Representative David Tarnas is serving his fifth term in public office and currently chairs the House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs (JHA). In previous legislative sessions, he has also chaired the Committee on Water and Land and the Committee on Ocean Recreation and Marine Resources.
With this breadth of experience, Representative Tarnas brings invaluable knowledge and leadership to his role, enabling him to serve his district and the State of Hawaiʻi effectively.
The 2025 legislative session was a landmark year for judiciary, Hawaiian affairs, and elections reform. As Chair of the JHA Committee, Representative David Tarnas secured more than $400 million in biennium funding for the Judiciary, created new judgeships in the First and Third Circuits, expanded specialty courts, and improved compensation for court-appointed counsel and witnesses. He also championed funding for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, supported infrastructure improvements for Hawaiian Home Lands, and established September as Hawaiian History Month.
Representative Tarnas also advanced critical election reforms to strengthen democracy and increase voter participation. These measures create new positions and funding for the Campaign Spending Commission, improve the electronic filing of nomination papers, and extend the deadline to register to vote by mail. Additional reforms clarified lobbying rules, strengthened restrictions on lobbyist contributions during legislative sessions, expanded recount procedures, prohibited intimidation at polling places through the display of firearms, and allowed campaign funds to be used for essential child and dependent care.
Representative Tarnas also advocated and secured funding for Capital Improvement Projects for District 8, including $13.45 million to support the planning, design, and construction of the South Kohala District Courthouse and the Kawaihae North Small Boat Harbor. In addition, Rep. Tarnas secured $500,000 in Grants-in-Aid for local organizations including St. James Episcopal Church, the Hawaiʻi Island Humane Society, and Five Mountains Hawaiʻi. These investments are intended to enhance the quality of life and support the needs of residents throughout North and South Kohala.
In the 2024 session, Rep. Tarnas worked as the JHA Chair to help achieve the House’s priorities to help Lahaina rebuild, reduce the State’s wildfire risk, reduce the cost of living, build more affordable housing, and support public education, public safety and environmental protection. To do this, the legislature created a State Fire Marshall, increased penalties for starting wildfires, and funded major improvements in the State’s capacity to prevent and fight wildfires. The legislature effectively cut the cost-of-living in Hawaii by passing the largest income tax cut in State history and exempting from general excise tax all Medicare, Medicaid and Tricare-funded medical and dental care. The legislature provided major funding to build more State-sponsored affordable housing projects. Rep. Tarnas co-chaired the Conference Committee that passed legislation that required Counties to encourage more affordable housing by allowing two additional dwelling units on residential zoned parcels and allowing residential use of commercial property.
During the 2023 and 2024 session, Rep. Tarnas has been very successful in securing significant funding for public construction projects in his House district. He led the effort to gain legislative funding to build a new Waikoloa Public Library, expand Kohala Hospital with a new scanner facility and administration building, help build the infrastructure for a new Hamakua Health Center clinic in Kohala, develop a plan for a public parking lot and visitor facility at Pololu Valley Lookout trailhead, strengthen and rebuild the Kawaihae North Small Boat Harbor break water and harbor dock, and significantly expand facilities at the Kawaihae Commercial Harbor. Tarnas has also helped to secure significant funding for major road construction projects to build a new Waiaka Bridge and intersection of Kawaihae Road and Kohala Mountain Road and make major traffic safety improvements for pedestrian and cycling safety in Waimea town. Rep. Tarnas also led the effort in the House to secure agreements from the State Department of Transportation, the U.S. Army, and the Congressional delegation to restart the project to build the Saddle Road Extension from the terminus of Daniel K. Inouye Highway at Mamalahoa Highway all the way makai to Queen Kaahumanu Highway. As the critical next step in this project development process, Rep. Tarnas successfully secured legislative funding to prepare the project’s federally mandated Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Saddle Road Extension project.