PARTY MEMBERS
OUR LEADERS
Meet our party leadership and national representatives.
PARTY CHAIR
DEREK TURBIN
NATIONAL COMMITTEEMEMBER
BRONSON K. SILVA
NATIONAL
COMMITTEEMEMBER
JUANITA KAWAMOTO
ASSISTANT SECRETARY
JACQUILINE
TAVARES
ARIA CASTILLO
ASSISTANT TREASURER
HAWAIʻI COUNTY CHAIR
PONO KEKELA
KAUAʻI COUNTY CHAIR
JOËLL EDWARDS
MAUI COUNTY CHAIR
JARED AGTUNONG
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
PHIL ROQUE
DATA DIRECTOR
MARLO TING
PARLIAMENTARIAN
WILLIAM PUETTE
STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS
OUR CAUCUSES
Our caucuses represent historically disempowered or under-represented constituencies due to current or past inequality under law, discrimination, social prejudices, or economic injustices in the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi.
STONEWALL CAUCUS
The Stonewall Caucus is dedicated to supporting and advocating for justice and equality for Hawai‘i’s LGBTQIA+/MVPFAFF+ community.
OUR STANDING COMMITTEES
Pursuant to Article V, Section 8 of the DPH Constitution we have the following Standing Committees, each with own responsibilities as required by Article V, Section 9 of the DPH Bylaws and for matters delegated or duties as from time-to-time may be assigned to it by the Chair and/or State Central Committee:
Finance, Platform, Legislation, Rules, Affirmative Action, Membership, Fundraising, Communications, Community Relations, Convention, Campaign, and Compliance Review.
If you are looking to getting involved with the State Party these are the committees that do the work of the Party. There is something for everyone.
* = Interim Appointment(s) awaiting advice & consent of the SCC.
FINANCE
The Finance Committee shall be chaired by the Treasurer and shall prepare the biennial budget in consultation with the Party Chairperson. Its membership shall include at least one (1) member from each County. This budget shall be presented to the members of the State Central Committee at the meeting following the initial organizational meeting of the State Central Committee and
(1) Review and analyze the approved budget
(2) Submit written policies and procedures
(3) Oversee special fund raising projects
(4) Review staff appointments made by the Party Chairperson
Chair: Larry Mecham
PLATFORM
The Platform Committee shall be responsible for reviewing and proposing updates to the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi’s Platform and work to encourage support of the Platform. The Platform Committee shall also be responsible for formulation, distribution and collecting results of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi Platform Survey as required for all candidates running as a member of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i.
Chair: Abby Simmons
Co-Vice Chairs: Troy Hashimoto, Charlie Ice
LEGISLATIVE
The Legislation Committee shall be responsible for preparing and promoting the passage of legislation consistent with the positions of the Democratic Party as expressed in the platform and resolutions adopted at the State Convention, or by a vote of the State Central Committee. The Legislation Committee shall prepare a plan for approval by the State Central Committee prior to each legislative session, shall provide timely reports to the State Central Committee during the session and shall be subject to oversight by the State Central Committee.
Chair: Bronson Silva
Co-Vice Chairs: Osa Tui, Laura Acasio, Sarah Simmons
RULES
The Rules Committee shall be responsible for reviewing and proposing updates to the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i Constitution and Bylaws, assisting in the development of the Standing Rules for the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, reviewing and determining the validity of changes submitted by the Counties and Caucuses Bylaws, reviewing requests for establishment of new caucuses to assure eligibility requirements are met, making recommendations for certification, reviewing any allegations of rules violations and reporting its findings and recommendations to the State Central Committee, and interpreting the Constitution and Bylaws when called upon by the Chair or members of the State Central Committee.
Chair: Jesse Souki
Vice Chair: Stephanie Kim
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
The Affirmative Action Committee shall be responsible for reviewing and proposing updates to the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi’s Affirmative Action plan, implementing the Affirmative Action Plan, assisting the Membership Committee in outreach to under-represented communities in the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, and ensuring that concerted efforts are made to reach those communities.
Chair: Nicky Watts
Co-Vice Chair: Dave Nagaji, Ariel Hall
MEMBERSHIP
The Membership Committee shall be responsible for coordinating recruitment of new members and membership drives, developing and maintaining on boarding procedures for new members, encouraging the registration of voters, as well as coordinating membership enhancements – i.e. talent management. The Membership Committee shall also be responsible for training materials.
Chair: Emmanuel Baltazar
Co-Vice Chair: Margie Merryman, Jun Shin
FUNDRAISING
The Fundraising Committee shall be responsible for planning, organizing, and implementing statewide Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi fundraising activities. The Fundraising Committee will also develop and offer training on fundraising requirements for the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i.
Chair: Aria Castillo
Vice Chair: Jadine Nielson
COMMUNICATIONS
The Communications Committee shall be responsible for establishing and maintaining the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi’s social media platforms as well as establishing and maintaining a member newsletter. It will also maintain a media outreach center.
Chairs: Lynn Robinson-Onderko
Vice Chair: Kaleo Chang
COMMUNITY RELATIONS
The Community Relations Committee shall be responsible for social services projects on behalf of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, as well as developing a plan for building positive relationships with key community organizations that support the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i platform in the community.
Chair: Shannon Matson
Co-Vice Chair: Brendan Kinoshita, Anthony Miranda
CONVENTION
The Convention Committee shall be responsible for planning, organizing, fundraising and implementing the biennial Democratic Party of Hawai‘i State Convention. By a date established by the State Central Committee, the Convention Committee shall recommend to the State Central Committee a Convention plan that will include the suggested theme for the Convention, the recommended location of the Convention, a recommended Convention budget, a fundraising plan, and the recommended State Convention Standing Rules. This information will be provided to State Central Committee members at least ten (10) calendar days prior to the meeting in which this information will be considered by the State Central Committee. The Convention Committee shall be responsible for matters delegated or duties as from time-to-time may be assigned to it by the Chair and/or State Central Committee.
Co-Chairs: TBD
CAMPAIGN
The Campaign Committee shall be responsible for training of members to run campaigns – candidates, volunteer coordinators, campaign managers, and campaign treasurers.
Chairs: Tyler Dos Santos-Tam
Vice Chair: Adrian Tam
COMPLIANCE REVIEW
The Compliance Review Committee shall be responsible for ensuring an annual review of the financial records of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i for compliance with any federal, state, Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi and Democratic National Committee requirements and proper authorized expenditures, and shall review the system it uses to account for revenue and expenses.
Co-Chairs: Larry Smith
Vice Chair: Joell Edwards