May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. We honor the Kūpuna (grandparents and honored elders) by seeking their ancestral knowledge of environmental practices. #WetTribe #AlohaFriday #AANHPIHeritageMonth
May 2, 2025 at 1:10 PM
May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. We honor the Kūpuna (grandparents and honored elders) by seeking their ancestral knowledge of environmental practices. #WetTribe #AlohaFriday #AANHPIHeritageMonth
When I was in elementary school, we had Kupuna come once in a while to give us lessons about Hawaiian history, and sometimes they would show Mr. Kāne’s art.
July 15, 2026 at 4:28 AM
When I was in elementary school, we had Kupuna come once in a while to give us lessons about Hawaiian history, and sometimes they would show Mr. Kāne’s art.
70 million Americans count on Social Security. So do 175,000 in Hawaiʻi. These are our keiki and kūpuna—real people who have earned and deserve this support.
This isn’t “waste” or “fraud”—for many, it’s a financial lifeline.
Hands off Social Security.
This isn’t “waste” or “fraud”—for many, it’s a financial lifeline.
Hands off Social Security.
April 15, 2025 at 8:08 PM
70 million Americans count on Social Security. So do 175,000 in Hawaiʻi. These are our keiki and kūpuna—real people who have earned and deserve this support.
This isn’t “waste” or “fraud”—for many, it’s a financial lifeline.
Hands off Social Security.
This isn’t “waste” or “fraud”—for many, it’s a financial lifeline.
Hands off Social Security.
Hawaii’s “kūpuna” are small, dynamic ladies often to be found on theBus, going to visit someone with a bunch of flowers and a plastic bag containing food dishes.
If engaged in conversation, they will startle you with their anecdotes: One was a survivor of Hiroshima; another, a 1920s “picture bride.”
If engaged in conversation, they will startle you with their anecdotes: One was a survivor of Hiroshima; another, a 1920s “picture bride.”
May 2, 2026 at 5:56 AM
Hawaii’s “kūpuna” are small, dynamic ladies often to be found on theBus, going to visit someone with a bunch of flowers and a plastic bag containing food dishes.
If engaged in conversation, they will startle you with their anecdotes: One was a survivor of Hiroshima; another, a 1920s “picture bride.”
If engaged in conversation, they will startle you with their anecdotes: One was a survivor of Hiroshima; another, a 1920s “picture bride.”
Living in Hawaii as I do, where kupuna (elders) are genuinely respected, I can't help but notice the degree of distaste, disrespect, & even contempt displayed toward the aging process & elders in much of the white mainstream Mainland USA discourse. It's clear which communities respect elders.
July 20, 2024 at 9:45 PM
Living in Hawaii as I do, where kupuna (elders) are genuinely respected, I can't help but notice the degree of distaste, disrespect, & even contempt displayed toward the aging process & elders in much of the white mainstream Mainland USA discourse. It's clear which communities respect elders.
First pic of my sons Baby. Kupuna status here.
June 6, 2026 at 1:23 AM
First pic of my sons Baby. Kupuna status here.
January 24, 2026 at 9:38 PM
Here’s some highlights from today’s Kupuna Spelling Bee. From my Tik Tok. #Hawaii #SpellingBee #Seniors
August 23, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Here’s some highlights from today’s Kupuna Spelling Bee. From my Tik Tok. #Hawaii #SpellingBee #Seniors
Na Kupuna O Kohala hula halau held a dinner last night for supporters and danced their winning dances from the recent statewide kupuna (elders) competition. They brought home 3 prizes! 💖🩷💕
November 24, 2024 at 7:57 PM
Na Kupuna O Kohala hula halau held a dinner last night for supporters and danced their winning dances from the recent statewide kupuna (elders) competition. They brought home 3 prizes! 💖🩷💕
Twas really sweet of them to have senior/kūpuna/immunocompromised hours
early days SARSCoV2
early days SARSCoV2
January 3, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Twas really sweet of them to have senior/kūpuna/immunocompromised hours
early days SARSCoV2
early days SARSCoV2
Dis the only title we need for take back our land. Our Kupuna built these spaces, it’s time to take them all back.
#landback #ainaback #nationback
#landback #ainaback #nationback
December 19, 2024 at 7:52 PM
Dis the only title we need for take back our land. Our Kupuna built these spaces, it’s time to take them all back.
#landback #ainaback #nationback
#landback #ainaback #nationback
Federal funds have been critical in helping Lahaina recover.
One week into his term, Trump is freezing that funding, along with billions that keep our keiki fed, kupuna healthy, and so much more.
Trump doesn't care about the people of Hawaii, only his billionaire buddies.
One week into his term, Trump is freezing that funding, along with billions that keep our keiki fed, kupuna healthy, and so much more.
Trump doesn't care about the people of Hawaii, only his billionaire buddies.
January 28, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Federal funds have been critical in helping Lahaina recover.
One week into his term, Trump is freezing that funding, along with billions that keep our keiki fed, kupuna healthy, and so much more.
Trump doesn't care about the people of Hawaii, only his billionaire buddies.
One week into his term, Trump is freezing that funding, along with billions that keep our keiki fed, kupuna healthy, and so much more.
Trump doesn't care about the people of Hawaii, only his billionaire buddies.
GO, Na Kupuna O Kohala!!
September 10, 2025 at 11:18 PM
GO, Na Kupuna O Kohala!!
displaced indigenous life/identity is a trip. I’m honoring makahiki lono season (the god & rain of my people & kūpuna) meanwhile out my Massachusetts window it’s snow studded w dog shit.
December 10, 2024 at 5:06 PM
displaced indigenous life/identity is a trip. I’m honoring makahiki lono season (the god & rain of my people & kūpuna) meanwhile out my Massachusetts window it’s snow studded w dog shit.
I joined 61 other House Democrats urging Social Security not to cut phone service.
This won’t protect individuals or reduce fraud. Instead, it will cut off a critical lifeline to our kūpuna in remote areas that need to keep their prescription filled, a roof over their head, & food on their tables.
This won’t protect individuals or reduce fraud. Instead, it will cut off a critical lifeline to our kūpuna in remote areas that need to keep their prescription filled, a roof over their head, & food on their tables.
March 24, 2025 at 11:35 PM
I joined 61 other House Democrats urging Social Security not to cut phone service.
This won’t protect individuals or reduce fraud. Instead, it will cut off a critical lifeline to our kūpuna in remote areas that need to keep their prescription filled, a roof over their head, & food on their tables.
This won’t protect individuals or reduce fraud. Instead, it will cut off a critical lifeline to our kūpuna in remote areas that need to keep their prescription filled, a roof over their head, & food on their tables.
Grateful to AARP Hawaiʻi for meeting with me to talk Social Security & Medicaid. These programs are essential lifelines for our kūpuna & families who are trying to make ends meet. Mahalo for your advocacy, I stand with you in protecting our social safety nets from threats from this administration.
April 26, 2025 at 2:07 AM
Grateful to AARP Hawaiʻi for meeting with me to talk Social Security & Medicaid. These programs are essential lifelines for our kūpuna & families who are trying to make ends meet. Mahalo for your advocacy, I stand with you in protecting our social safety nets from threats from this administration.
Joined HGEA and Spotlight HNN to provide updates about my work in Congress to protect our critical social service programs, agencies, & federal workers against the Musk-Trump Administration. Taking care of our keiki & kūpuna is not "government waste." Mahalo for having me!
March 20, 2025 at 3:10 AM
Joined HGEA and Spotlight HNN to provide updates about my work in Congress to protect our critical social service programs, agencies, & federal workers against the Musk-Trump Administration. Taking care of our keiki & kūpuna is not "government waste." Mahalo for having me!
Visited Mālama I Ke Ola Health Center to mahalo their team for caring for Maui’s most vulnerable, from keiki to kūpuna. With over 50% of their funding from Medicaid, the Big Ugly Law threatens their lifesaving work.
There is only one choice: Reopen government AND protect life saving healthcare.
There is only one choice: Reopen government AND protect life saving healthcare.
October 20, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Visited Mālama I Ke Ola Health Center to mahalo their team for caring for Maui’s most vulnerable, from keiki to kūpuna. With over 50% of their funding from Medicaid, the Big Ugly Law threatens their lifesaving work.
There is only one choice: Reopen government AND protect life saving healthcare.
There is only one choice: Reopen government AND protect life saving healthcare.
Colonel Desiree Semana Dirige is a 115 year descendant of sugarcane plantations of our sacred islands. Cosme Dirige was born on September 27th 1911 within our Oʻahu. Martina Acasio Semana was born on January 30th 1926 within our Kauaʻi. Kūpuna of my beautiful wahine...🌻🌺🍀🌸🌵🪴
July 1, 2026 at 10:26 PM
Colonel Desiree Semana Dirige is a 115 year descendant of sugarcane plantations of our sacred islands. Cosme Dirige was born on September 27th 1911 within our Oʻahu. Martina Acasio Semana was born on January 30th 1926 within our Kauaʻi. Kūpuna of my beautiful wahine...🌻🌺🍀🌸🌵🪴
Republicans want bullshit tax breaks for billionaires and corporations. Guess how they're paying for it:
By cutting off 82,000 in Hawaiʻi from SNAP, eliminating Medicaid for over 350,000 keiki & kūpuna, and increasing health premiums for over 10,000 Hawaiʻi residents.
Hell no.
By cutting off 82,000 in Hawaiʻi from SNAP, eliminating Medicaid for over 350,000 keiki & kūpuna, and increasing health premiums for over 10,000 Hawaiʻi residents.
Hell no.
Rep. Tokuda Speaks in Opposition to Tax Breaks for Billionaires and Cuts to Medicaid and SNAP
buff.ly
February 25, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Republicans want bullshit tax breaks for billionaires and corporations. Guess how they're paying for it:
By cutting off 82,000 in Hawaiʻi from SNAP, eliminating Medicaid for over 350,000 keiki & kūpuna, and increasing health premiums for over 10,000 Hawaiʻi residents.
Hell no.
By cutting off 82,000 in Hawaiʻi from SNAP, eliminating Medicaid for over 350,000 keiki & kūpuna, and increasing health premiums for over 10,000 Hawaiʻi residents.
Hell no.
Mahalo to Rep. Darius Kila for inviting me to talk story with our kūpuna at Alu Like in Nānākuli about what’s happening in Congress and how a shutdown could affect health care, land & local families. Hearing from them keeps me grounded in why I fight each day to protect our kūpuna and communities.
September 29, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Mahalo to Rep. Darius Kila for inviting me to talk story with our kūpuna at Alu Like in Nānākuli about what’s happening in Congress and how a shutdown could affect health care, land & local families. Hearing from them keeps me grounded in why I fight each day to protect our kūpuna and communities.
Hauʻoli Lā Hānau y Feliz 100th Cumpleaños to Grandma Martina Acasio Semana - beyond blessed to have been able to come home to our sacred islands desde nuestro Puerto Rico! Our beautiful Kūpuna of Ilocano-Chinese descent - we deeply cried!🌻🌺🍀🌸🌵🪴
February 1, 2026 at 3:29 AM
Hauʻoli Lā Hānau y Feliz 100th Cumpleaños to Grandma Martina Acasio Semana - beyond blessed to have been able to come home to our sacred islands desde nuestro Puerto Rico! Our beautiful Kūpuna of Ilocano-Chinese descent - we deeply cried!🌻🌺🍀🌸🌵🪴
Hawaiʻi exports kūpuna care to the continent. tinyurl.com/bddenz95
February 13, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Hawaiʻi exports kūpuna care to the continent. tinyurl.com/bddenz95
#KupunaLife | #KHON2
"That's what we do as a village network. Neighbors helping neighbors and helping each other out."
More here: https://www.khon2.com/kupuna-life/kauai-residents-show-aloha-to-help-kupuna-through-lowell/
"That's what we do as a village network. Neighbors helping neighbors and helping each other out."
More here: https://www.khon2.com/kupuna-life/kauai-residents-show-aloha-to-help-kupuna-through-lowell/
September 18, 2026 at 3:20 AM
#KupunaLife | #KHON2
"That's what we do as a village network. Neighbors helping neighbors and helping each other out."
More here: https://www.khon2.com/kupuna-life/kauai-residents-show-aloha-to-help-kupuna-through-lowell/
"That's what we do as a village network. Neighbors helping neighbors and helping each other out."
More here: https://www.khon2.com/kupuna-life/kauai-residents-show-aloha-to-help-kupuna-through-lowell/