Latest news with #GeneWard
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Joseph Gedeon announced as Gene Ward's successor for House District 18
HONOLULU (KHON2) — A new face has been appointed to fill the vacant seat for House District 18. On Wednesday, May 28, the Hawaii House Republican Caucus announced that Joseph Gedeon would be the successor to the late Rep. Gene Ward, who served the Hawaii Kai community for nearly three decades. Former Rep. Gene Ward passes away at 82 Gedeon fills the seat as a born-and-raised Hawaii Kai resident himself and looks to continuously give back to his community through his involvement in many advocacy organizations. He brings in 20 years of business leadership experience, and currently works in marketing and advertising. According to the Hawaii Republican Party, Gedeon has 'worked tirelessly to uplift conservative voices and support over 80 political campaigns across the islands through his work.' Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Multiple members of the Hawaii Republican Party expressed their excitement and appreciation for Gedeon to take the vacant seat. We are confident Joe will bring energy, integrity, and innovative thinking to the State Legislature. He represents a new generation of Republican leadership—grounded in local values, equipped with real-world experience, and ready to fight for Hawaii's future. Art Hannemann, Hawaii Republican Party State Chair Check out more news from around Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, M.D., selected Gedeon out of three proposed candidates. He is set to serve in the House until the term expires on Nov. 3, 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Celebration of life to honor former Rep. Gene Ward
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Preparations are underway for a celebration of life honoring former state Rep. Gene Ward, one of Hawaii's longest-serving and most influential Republican lawmakers. Rep. Gene Ward retires from Hawaii State House of Representatives Volunteers gathered Sunday at The King's Chapel East Oahu to collect flowers ahead of Monday's memorial service. Doors will open at 9 a.m., with the service scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. The event will also be livestreamed on ʻŌ died one month ago at the age of 82, just days after resigning from the state House of Representatives. He served for decades and was widely respected across party lines. 'The pouring out of love is coming from Democrats and Republicans,' said House Minority Floor Leader Rep. Diamond Garcia. 'Gene impacted everybody he came into contact with.' Garcia also reflected on a lesson he learned from Ward: 'One thing I learned from Gene that I will never forget is: when we don't have the votes, we always have the voice. God forbid we don't stand up and use that voice.' Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Gov. Josh Green has not yet appointed a successor to fill the vacant seat in Ward's district. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Yahoo
Kansas task force recognized for fighting drug trafficking
LIBERAL, Kan. (KSNW) — A southwest Kansas law enforcement team was honored as the 2024 Drug Unit of the Year by the Kansas Narcotics Officers Association for their work against drug trafficking. Seward County Sheriff Gene Ward lauded the group in a news release, highlighting the team's history and accomplishments. The task force, comprising deputies from two county sheriff's offices, was established last year. In its first year, the unit seized more than 50 pounds of methamphetamine and cocaine combined—drugs that were intended for distribution across the area. Trump signs executive orders on school discipline, education reform One notable case highlighted by Ward involved a narcotics investigation that led to the removal of three children—ages 9, 6, and 5 months—from a home where drugs were being stored and packaged. During the search, methamphetamine and cocaine were found in the children's bedroom, and residue was even detected on the nipple of the infant's bottle. All three children tested positive for methamphetamine exposure and were placed in protective custody. Ward praised the task force for its dedication and effectiveness. 'There is no doubt in my mind the efforts by the Southwest Kansas Drug Task Force saved the lives of these children who were subject to a horrific environment,' he said. For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Veteran GOP state lawmaker Gene Ward served with distinction, fervor
COURTESY PHOTO Gene Ward 1 /4 COURTESY PHOTO Gene Ward COURTESY CATHY LEE Lei drape former Rep. Gene Ward's desk as House members pay tribute to him Friday morning. 2 /4 COURTESY CATHY LEE Lei drape former Rep. Gene Ward's desk as House members pay tribute to him Friday morning. WEST HAWAII TODAY / 2017 State Rep. Gene Ward addresses the West Hawaii Republican Convention at Waikoloa Village. Ward, a longtime Republican East Oahu representative, died Friday morning at age 82. 3 /4 WEST HAWAII TODAY / 2017 State Rep. Gene Ward addresses the West Hawaii Republican Convention at Waikoloa Village. Ward, a longtime Republican East Oahu representative, died Friday morning at age 82. STAR-ADVERTISER / JAN. 15, 2020 Ward addresses fellow representatives about the problem of the Hawaii's high cost of living with a bag of groceries at his side in 2020. 4 /4 STAR-ADVERTISER / JAN. 15, 2020 Ward addresses fellow representatives about the problem of the Hawaii's high cost of living with a bag of groceries at his side in 2020. COURTESY PHOTO Gene Ward COURTESY CATHY LEE Lei drape former Rep. Gene Ward's desk as House members pay tribute to him Friday morning. WEST HAWAII TODAY / 2017 State Rep. Gene Ward addresses the West Hawaii Republican Convention at Waikoloa Village. Ward, a longtime Republican East Oahu representative, died Friday morning at age 82. STAR-ADVERTISER / JAN. 15, 2020 Ward addresses fellow representatives about the problem of the Hawaii's high cost of living with a bag of groceries at his side in 2020. Former state Rep. Gene Ward was remembered Friday for nearly 30 years of service in the Legislature and other accomplishments that included helping Native Hawaiians and people in poor countries around the world. Ward, 82, died Friday morning after prolonged health issues kept him sidelined from the state Capitol since January and led him to resign Monday after representing his East Honolulu district, which includes Hawaii Kai, for 27 years. During Friday's House of Representatives floor session, Ward's desk was adorned with a flower arrangement and lei. After adjourning, House members gathered around the desk still bearing Ward's nameplate and sang 'Hawai 'i Aloha.' 'Esteemed colleagues of the House, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to formally inform this body of the passing of our dear friend, my mentor and our colleague, Representative Gene Ward, who peacefully passed away early this morning, ' said Rep. Diamond Garcia, a former office manager and chief of staff for Ward. 'Gene Ward was more than just a legislator, ' said Garcia (R, Ewa-Kapolei ). 'He was a true statesman. He devoted his life to serving others, from the villages of the Peace Corps to the halls of this Capitol.' Gov. Josh Green ordered U.S. and Hawaii flags to be flown at half-staff Friday through Monday at state facilities in recognition of what Green described as Ward's unwavering service. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. 'The passing of Gene Ward is a profound loss for Hawaii, ' Green said in a statement. 'Gene dedicated his life to public service with passion, integrity and an unwavering commitment to the people he represented. From his service in the Peace Corps and the Vietnam War to his decades in the State House, he brought a global perspective and deep love for Hawaii to everything he did. His leadership in supporting small businesses, strengthening international relations and advocating for local communities has left a lasting impact on our state.' Ward was born in Ohio and moved to Hawaii in 1965 where he trained in Hilo for volunteer Peace Corps service before being sent to Borneo, an island largely shared by Malaysia and Indonesia. According to old campaign advertising, Ward became an assistant land development officer for the Malaysian Department of Agriculture, and his job included clearing 10, 000 acres of jungle, establishing oil palm plantations and developing roads, bridges, villages and a school where he became principal. 'My crew chief for the jungle clearance project was an ex-head-hunter who used to squat down with me and smoke cigarettes while we planned our next step, ' Ward was quoted in the ad. 'It was a real hands-on lesson on working with people from incredibly diverse backgrounds.' In 1969, Ward, who spoke Malay, Indonesian and Vietnamese, served in the U.S. Army as a language specialist with the Military Assistance Command in Vietnam. Back in Hawaii, Ward earned a degree in Asian studies at the University of Hawaii and a doctorate in business sociology. As part of his doctoral thesis, Ward studied success factors of Hawaiians in business compared with Caucasians in business, according to campaign advertisements, and that led him to co-found the nonprofit Hawaii Entrepreneurship Training and Development Institute in 1977 with George Kanahele to train unemployed people to start their own businesses. Ward also for a time was a small-business owner with his wife, Faredah, a cousin of a past Malaysian prime minister whom Ward met in 1970 at the East-West Center. Ward and his wife imported and sold hand-painted batik fabrics from Malaysia in a store they opened in 1994 at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. Most of Ward's career was spent in politics. He credited his Peace Corps service with leading him there. 'I'm a product of Kennedy idealism that put me in the jungles of Borneo without electricity or running water for two years to prove that you can make a difference, ' he said in a campaign statement in the 1990s. 'Without the Peace Corps experience, I would not be in politics.' As a local Christian conservative GOP leader, Ward in 1988 was co-chair of the Pat Robertson for President Committee, an umbrella organization for new right-wing Republicans. After Robertson lost in the primary to then-Vice President George H.W. Bush, Ward led Hawaii's delegation at the National Republican Convention in New Orleans and appeared on national TV to cast the state's vote for Bush. Ward also ran for the state House in 1988, but lost to Democrat Fred Hirayama by 250 votes for the seat then representing Hawaii Kai to Aina Haina. Two years later Ward unseated Hirayama by nearly 300 votes—4, 249 to 3, 958. Also in 1990, Ward was honored in a Bush White House ceremony as the U.S. Small Business Administration's National Minority Business advocate of the year. Ward served in the House until 1998 when he tried to make a leap to Congress by running against Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep Neil Abercrombie, who later became governor. After losing to Abercrombie, Ward became a presidential appointee under the Bush administration in a USAID office promoting democracy throughout the world from 1999 to 2004. Then Ward served as a Peace Corps country director for the Southeast Asian island nation of East Timor from 2005 to 2006 supervising humanitarian efforts with a $1 million budget. Ward was reelected to his old House seat in 2006. Because Ward was a Republican in the Legislature heavily dominated by Democrats, it's hard to cite bills introduced by the veteran House member that became law. But Ward backed many bills that were enacted, and often chastised his colleagues from the opposing party. 'Democracy is good when there are differences of opinions, ' said Garcia. 'When debate happens, that's not a bad thing. It's a good thing and we need more debate.' Garcia recalled one instance in 2018 when Ward was trying to question officials in Gov. David Ige's administration about a missile attack alert that was sent to the public by mistake and took 38 minutes to correct. 'Please indulge me … I've waited for an hour and a half, ' Ward said to a House colleague running the meeting as he tried to ask more than two questions. 'Please don't cut me off.' Ward was cut off, and flung his microphone down in disgust as he left the meeting room. 'Typical Gene, ' Garcia said. 'He could get fiery at times, but he was always passionate. He would make sure that his thoughts were spoken loud and clear no matter what.' House Republican Leader Lauren Matsumoto said in a statement that during her 12 years in the Legislature with Ward, he would always say that Republican members might not have the votes but have the voice. 'And he lived up to that ideal every day he served, ' Matsumoto said. Over the years, Ward held multiple leadership roles, including House minority leader, House minority policy leader and, most recently, House minority caucus leader for the 2025 legislative session. Ward introduced several bills this year backed by colleagues, including one to establish a general excise tax holiday on the first Saturday of each month for Hawaii small businesses, one to legalize recreational use of cannabis by adults no younger than 21, one to replace a parking lot around Iolani Palace with a pedestrian promenade, and one to limit legislative terms to 12 years. However, since the beginning of this year's legislative session on Jan. 15, Ward had not been present at the state Capitol due to health issues. On March 21, Ward released a statement explaining that he had been experiencing anemia, sciatica, pneumonia and other health challenges that prompted him to resign from office effective March 31. 'Despite the many efforts of medical professionals, my recovery has been much slower and more painful in the last few weeks, ' he said. House Speaker Nadine Nakamura on Friday extended heartfelt condolences to Ward's family and community. 'Representative Ward served the East Honolulu community and the State of Hawaii with unwavering dedication, determination, and spirit, ' she said in a statement. 'His institutional knowledge, leadership, and flair were appreciated by colleagues on both sides of the aisle. Ward's contributions leave a lasting impact in the Legislature and throughout our state.' Former Gov. John Waihe 'e III recognized Ward for his service, which included twice being on the East-West Center's Board of Governors. 'Gene's unwavering commitment to service was truly inspiring, and his tenacity pushed us all to aim higher, ' Waihe 'e, the center's current board chair, said in a statement. 'Even in times of opposition, he approached conversations with respect and aloha. Our community will not be the same without him, and we will carry his memory forward in our service to the Center's mission that he cared about so deeply.' U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, called Ward a statesman and genuinely effective member of the loyal opposition. 'The people of Hawaii Kai and the people of Hawaii have lost a very good and decent public servant, ' Schatz said in a statement. Funeral service and public memorial arrangements are to be announced at a later date.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Yahoo
Former chop-shop transforms into farm
HONOLULU (KHON2) — An area once a haven for criminal activity is being transformed in Wahiawa. The land, just off Kamehameha Highway near Whitmore Village, was overgrown for years. It was a hub for crime–several acres of it was an illegal chop shop littered with hundreds of abandoned cars. There were brush fires and squatters living there. Longtime GOP lawmaker Gene Ward dead at 82, leaving legacy of principle and political resilience The last straw came in 2020 after 30-year-old Malia Soma-Valmoja was shot and killed there. Shortly after her murder, dozens of law enforcement officials swept the area, and the state's Agribusiness Development Corp., tasked with managing the land, ramped up efforts to regain control of it. 'I think we've made amazing progress in the last five years,' ADC Executive Director Wendy Gady said. According to Gady, they were determined to revitalize it, but it wasn't easy. Clearing it was a process.'We took it very seriously,' she said. 'All of the vehicles are gone. The people are gone and we're in active production.' Mark Takemoto from the ADC explained that the ground zero was once a mass dumping ground, filled with hundreds of cars. 'We want to make sure that this place is farmed,' Takemoto said. 'And we have a tenant. And now that the Department of Health has cleared the way, we hope to have this place actively farmed.' Small pink and orange flags mark spots where the environmental contractor took soil samples for testing. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news The ADC needed to ensure the soil wasn't contaminated before giving the green light, while other portions of the land are already in production with several different crops. Gady said the future looks bright, and they are eager to be creating more food security. 'We're in the process of building a food hub out in Wahiawa,' she explained. 'The DAGS organization is working with us and putting in a lot of infrastructure to, basically honor of the community and the community's history. This is very rich in AG and to revitalize AG.' The ADC is taking action to prevent illegal activity and squatters from moving back in. 'We have security that is hired in roving around, but we also have very active property managers that are out there,' Gady said. They are able to deal with trespassers quickly and she said having workers actively farming the land regularly is one of the best deterrents. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
