Keohokalole will be a champion for educators, students, working families
Posted: October 17, 2025
The Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association on Friday announced its strong recommendation of State Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole in the race to represent Hawaiʻi’s first congressional district in Congress.
During a news conference at the State Capitol rotunda Friday, HSTA President Osa Tui, Jr. said, “For far too long, we’ve needed someone in this seat who understands the true struggles of our people; someone who would wholeheartedly champion Hawai‘i’s shared working-class values.
“For far too long, we’ve needed a fighter in this seat who is willing to stand strong against an authoritarian regime intent on weakening, and even destroying, our democracy,” Tui said.
“We are so lucky to now have someone who is willing to step up and represent Hawaiʻi with dignity and respect, someone who has been and will continue to be a role model for our keiki, and someone who will tirelessly fight to preserve our fragile democracy!” he said.
“Jarrett has dedicated his life to public service, just like our educators do each and every day. Together, we work to do our parts to make Hawaiʻi’s future brighter,” Tui added.
Keohokalole said, “Our schools are the heart of our local neighborhoods. I’m grateful to the Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association for their support, and I pledge to be a champion in Congress for educators, students, and working families.”
“With rising costs and new challenges facing our schools, now is the time for action. I’ll be working to deliver results so our educators feel supported and are provided the resources to ensure every child in Hawai‘i gets the quality education they deserve,” Keohokalole added.
Keohokalole was born and raised on Oʻahu, the son of working parents who were union members — his father a construction worker and his mom a nurse. A descendant of Native Hawaiian ‘ohana across Hawai’i, his family instilled in him the values of service, hard work, and kuleana to community.
HSTA teacher lobbyist: Ed Case voted for an anti-democratic measure
Sarah “Mili” Milianta-Laffin, a teacher at ʻIlima Intermediate and HSTA teacher lobbyist, spoke Friday about one of the reasons why the HSTA is backing Keohokalole instead of incumbent U.S. Rep. Ed Case in the congressional race.
“I’m alarmed that his opponent Ed Case was one of four Democrats who voted in strong support of an anti-democratic measure called the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. The SAVE Act would create unnecessary barriers to voter registration that would disenfranchise millions of eligible U.S. citizens – like me,” Milianta-Laffin said.
“See, I hyphenated my name when I got married, so my birth certificate does not match my legal name on my state ID. An estimated 69 million women in this country are in my same position and may not have a birth certificate with their current name,” she added.
“And apparently, Ed doesn’t think we should vote? Or thinks that women should have a harder time voting than our male counterparts? That’s unacceptable. Women fought too hard for the right to vote, to see it infringed upon,” she said.
“The SAVE Act would hurt younger and elderly voters, and people of color, as well as military members who move frequently and would need to re-register in-person to vote,” Milianta-Laffin said.
Keohokalole is an established champion for tackling Hawaiʻi’s tough issues
Since 2014, first in the State House and now in the State Senate, Keohokalole has built a reputation for tackling tough issues with persistence and care. He has championed legislation to make the government more transparent, expand affordable healthcare, and address Hawaiʻi’s housing crisis through long-term, sustainable solutions. When rising condo insurance premiums threatened thousands of families and kūpuna, he brought together a bipartisan coalition and passed legislation that stabilized the market through his role as the Chair of the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection. He has also helped secure funding for Native Hawaiian programs and advanced policies to protect Hawaiʻi’s environment and natural resources.
Keohokalole attended public schools in Kāneʻohe before graduating from Saint Louis School. He went on to earn his undergraduate degree at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and his J.D. from the William S. Richardson School of Law.
Keohokalole and his wife Kuʻulani have three children.
The 1st congressional district encompasses urban Honolulu, from Hawaiʻi Kai all the way to Aiea, Pearl City, Mililani and Waipahu.
