Last week, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) met with educators, community advocates, and small business owners on Oahu to discuss the impact of federal funding and the effects of policies from the Trump administration.
During a roundtable discussion with local education leaders, Senator Hirono addressed recent changes at the U.S. Department of Education. The department’s decision to transfer several federal education programs to other agencies was a key topic. “Since Day One, Trump and his regime have been illegally attacking the Department of Education (ED), sowing chaos for millions of students across the country in an attempt to abolish the Department altogether,” said Senator Hirono. “Now, in an attempt to dismantle ED, this administration plans to transfer federal education programs to agencies like the Department of Labor and the Department of Health and Human Services—agencies that are not at all equipped to handle these programs. This administration is jeopardizing our children’s futures and I will continue doing everything in my power to continue federal support for public education and ensure that every child has access to a quality education. I was glad to meet with local education leaders and groups discuss how the importance of collaboration as we fight to defend our students, educators, and communities against these attacks.”
Senator Hirono also visited Mokapu Elementary School at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, where she toured newly renovated facilities funded by $96 million from the Department of Defense’s Public Schools on Military Installations program—a program she has supported. She met student ambassadors who help peers transition into new learning environments.
At Kaimuki High School, Senator Hirono met with student organizers and staff from the Blood Bank of Hawaii during a blood drive event. Her visit followed news from the American Red Cross declaring a severe national blood shortage due to supply dropping by about 35% over one month. She highlighted a partnership between Hawaii’s Blood Bank and public schools offering phlebotomist training for students.
On Thursday, Senator Hirono stopped by Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Oahu chapter. The organization received $1.5 million in federal funds last year which contributed toward purchasing and renovating its Honolulu headquarters.
The senator also visited Times Supermarket Liliha for discussions about inflation-driven grocery costs and reductions in SNAP benefits linked to recent policy decisions. They discussed DA BUX Double Up Food Bucks—a program aimed at making local produce more affordable for SNAP recipients through The Food Basket initiative.
At Lin’s Hawaiian Snacks in Kakaako, store owners spoke about how tariffs have affected their business operations since implementation under former President Trump’s administration. “As a result of the reckless tariffs Trump has imposed on other countries, small businesses in Hawaii and across the country are feeling an existential threat, as they are forced to make difficult decisions to keep their doors open. Trump and Republicans’ ‘Big Ugly Bill’ has also gutted funding for SNAP, putting over 160,000 people in Hawaii and 40 million Americans at risk of not being able to put food on the table,” said Senator Hirono. “While Trump gives millions in tax breaks to his billionaire buddies, businessowners are struggling and the cost of living increases day by day. I will continue working with partners in Hawaii and across the country to better protect businesses like Lin’s from the fallout of Trump’s tariffs. And I remain committed to combatting this regime’s chaos and cruelty and will not stop working until every American has access to the resources they need to keep their families healthy and fed.”
