This week, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a member of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, hosted several events as part of the 8th Annual Hawaii on the Hill (HOH) in Washington, D.C. Hawaii on the Hill, a partnership between Senator Hirono and the Chamber of Commerce (CoC) Hawaii, was a four-day event that provided members of the Hawaii business community with the opportunity to meet directly with Congressional leaders and Administration officials while also showcasing Hawaii businesses and products to Members of Congress, their staff, and the D.C. community. This year, dozens of individuals from across the islands, representing nearly 60 Hawaii businesses and nonprofits from the state, were in attendance.
“This year’s Hawaii on the Hill events were a huge success—from the welcome reception to the policy summit, local business owners and members of the Hawaii community had many opportunities to connect with federal policymakers, experts, and my colleagues here in D.C.,” said Senator Hirono. “Mahalo to all of the people and businesses who made these events possible, especially our popular ‘Taste of Hawaii on the Hill’ event—it is no small task to prepare perishable products and supplies, then ship them thousands of miles across the country. I am grateful for the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii’s partnership in hosting a successful 8th Annual Hawaii on the Hill, and I look forward to continuing our work together to support Hawaii’s small businesses and business owners.”
“Taste of Hawaii on the Hill is one of our greatest ambassadors of culture during our visit to Washington, D.C.,” said Chamber of Commerce Hawaii CEO Sherry Menor-McNamara. “This served as a signature event to bring the capitol community together, in unity, around a shared love for the products and services of Hawaii. This year more than a thousand people came from offices from across the nation to celebrate the culture of Hawaii. Our 2024 delegation of proprietors represented the delicious diversity of our business community from across the state.”
In addition to Senator Hirono and CoC Hawaii, Hawaii Senate President Ron Kouchi served as an Honorary Co-Chair of Hawaii on the Hill.
At the beginning of this week’s events, Senator Hirono participated in a fireside chat moderated by Sherry Menor-McNamara. Attendees had an opportunity to hear from Senator Hirono about her work in supporting Hawaiian businesses in Congress and engaged with her during a Q&A session.
Later that day, Senator Hirono and CoC hosted Taste of Hawaii on Capitol Hill which saw more than 1,000 attendees experiencing Hawaiian culture through cuisine and music. The venue featured flowers from Hawaii with each guest receiving an orchid lei upon arrival. Guests enjoyed live music by Hawaiian artists while sampling food from exhibitors such as Kauai Coffee; The Orchid Lei Company; Hawaiian Chip Company; Koloa Rum; among others.
On Tuesday morning at this week’s Policy Summit hosted by Senator Hirono discussions included remarks by Susan Collins (R-ME), Dilawar Syed (Small Business Administration), Alejandra Castillo (Department Of Commerce), David Turk (Department Of Energy), Chuck Schumer (Senate Majority Leader) discussing issues pertinent not only within Hawaiian borders but nationally concerning challenges faced locally plus resilience-building efforts.
Photos are available online capturing various moments during Fireside Chat sessions alongside glimpses into Taste Of Hawai'i On Capitol Hill showcasing vivid visuals documenting attendee experiences throughout this year's edition marking another milestone successfully executed under collaborative efforts ensuring continued support towards nurturing homegrown entrepreneurial spirit amidst changing dynamics reflecting contemporary societal fabric.