"State Rep. Trish La Chica experienced firsthand what it takes for a student to get to Pearl City High School from Koa Ridge on TheBus now that the school bus route is suspended."

State Rep. Trish La Chica of District 37 says safety is a high priority in the community.

"Clearly this is top of mind," she said. "And as a mom raising two kids, similar to many parents in our community. It’s a very high priority to us."

The state representative wants to find solutions to the impacts that poverty, corruption and political instability have on citizens' everyday lives.

"Despite our significant presence here [in Hawaii], I feel that a lot of Filipinos still face a lot of challenges related to economic self-sufficiency – struggles with economic autonomy and securing positions of leadership," La Chica said.

One solution, La Chica added, would be to establish a conference for Filipino leaders in Hawaii to further promote economic development and sustainability, develop business relations and cultivate community growth.

This legislative session, I introduced HCR162/SCR107, a resolution to expand crisis response teams to Central Oahu to help address the police staffing shortage.

"[SB975] is a measure that would regulate e-cigarettes as they remain to be the only tobacco product unregulated in the state." said Representative Trish La Chica (D-37, Portions of Mililani Town, Mililani Mauka, Koa Ridge, and Waipi'o Gentry).

La Chica formerly served as the City and County of Honolulu executive director of the Mayor's Office of Housing and Homelessness in 2022 and as the community government relations manager at AlohaCare. She's also been a member of the Mililani Neighborhood Board.

During a Wednesday press conference, La Chica said she'd like to focus on lowering the cost of living and transportation needs.