 to present)
• Owner and operator of a small confection manufacturing and distribution company, Hawaiian Toffee Treasures (1998 to present)
• Owned Infotech Communications, LLC (June 2002 to April 2004)

Other

• Mailman
• National Park employee
• Competed professionally in tennis
• Hotel bellman
• Entertainer/Musician

• Founder, Aloha Parenting Project
• Founder, Alliance for Traditional Marriage and Values
• Founder, Stand up for America
• Founder, Healthy Hawaii Coalition
• Member, Kapolei City Lions Club
• Member, Filipino Chamber of Commerce
• Member, Kapolei Chamber of Commerce
• Member, St. Jude Catholic Church, Makakilo
• Member, Knights of Columbus
• Member, Navy League of the United States