Senator Mike Gabbard represents District 21 in the Hawaii State Senate, a position he has held since 2006. Born Gerald Michael Gabbard on January 15, 1948, in Fagatogo, American Samoa, he is the first person of Samoan descent to serve in the Hawaii Senate and has focused on environmental protection, renewable energy, agriculture, and traditional marriage values. Notable achievements include leading the passage of Hawaii's first-in-the-nation law requiring 100% clean, renewable energy for utilities by 2045 as Chair of the Energy and Environment Committee ; authoring legislation banning sales of endangered species products like elephant ivory; opposing a landfill over the Pearl Harbor aquifer and advancing "Ship It Out" trash shipping initiatives; and spearheading a 1998 constitutional amendment to reserve marriage for opposite-sex couples. He previously served on the Honolulu City Council , switched from Republican to Democratic in 2007, and co-founded the Healthy Hawaii Coalition in 2001 with his daughter, former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Graduated from Choctawhatchee High School ; B.A. in English, California State University, Sonoma ; M.A. in Adult Education , Oregon State University . Early career included teaching at Faga'itua High School and counseling roles.
• Political Experience:
  • Hawaii State Senate, District 21 ; District 20 .
  • Chair, Agriculture and Environment Committee .
  • Chair, Water, Land, and Agriculture Committee .
  • Vice Chair, Government Operations and Judiciary Committees.
  • Honolulu City Council .
  • Extensive public service on commissions like Climate Mitigation and Adaptation, Hawaii Invasive Species Council, and Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative.