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Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, submitted a bill Thursday calling for federal officials to qualify Hong Kong for the visa waiver program to visit the United States. Hirono said about 4,000 people from Hong Kong visit Hawaii annually right now. “We know we could increase that tremendously,” she added. Hong Kong residents can visit about 140...

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii - Students and faculty waited patiently with leis and warm welcomes at the front entrance of the Hale Kula Elementary School. The students were excited about the distinguished visitor. Then the car pulled up and out stepped U.S. Sen. Mazie K. Hirono, the first female senator of Hawaii, on her first official visit to the...

In today’s New York Times, the paper’s editorial board highlights Senator Mazie K. Hirono’s fight to strengthen and preserve the family based immigration system and argues that immigration reform should aim to protect and unite families:   Mazie Hirono, Democrat of Hawaii, who led the hearing, spoke movingly of her own...

Women immigrants find themselves subject to abuse and lack of rights with little recourse, according to testimony from experts and activists who are urging national lawmakers to prioritize women in any comprehensive reform plan. The director for National Domestic Workers Alliance, Ai-jen Poo, told Congress that past immigration overhauls have...

A bill that would make it easier for World War II Filipino veterans to be reunited with their families today won the support of two influential senators, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and New Jersey Democrat Robert Menendez. Menendez is part of a bipartisan group of senators who has been working on a package of immigration reforms,...

Sen. Mazie Hirono said she supports making it easier for victims of sexual abuse to come forward by allowing them to join a different unit while their allegations are being investigated.  The spokesman’s comments came today after former armed forces members who’ve been sexually assaulted testified before the Senate Armed Forces...

Months after cracking a joke on the campaign trail, that joke has launched Hawaii's newest U.S. senator to ‘viral status' in the world of social media. While campaigning in Providence, Rhode Island, democrat Mazie Hirono spoke at a conference for progressive bloggers. Here is the portion of her speech that is getting a lot of attention this...

U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono talks with Ernest Matsumura, the East Hawaii Community Development Corporation Board chairman and building owner, during a tour of his property Wednesday afternoon. Hirono has been on a tour around the state this week to meet with her constituents and to gauge their concerns. In an interview with the Tribune-Herald on...

Hirono appeared on Hawaii’s television morning shows to talk about the devastating effects sequestration could have on Hawaii and how she is working with her Senate colleagues to find a compromise solution.  Watch her appearance on KHON here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUNoI0w9Vus&feature=youtu.be

US Senator Mazie Hirono is on Maui today as part of a statewide listening tour to bring Hawaii’s voice to Washington. The four-day tour across the state includes meetings with military leaders, veterans, community leaders, working families, and immigration advocates. During her Maui visit, Senator Hirono will discuss immigration reform...

LIHU‘E — On Presidents’ Day, U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono met with about 40 veterans at the Kaua‘i Veterans Center to listen to their various concerns on jobs, health and education. “I’m here to hear what your concerns are; that’s the only way I can bring them to Washington,” Hirono told those gathered in...

LIHU‘E — Sen. Mazie K. Hirono kicks off a four-day Bringing Hawai‘i’s Voice To Washington listening tour Monday on the Garden Isle. After her first month serving the islands in the U.S. Senate, Hirono will tour across Hawai‘i to meet with military leaders, veterans, community leaders, working families, immigration...

While Hawaii Democrats cheered President Barack Obama's State of the Union address, the state's GOP issued a statement that said island Republicans were less than thrilled. "President Obama tonight laid out a strong and compelling course for Hawaii and our country," said Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono after the president's hourlong speech Tuesday....

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono participated in her first Senate committee hearing on Wednesday. Hirono spoke at this morning's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on judicial nominees. Read entire piece here: http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/20663027/sen-hirono-introduces-hawaii-nominee-during-first-committee-meeting

Sen. Mazie Hirono on Sunday said Congress needs to take on the issue of comprehensive immigration reform, and the idea that people “should all take themselves back to their countries” simply doesn’t make sense. “We need to have comprehensive immigration reform and that means there should be a path for citizenship,” the...

Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) proudly carried her favorite orchid lei on Thursday as she weaved her way from her temporary basement office to the Senate chamber. At her official swearing-in ceremony, she would become the first Asian-American female in the U.S. Senate, the first female senator from Hawaii, the first Buddhist senator and one of a...