MEET JILL
U.S. Congresswoman Jill N. Tokuda is a lifelong resident of Kāneʻohe. She is married to Kyle Michibata and they are proud parents of two sons, Aden and Matt, who are currently students at King Intermediate and James B. Castle High School, the same schools from which Jill and Kyle graduated. Their family is completed by a beloved chiweenie, Bailey.
Jill’s motivation to serve in Congress is deeply rooted in ensuring that Hawai'i remains a place of promise and opportunity, not just for her own sons but for all children. She was first elected in 2022 and serves Hawaiʻi’s Second Congressional District, one of the most geographically diverse districts in the United States; it covers more than 300 miles and includes the islands of Hawaiʻi, Maui, Kahoʻolawe, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Kauaʻi, Niʻihau, the rural parts of Oʻahu and the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
She sits on the House Agriculture and Armed Services Committees and the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic. She's been elected as Vice Chair for Communications of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Freshman Representative for the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, and co-founder and co-chair of the Congressional Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus.
From 2006 to 2018, Congresswoman Tokuda represented Kāne’ohe and Kailua in the Hawai’i State Senate, leading as chair of the Ways and Means Committee and managing the state’s $14 billion budget. Her legislative work focused on early childhood education, public health, and agricultural land protection.
Congresswoman Tokuda’s dedication extends beyond the political arena. She co-directed CyberHawaii, supporting workforce development, and served as External Affairs Director at the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center on Maui. A founding member of the Patsy T. Mink PAC, she advocates for pro-choice Hawaiʻi Democratic women. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she played a crucial role in the distribution and management of over $21 billion in federal relief funds for Hawaiʻi.
A graduate of The George Washington University, she was the first in her family to attend college, earning a BA in International Relations and a minor in Japanese Studies.
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives write and vote on federal laws, including the federal budget. Each represents one district and serves a two-year term. Tax bills must start in the House, only the House can impeach federal officials, and members oversee federal agencies through their committees.