State Rep. Keohokalole to vie for seat in Senate

State Rep. Jarrett Keohokalole announced Thursday he will seek election to the Windward Oahu state Senate seat that will be vacated by Sen. Jill Tokuda. Tokuda announced Wednesday she is running for lieutenant governor.

The District 24 Senate seat includes Kailua and Kaneohe, and Keohokalole said he is a member of a family that has lived in the Kaneohe area for generations.

Keohokalole, 33, was first elected to the state House in 2014 and was unopposed in the 2016 election. He is a Democrat.

“In the Senate, I will continue to work hard to tackle the tough issues that affect our community — illegal drugs, homelessness, the urgent need for affordable housing, and the lack of economic opportunity,” Keohokalole said in a written announcement. “Together, we can work to get results to make this district a prosperous, safe and enjoyable place to live, work and raise a family.”

Keohokalole has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a law degree from UH’s William S. Richardson School of Law.

He served as a legal fellow working on invasive species law and policy within the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, and is a former member of the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board. He and wife Kuulani live in Kahaluu with their three children.