Hawai‘i State Senator Lorraine Rodero Inouye is the most experienced elected official on Hawai‘i Island and one of the most experienced in the state.
State Senator Experience
Senator Inouye has represented Hawai‘i Island serving Senate District 1 from 1998-2008, Senate District 4 from 2014-2022 and currently Senate District 1 to present.
Committees
She is currently the Hawai‘i Senate’s Majority Whip and throughout her tenure in the Senate has served on the powerful Ways & Means Committee (which oversees financial policies, taxation, and budget). The senator chairs the Senate Water and Land Committee and is vice chair of the Transportation and Culture and the Arts Committee.
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Her Journey
Part of the fabric of Hawai‘i Island, Senator Inouye was born and raised in the sugar plantation camp of Wainaku, just outside Hilo. In her early career, she worked in the hospitality industry in various management roles; she served on the county’s planning commission and the Hawaii State Plan Policy Council before she was elected to Hawai‘i County Council, then Mayor and finally, the State Senate. She owns Aloha Blooms, Inc., a 10 acre farm, with her husband, Vern.
Guidance
Senator Inouye continues to be guided by her parents’ mantra as she grew up in the plantation camp with seven brothers and sisters, “Work hard, be honest and help one another.”
Her family didn’t ask for much and appreciated the supportive community and wholesome environment. She learned a genuine love for the land and its people. These things molded her values and continue to guide her. Senator Inouye embraces her past as she seeks to improve our island’s and state’s future.
Community Oriented
She has been honored by the Big Island Press Club; National Guard Association of the U.S.; University of Hawai‘i-Hilo Alumni & Friends Association; Big Island Filipino Women’s Civic Club for outstanding community service; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau Federation for distinguished service; United Filipino Council of Hawai‘i for government service; Lifetime member of The Girl Scouts of America, and she was named one of 100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the U.S.
In 2024, she was the recipient of the following distinguished awards: Parker Ranch 60th Annual Fourth of July Rodeo & Horse Races Honoree; University of Hawaii’s College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources Ka Lei Hano Award; Zonta Club of Hilo Rose of Excellence Award; Hawaii Farm Bureau Legislator of the Year Award.
Family
She is the mother of three, grandmother of five, and four great grandchildren.
