On January 11, 2011 Governor Neil Abercrombie appointed Gilbert Kahele as Senator for the 2nd District, encompassing the communities of Hilo, Puna and Ka‘u on Hawai‘i Island.   However, as a result of reapportionment, Senator Kahele was elected to represent the community of Hilo, now known as the 1st Senatorial District, as of August 11, 2012.  This was Senator Kahele's first run for public office.  
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He currently serves as the Chair of the Committee on Tourism, Vice Chair of the Higher Education Committee, and Majority Whip.  He is also a member of the following Senate committees:  Transportation and International Affairs, and Ways and Means.
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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.  He was also a delegate to the 2012 Democratic National Convention.
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Born in Miloli&#8216;i, he is a life-long resident of Hawai&#8216;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.