On January 11, 2011, Governor Neil Abercrombie appointed Gilbert Kahele as Senator for the Second District, which includes Hilo, Puna and Ka‘u on Hawai‘i Island.  He serves as Vice Chair of the Senate Agricultural Committee.
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Senator Kahele served as the chairman of the Hawai&#8216;i County Police Commission and as the Democratic Party's vice-chairman for East Hawai&#8216;i. 
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Born in Miloli&#8216;i, he is a life-long resident of Hawai'i Island.  Following his graduation from Hilo High School in 1960, Senator Kahele served in the U.S. Marine Corp until 1964, graduated from Laney College in Oakland, California, and returned to Hilo in 1976.  He is a retired 37 year employee of the Hawai&#8216;i State Department of Defense having worked out of the Pohakuloa Training Area in the Public Works Division.