Always gratifying when we’re able to help our constituents with their own individual concerns, this one with cutting thru red tape at Social Security. For more on our constituent services: https://t.co/SKyQcOklCH. https://t.co/qNSmgKNJvi

Another mixed result in Appropriations this week with our fifth of twelve annual federal funding measures, this for important Commerce-Justice-Science efforts. A bunch of my requests for Hawai’i were included, like all ten of my CPFs (Community Project Funding for worthy individual district projects). But I had to vote against the overall measure in committee because it would do so much damage to key national small business, conservation, violence prevention, science and other programs. More: https://t.co/uf9x2OplJb

Packed week of DC visitors discussing important issues including: American Assn of People with Disabilities/Hawai’i; American Foundation for Suicide Prevention/Hawai’i; American Hotel & Lodging Assn/Hawai’i Hotel Alliance; U.S. Army War College; Dr. Naoto Ueno/UH Cancer Center; Asian Real Estate Assn of America/Hawai’i; Pearl Harbor National Memorial/Pacific Historic Parks; and Minister Ken Ono/Embassy of Japan.

It may be crunch week in Appropriations, but I’m still in a ‘Bows glow zone. Here’s my video message from the Capitol to the team and fans at last nite’s homecoming rally. And I just introduced, with Rep. Tokuda, a resolution in the House ( Sens. Schatz and Hirono introduced it in the Senate), expressing Congress’ congratulations as well. Go ‘Bows, Go Hawai’i! https://t.co/NQvYQytbdM

Before returning to Capitol Hill for an intense few weeks in my Appropriations Committee, I was really honored to join Hanahau’oli School to discuss the importance of protecting our Hawaii’s ‘aina and especially our unique and often critically endangered plants and animals. I was with entomologist Dr. Dan Rubinoff of UH-Manoa who led a team discovering a carnivorous caterpillar living only in a small part of Hawai’i and previously unknown to science, the “Bone Collector”. The Hanahau’oli students wove a whole study of our endemic and endangered wildlife around this rare native caterpillar and our collective kuleana for its survival.

Hawai’i in the House! Redeyed back to Capitol Hill in time to watch the ‘Bows take it all from my office. Hawai'i Proud! https://t.co/jcrgtNRhzJ

A packed week home included a very moving memorial service at the State Capitol for U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, coordinating with some of my partners in opposition to deep sea mining including my former State House colleague Sol Kaho’ohalahala, speaking on foreign policy with our Consular Corps Hawai’i (representing other countries here and founded in 1824 (!))… (1/2)

https://t.co/Bau0HOraJ9

The awards ceremony for my 2026 Congressional Art Competition, kindly hosted again by Bishop Museum, demonstrated anew the incredible talent of my district’s high school students. Special congrats to my first place winner, Atona Chan of Kalani High School, for her beautiful painting, “As The Land Breathes”; her work will be displayed in the US Capitol for a year along with her fellow winners’ art from other congressional districts across the country. More: https://t.co/0bawIvRlwR

On this National Small Business Week, when we mahalo our nation’s small business core including our Hawaii’s some 144,000, I visited Butch Galdeira of Diamond Bakery in Kapalama Kai and Kamuela Potter of Inspired Closets in Kaka’ako and their great team to personally present them with Certificates of Special Congressional Recognition for their awards from the U.S. Small Business Administration-Hawai’i, Diamond Bakery as Honolulu 2026 Small Business of the Year and Inspired Closets as State 2026 Women-Owned Business of the Year. Congrats and many thanks to you and your fellow Hawai’i awardees and all of our small businesses!