Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke

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Mar 25

With last month as Mahina ‘Ōlelo Hawai’i and this month being Women’s History Month, I knew I wanted to chat with my friend Pelehonuamea Harman, Director of Native Hawaiian Engagement at @uhhilo and great-granddaughter to the late Mary Kawena Pukui.

A Hawaiian scholar, author, hula practitioner, and educator, Mary’s legacy has been invaluable to the preservation and perpetuation of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi and Hawaiian culture. Through her deep connection to hula as a living expression of ʻike and storytelling, she helped carry forward traditions that continue to shape how we understand and practice culture today. She believed deeply that “knowledge is life,” and dedicated herself to uplifting the lessons of her ancestors, producing an astonishing 52 published works on Hawaiian language and culture.

Mahalo, Pele, for sharing reflections about your “Puna”—a shortened nickname for “kupuna.” Through your stories, we’re reminded that knowledge is meant to be lived, shared, and passed on. We see her legacy not only in books, but in language, in practice, and in every generation she continues to inspire.

#MahinaOleloHawaii #WomensHistoryMonth #MaryKawenaPukui #hawaiianlanguage #olelohawaii ...

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Mar 25

Today is National Agriculture Day. Here in Hawaiʻi, what makes our ag sector so special is our network of diverse, local farms and the people who care for them.

As we begin to recover from the catastrophic storms and flooding of the past two weekends, I want to extend my deepest mahalo to our agriculture community. Farmers in Waialua, along Oʻahu’s North Shore, and all across our state have been deeply impacted—facing damaged crops, flooded lands, loss of livestock, broken equipment, and more.

📢EMERGENCY FARMER RELIEF - If you were affected by the storms, swipe to learn about the Hawaiʻi Emergency Farmer Relief Program. Farms, ranches, and businesses may apply for a one-time $1,500 grant to address immediate needs. Learn more at dab.hawaii.gov/emergencyfarmerrelief/.

Mahalo to organizations like @hawaiifarmbureau, @hawaiicattlemenscouncil, and @hfuuofficial, and to our entire agriculture community, for standing by one another during this time and for everything you do to care for our communities. ...

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Mar 20

‼️ For flood and storm updates, visit ready.hawaii.gov.

Please stay safe during these severe storms. We’re seeing destructive flooding across our state. Mahalo to our first responders and community members for working tirelessly to keep everyone safe.

@hawaii_ema
@oahudem
@honolulu_gov
@hicountyofficial
@hawaiicountycivildefense
@maui_ema
@kauaifiredepartment

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Mar 20

Today, I joined the Blood Bank of Hawaiʻi to celebrate their new Kapolei headquarters and the lifesaving work they do for our islands.

In Hawaiʻi, we believe deeply in caring for and protecting one another. Especially in times of need, blood donations save lives right here at home. As a leading blood processing center and rare blood repository in the Pacific Rim, this new facility strengthens care for Hawaiʻi’s diverse communities and expands access to lifesaving donations.

Mahalo to @bloodbankhawaii for all that you do, and congratulations on this incredible new facility and exciting chapter ahead! ❤️ ...

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Mar 17

📢 Calling Hawaiʻi high schoolers!

Spend your summer at the State Capitol learning about public service and civic engagement. As an intern, you’ll gain hands-on experience and an up-close look at how Hawaiʻi’s government works while building skills that will stay with you long after summer ends.

There may even be a chance to meet Chief Momo 🐾

📩 Save this post or share it with someone who should apply. Learn more at ltgov.hawaii.gov/internship. ...

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Mar 12

I had the opportunity to attend the Department of Education’s 2025 Employee, Manager, and Team of the Year Awards and help recognize the incredible employees serving students across our state.

As a proud product of Hawaiʻi’s public schools, so much of my journey has been shaped by the teachers, counselors, and school staff who believed in me and supported me along the way. Every educator, counselor, manager, team, and staff member plays an important role in shaping the lives of our keiki.

Mahalo to the HIDOE employees who support our students everyday. ...

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Mar 10

So great to be back at Little Chef Big Chef supporting the incredible work of the Boys & Girls Club of Maui. I look forward to attending this event every year, and it never fails to inspire me to see our youth so excited about cooking, learning from Maui’s talented chefs, and being involved in their community. 💙🍽️

Mahalo to all of the chefs who mentor our keiki and help them see the possibilities ahead. And a special mahalo to Kelly Pearson, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Maui. This was Kelly’s final Little Chef Big Chef as she prepares for retirement. For more than 27 years, she has led the organization and made an incredible impact on Maui’s keiki. ...

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Mar 8

Papakōlea has a special place in my heart, and this morning, I had the chance to stop by the Papakōlea ʻOhana Health Fair.

Mahalo to @kula_papakolea for bringing the community together and hosting this important event. I love seeing families learning about health and wellness resources that support our communities and help keep everyone healthy.

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Mar 6

I am deeply saddened by the passing of Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa, a dedicated public servant and formidable leader who devoted her life to serving our state.

In 1998, we entered the Legislature together — Colleen in the Senate and I in the House — and we remained close throughout our years in public service. Proud of her Waiʻanae roots, she carried the voices of her community with her throughout her career. She made history in 2007 as the first woman to serve as President of the Hawaiʻi State Senate and later represented our state in Washington, D.C. as a member of Congress.

Colleen was unwavering in her commitment to doing what she believed was best for the people of Hawaiʻi. While she was known for her toughness and determination, those who knew her best also knew her as a sensitive and deeply caring person. I am grateful I was able to spend precious moments with her in her final days.

She loved her husband, John, and their dogs, Frannie and Pupper, dearly. My heart is with them and all of Colleen’s loved ones during this difficult time.

(Photo with Sen. Ronald D. Kouchi, and Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa at the Hawaiʻi on the Hill Policy Summit in Washington, D.C., 2018.) ...

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Mar 5

We officially launched the Hawaiʻi Foodbank’s 27th Annual State Employees Food Drive, joined by the University of Hawaiʻi and public sector union leaders. As lieutenant governor, I have the honor of chairing this effort each year, bringing together our state employees — the Foodbank’s largest coalition of supporters — to help provide food for families across our state. 🥫

The reality is that 1 in 3 Hawaiʻi households continue to struggle with food insecurity. From now until May 8, our goal as state workers is to raise food and funds to support Hawaiʻi Foodbank and their commitment to feeding our ‘ohana. 🤝

Last year, state employees raised over 300,000 meals, so this year we’re aiming even higher. Anyone can support Hawaiʻi Foodbank at any time of year. To donate, get involved, or learn more about food assistance, visit hawaiifoodbank.org/state.

@hawaiifoodbank
@uhawaiinews
@hgeahawaii
@unitedpublicworkers
@hstavoice
@uhpafaculty ...

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Mar 3

Happy Read Across America! This year, I had the joy of joining Miss Palacio’s pre-K class at Puʻuhale Elementary School to read Can You Dance Like a Peacock? by Rekha S. Rajan. We didn’t just read — we got up, moved, and danced as we learned all about animals like peacocks, honeybees, and flamingos. 📚🦚

I also joined Ms. Matayoshi’s 1st-grade class at Lincoln Elementary to read A Fishy Alphabet in Hawaii by Leslie Hayashi, where we learned about Hawaiian and local names for our unique aquatic life. 🐠

Mahalo to all the keiki for inviting me to be a part of your special #ReadAcrossAmerica celebrations! ...

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Feb 27

For more than three decades, Hawaiʻi Children’s Action Network has been a powerful advocate for our keiki. As we continue moving #ReadyKeiki forward and expand access to pre-K across our state, this progress wouldn’t be possible without @hcan_hi and the many public, private, and nonprofit partners who stand alongside them.

I’m excited to welcome John-Paul Chaisson-Cárdenas as HCAN’s new Executive Director and look forward to his leadership in advancing the well-being of our children. And a big mahalo to Deb Zysman for her tireless commitment to building a Hawaiʻi where every child is safe, healthy, and ready to learn. ...

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Feb 23

At the Lieutenant Governor’s Office, one of our main responsibilities is providing apostille, certification, and name change services.

Along with launching Hawaiʻi's first-ever Apostille and Certification Online Portal in November, here’s a look at what our public services team accomplished in 2025.

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Feb 20

Mahalo to @holomuaes for inviting me to present at their Career Day! ✨ It was so inspiring to talk with 4th, 5th, and 6th graders who are interested in state government. We discussed public service and civic engagement, then wrapped up with a fun trivia game about Hawaiʻi’s state symbols.

Opportunities like this are so important for nurturing our keiki and showing them that any career path is possible. ...

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Feb 19

I had the opportunity to attend the Alzheimer`s Association Mahalo Pau Hana, celebrating the success of the organization`s annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

The reality of Alzheimer’s disease is that it touches almost every family in some way, and changes to our cognitive health can be deeply frightening. Mahalo to @alzhawaii for raising awareness about brain health and early detection, and for demonstrating the power of compassionate, community-driven advocacy. Through their continued efforts to advance meaningful change in addressing Alzheimer’s and dementia, they remind individuals and families across Hawaiʻi that they are not alone. ...

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Feb 18

Pockets of our state don’t have reliable internet — whether you’re driving to Hāna or down to Nā‘ālehu. That’s why it’s critical we bring connectivity to every community, so residents can get online for emergencies, telehealth, work, school, and staying connected.

Hawai‘i has received $149 million in BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) funding. These funds will help connect 7,000 unserved and underserved areas to high-speed fiber or satellite internet. ...

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Feb 17

Happy Lunar New Year! 🧧✨

Celebrating this special season with our Chinatown community is always an honor. Wishing everyone health and happiness as we welcome the Year of the Horse! 🐎

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Feb 14

Mahalo to HGEA for inviting me to speak at their Statewide Educational Institute Day held at Waiākea High School. I had the chance to thank the many principals, vice principals, educational officers and assistants who keep our schools running, supporting our students, and nurturing the next generation of leaders 👏

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Feb 13

Happy #DigitalLearningDay! 👩‍💻🤳

As more of our lives move online, digital education is essential—not just in classrooms but for all our residents. I met with Daniel, one of the many Digital Navigators based at our libraries, helping residents use technology to connect, learn, and grow.

Whether it’s setting up an email account or learning how to use a new device, the Digital Navigator program is a great way to build tech skills and receive free, one-on-one support. With our Digital Navigators, every day can be Digital Learning Day.

To learn more, call your local library branch or visit librarieshawaii.org.

#ConnectKakou #DLDay @digitallearningday ...

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