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Hawai'i State Legislature

Ka 'Aha'ōlelo Moku'āina 'O Hawai'i

Photo of Brandon J.C.
 Elefante

Senate District 16
‘Aiea, ‘Aiea Heights, Hālawa, Pearlridge, Newtown, Royal Summit, Waimalu, Waiau, Momilani, Pacific Palisades, and Pearl City
Room: 217
Phone/Fax: 808-586-6230
senelefante@capitol.hawaii.gov
Born in ‘Aiea to a single mother and raised by his Filipino immigrant grandparents, Senator Brandon Elefante learned the values of commitment and responsibility at an early age. His extended family instilled in him respect, a strong work ethic, and the importance of community.

After graduating from ‘Aiea High School, Senator Elefante pursued higher education at Saint Mary’s College of California, where he discovered his passion for public service. During his time there, he served as a resident advisor, co-founded the Hawai‘i Club and later became its president. Senator Elefante’s dedication to student affairs and community service earned him several awards and recognition.

With a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and Business Administration, Senator Elefante returned to Hawai‘i to teach social justice and world religions at Damien Memorial School. He also became actively involved in his community, serving on the ‘Aiea Neighborhood Board and pursuing further education at Chaminade University, where he earned a Master’s in Business Administration in 2011.

From 2011 to 2014, Senator Elefante worked as a legislative aide to Honolulu City Councilmember Breene Harimoto. In this role, he tracked infrastructure and development projects and addressed constituent concerns in the ‘Aiea, Pearl City, and Waipahū communities. This experience solidified Senator Elefante’s commitment to public service and to improving the lives of Hawai‘i’s residents.

For the next eight years, from 2014 to 2022, Senator Elefante served on the Honolulu City Council, representing the communities of ‘Aiea, Pearl City, and Waipahū. During his tenure, he chaired several key committees, including Zoning and Planning; Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Public Health, Safety, and Welfare; Transportation; and the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization. He also served as Vice Chair of the Budget Committee and the Transportation, Sustainability, and Health Committee and was an active member of the Budget, Executive Matters and Legal Affairs, Executive Management, and Public Infrastructure and Technology Committees. Senator Elefante’s leadership during this period demonstrated his dedication to balanced growth, public safety, and improving the quality of life for O‘ahu's diverse communities.

Then, in 2022, Senator Elefante was elected as the Hawai‘i State Senator for District 16, representing the neighborhoods of ‘Aiea, Pearl City, and Hālawa. During his first term, he served as Vice Chair of the Water and Land (WTL) Committee and the Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs (PSM) Committee, as well as a member of the Judiciary (JDC) Committee and the Transportation and Culture and the Arts (TCA) Committee. Additionally, he co-chaired the Joint Crime and Justice Caucus and was a member of the Filipino Caucus.

Following his re-election in 2024, Senator Elefante now serves as Chair of the Public Safety and Military Affairs (PSM) Committee and as a member of the Ways and Means (WAM) Committee. He continues to serve as Vice Chair of the Water and Land (WTL) Committee and as a member of the Transportation and Culture and the Arts (TCA) Committee. Senator Elefante remains an active member of the Filipino Caucus and has joined the Kūpuna Caucus, furthering his commitment to addressing the diverse needs of his constituents.
EDUCATION

‘Aiea High School, Class of 2004
Saint Mary’s College of California: BS Economics and Business Administration, 2008
Chaminade University: Master’s in Business Administration, 2011


SERVICE

Current:
   Hawai‘i State Senate
     • Chair, Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs (PSM)
     • Vice Chair, Committee on Water and Land (WTL)
     • Member, Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts
        (TCA)
     • Member, Committee on Ways and Means (WAM)
     • Member, Filipino Caucus
     • Member, Kūpuna Caucus

Past:
   Hawai‘i State Senate (2022–2024)
     • Vice Chair, Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military
        Affairs (PSM)
     • Member, Judiciary (JDC)
     • Co-Chair, Joint Crime and Justice Caucus
   Honolulu City Council (2014–2022)
     • Chair, Zoning and Planning
     • Chair, Business Economic Development and Tourism
     • Chair, Public Health, Safety, and Welfare
     • Chair, Transportation
     • Chair, Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization
     • Vice Chair, Budget Committee
     • Vice Chair, Transportation, Sustainability, and Health
     • Member, Budget, Executive Matters and Legal Affairs
     • Member, Executive Management
     • Member, Public Infrastructure and Technology

   ‘Aiea Neighborhood Board
     • Member

 Other:
     • Member, JCI Hawai‘i Filipino Jaycees
     • Member, Honolulu Japanese Junior Chamber of Commerce
     • Chair, Large Cities Council for NLC
     • Member, Board of Directors: National League of Cities (NLC)
     • Member, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (NLC)
     • High School Teacher

 Awards:
     • 2020, Distinguished Toastmaster
     • 2015, Pacific Business News 40 Under 40

Monday, January 12, 2026

January 2026 Newsletter

Image of page 1 of Senator Elefante's January 2026 newsletter

Image of page 2 of Senator Elefante's January 2026 newsletter

Image of page 2 of Senator Elefante's January newsletter

View the January 2026 Newsletter




Monday, May 12, 2025

Summer 2025 Newsletter









View the Summer 2025 Newsletter




Monday, April 7, 2025

Spring 2025 Newsletter





View the Spring 2025 Newsletter




Monday, February 10, 2025

February 2025 Newsletter





View the February 2025 Newsletter




Wednesday, January 8, 2025

January 2025 Newsletter





View the January 2025 Newsletter

 Measures Introduced in 2026
Measure and Title
SB83 SD2
RELATING TO HOTELS.
SB84
RELATING TO EDUCATION.
SB85
RELATING TO PERMITS.
SB86
RELATING TO EDUCATION.
SB87
RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.
SB89
RELATING TO TOBACCO PRODUCTS.
SB90
RELATING TO A COMPENSATORY TIME CASH-OUT PILOT PROGRAM.
SB91
RELATING TO EDUCATION.
SB92
RELATING TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONSE.
SB93
RELATING TO HOUSING.
SB94
RELATING TO TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDERS.
SB95
RELATING TO VEHICLE SAFETY.
SB96
RELATING TO TRAFFIC CITATIONS.
SB98
RELATING TO LOW-SPEED ELECTRIC BICYCLES.
SB99
RELATING TO GOVERNMENT.
SB103 SD1
RELATING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERIES.
SB130
RELATING TO SEARCH AND RESCUE.
SB132
RELATING TO SMALL BUSINESS LOANS.
SB134
RELATING TO ELECTIONS.
SB178
RELATING TO SURFING.
SB220
RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION FINANCING.
SB221
RELATING TO SCHOOL MEALS.
SB225
RELATED TO DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE.
SB226
RELATING TO PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.
SB227 SD1 HD2
RELATING TO FIREWORKS.
SB228 SD1 HD2
RELATING TO EXCITED DELIRIUM.
SB353 SD2 HD3
RELATING TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
SB363 SD1
RELATING TO FIREARMS.
SB384 SD1
RELATING TO VICTIM RESTITUTION.
SB390
RELATING TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE SIXTEENTH SENATORIAL DISTRICT.
SB391 SD1
RELATING TO RECYCLING.
SB392
RELATING TO ELECTRIC BICYCLES.
SB393
RELATING TO HOSPITALS.
SB420 SD1
RELATING TO EDUCATION.
SB434
RELATING TO TREATMENT FOR MENTAL ILLNESS.
SB436 SD1
RELATING TO THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL.
SB439 SD1 HD1
RELATING TO FEES.
SB440 SD2 HD1
RELATING TO EDUCATION.
SB474 SD1
RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS.
SB475
RELATING TO COLORECTAL CANCER.
SB476
RELATING TO FIREWORKS.
SB477
RELATING TO DOMESTIC ABUSE PROTECTIVE ORDERS.
SB478
RELATING TO ELECTRIC BICYCLES.
SB497
RELATING TO EDUCATION.
SB565 SD1
RELATING TO POLOLU VALLEY MANAGEMENT EFFORTS ON HAWAII ISLAND.
SB605
RELATING TO EDUCATION.
SB606
RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS.
SB639 SD1 HD1
RELATING TO UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS.
SB705
RELATING TO EXCITED DELIRIUM.
SB710 SD1
RELATING TO CHILD WELFARE.
SB741
RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.
SB746 SD2 HD1
RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES.
SB802 SD2
RELATING TO INSURANCE.
SB817 SD1
RELATING TO OUT-OF-STATE OFFICES.
SB818
RELATING TO IMMIGRATION.
SB819 SD2 HD1
RELATING TO EDUCATION.
SB840
RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.
SB846
RELATING TO EMERGENCY POWERS.
SB860
RELATING TO SHOPLIFTING.
SB868
RELATING TO THE SCHOOL BUS DRIVER CERTIFICATION SUBSIDY PILOT PROGRAM.
SB871 SD1
RELATING TO ARSON.
SB872
RELATING TO EDUCATION.
SB878
RELATING TO KUPUNA HOUSING.
SB969
RELATING TO INSURANCE.
SB970 SD1
RELATING TO TAXATION.
SB971 SD2
RELATING TO TRAFFIC.
SB972
RELATING TO HEALTH.
SB973
RELATING TO EDUCATION.
SB1096 SD1
RELATING TO LICENSE PLATES.
SB1100 SD2 HD2
RELATING TO BIOSECURITY.
SB1226 SD1
RELATING TO FIREWORKS.
SB1274
RELATING TO TEACHER WORKFORCE HOUSING.
SB1519
RELATING TO PRIOR AUTHORIZATION.
SB1537
RELATING TO WILDLIFE CONSERVATION.
SB1570 SD1
RELATING TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
SB1581 SD1 HD1
RELATING TO HAWAII-JAPAN PACIFIC PEACE MONUMENT.
SB1648 SD1
RELATING TO POWER OUTAGES.
SB2001
RELATING TO THE BANYAN DRIVE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.
SB2010
RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES.
SB2046
RELATING TO UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS.
SB2048
RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES.
SB2070
RELATING TO HOUSING.
SB2081
RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES.
SB2082
RELATING TO TEACHER WORKFORCE HOUSING.
SB2083
RELATING TO STATE-OWNED HISTORIC PROPERTIES AND INHERITED LANDS.
SB2114
RELATING TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.
SB2115
RELATING TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.
SB2116
RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYEES.
SB2117
RELATING TO THE HAWAII EMPLOYER-UNION HEALTH BENEFITS TRUST FUND.
SB2118
RELATING TO INDEBTEDNESS TO THE STATE.
SB2119
RELATING TO REIMBURSEMENT OF PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES.
SB2120
RELATING TO TRANSFER OF EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.
SB2121
RELATING TO EMERGENCY ANNOUNCEMENTS.
SB2122
RELATING TO CAFETERIA PLANS.
SB2124
RELATING TO ARSON.
SB2132
RELATING TO DENTAL INSURANCE.
SB2133
RELATING TO COMMUNITY RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT.
SB2134
RELATING TO RENEWAL OF DRIVER'S LICENSES.
SB2135
RELATING TO PRIVACY.
SB2136
RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.
SB2137
RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT.
SB2138
RELATING TO THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD STATE TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
SB2139
RELATING TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.
SB2140
RELATING TO COUNTY LABOR STANDARDS.
SB2141
RELATING TO ALLOWANCE ON SERVICE RETIREMENTS.
SB2147
RELATING TO LOVE MY LIBRARY DAY.
SB2152
PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE VI, SECTION 3, OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION TO INCREASE THE MANDATORY RETIREMENT AGE FOR STATE JUSTICES AND JUDGES.
SB2154
RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.
SB2157
RELATING TO SEARCH AND RESCUE.
SB2203
RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.
SB2213
RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.
SB2227
RELATING TO RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
SB2230
RELATING TO LUNG CANCER SCREENING.
SB2256
RELATING TO BROTHER JOSEPH DUTTON DAY.
SB2267
RELATING TO 911 SERVICES.
SB2290
RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.
SB2314
RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE.
SB2354
RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS.
SB2358
RELATING TO SEARCH AND RESCUE.
SB2363
RELATING TO THE COUNTIES.