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Hawaii Leaders
Kirstin Kahaloa
State House

Kirstin Kahaloa

Representative · District 6
Hawaii

Representative Kirstin Kahaloa serves in the Hawaiʻi House of Representatives, representing House District 6 in Kona on Hawaiʻi Island. First elected in 2022, she serves as Majority Caucus Leader, Chair of the Native Hawaiian Caucus, and is the highest-ranking Native Hawaiian in the House of Representatives. She serves on the Committees on Agriculture and Food Systems, Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, and Energy and Environmental Protection, and previously chaired the Agriculture and Food Systems Committee. Rep. Kahaloa is recognized as a leader on issues related to food sovereignty, biosecurity, sustainability, and economic opportunity. Before entering public office, Rep. Kahaloa spent more than a decade working in international education and later dedicated her career to advancing community and economic development in Hawaiʻi. She served as Executive Director of the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce, helped re-establish the Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce on Hawaiʻi Island, and worked with organizations including Kamehameha Schools and the Blue Zones Project to advance local food production, entrepreneurship, sustainability, and community well-being. A Native Hawaiian, Rep. Kahaloa was born and raised on Oʻahu and is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools. She has deep family ties to Hawaiʻi Island, where both of her parents are from Hilo, with genealogical connections stretching from Waipiʻo to Puna and Kaʻū.

Background

Professions
  • International education
  • Executive Director of the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce
  • Community and economic development professional
Education
  • Kamehameha Schools, Kāpalama
  • University of Evansville, Bachelor's degree in International Studies and Political Science with a minor in Japanese Studies
  • University of Evansville, Master's of Science degree in Public Service Administration
  • Webster University, Master's of Arts degree in Management & Leadership

Contact

Capitol Address
State Capitol Room 438, 415 S. Beretania St.
Honolulu, HI 96813

Details

District
6
Term Start
November 8, 2022
Birthplace
Oʻahu, HI