Gregg Takayama

Gregg T. Takayama was born on September 3, 1952, in Honolulu, Hawaii. He is a former television news reporter who has built a career in public service and community engagement. He represents Pearl City, Waiau, and Pacific Palisades in Hawaii's House District 34 as a Democratic member of the state legislature.

Takayama's professional background includes serving as director of community and government affairs at the University of Hawaiʻi, as well as communications director for Lieutenant Governor Ben Cayetano and the State Department of Public Safety. He has also been active in community service, having worked as director of the Friends of Pearl City Library and serving on the boards of the Pearl City Community Association and the Pearl City Foundation.

Education

Takayama earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in 1978.

Political Experience

Takayama has served in the Hawaii House of Representatives representing District 34 since November 6, 2012. He initially won the Democratic Primary in 2012 with 49.1% of the vote and has since been re-elected multiple times, including running unopposed in the 2014 Democratic Primary and winning the general election with 60.5% of the vote.

Notable positions and achievements include:

• Majority Whip of the Hawaii State House of Representatives
• Chair of the House Health Committee
• Vice Chair of the Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee
• Membership on several key committees including Economic Development, Education, Higher Education & Technology, Labor & Tourism, Water and Land, and Consumer Protection and Commerce
• Former Chair of the Public Safety Committee and the Public Safety, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee

During the current legislative session, Takayama initiated 34 bills, with 5 passing and 29 pending.