About Karl

2016-2020 HAWAII STATE SENATE

  • 2017-2018 Chair, Committee on Water and Land
  • 2019-present Chair, Committee on Judiciary

2006-2016 HAWAII STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

    • 2013-2016 Chair, Committee on Judiciary
    • 2009-2013 Chair, Committee on Labor & Public Employment

TO SEE KARL’S LEGISLATIVE RECORD, CLICK HERE.

ENDORSEMENTS

  • Brian E. Schatz, United States Senator
  • Mazie K. Hirono, United States Senator
  • Senator Suzanne Chun Oakland
  • Chu Lan Shubert-kwock, President, Chinatown Business and Community Association
  • Dr. Joseph W. C. Young, Honorary Mayor of Chinatown
  • Representative Scott Saiki (Downtown, Kakaako, McCully)
  • Representative Sylvia Luke, District 25 (Makiki, Punchbowl, Nuuanu, Dowsett Highlands, Pacific Heights, Pauoa)
  • Representative Takashi Ohno, District 27 (Nuuanu, Liliha, Puunui, Alewa Heights)
  • Calvin K. Y. Say, House Speaker Emeritus
  • Senator Jill Tokuda (Kane‘ohe, Kane‘ohe MCAB, Kailua, He‘eia, ‘Ahuimanu)
  • Senator Will Espero (‘Ewa Beach, Ocean Pointe, ‘Ewa by Gentry, Iroquois Point, portion of ‘Ewa Villages)
  • Build-PAC Hawaii
  • Hawaii Electricians Local Union 1186 IBEW
  • Hawaii Government Employees Association, Local 152
  • Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters
  • Hawaii State AFL-CIO
  • Honolulu Star-Advertiser (general election)
  • Honolulu Star-Advertiser (primary election)
  • ILWU Local 142
  • Iron Workers Stabilization Fund
  • LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii
  • National Association of Social Workers, Hawaii Chapter
  • Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii
  • Progressive PAC
  • Sierra Club Hawaii
  • University of Hawaii Professional Assembly
  • United Public Workers Local 646
  • Unite Here!  Local 5

AWARDS

                  • 2016 Certificate of appreciation, US Department of Defense
                  • 2013 Humane State Legislator Award, Humane Society of the United States
                  • 2013 recipient of the Patsy T. Mink Award.
                  • 2012 recipient of the Chinatown Heroes Award.
                  • AARP Certificate of Appreciation, for helping to pass the CARE Act.
                  • City and County of Honolulu, Environmental Hero Award of Recognition.
                  • Japanese-American Citizens League Honolulu Chapter, Certificate of Appreciation.
                  • Named Freshman Legislator of the Year for 2007 by the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

                  • Downtown Neighborhood Board, 10 years
                  • Chinatown Citizens Patrol, 14 years
                  • Pacific Gateway Center Board of Directors, 11 years
                  • Honolulu Tower Board of Directors, 6 years

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

                  • Legislative Aide, Rep. Marilyn B. Lee, 6 years
                  • Small business owner (solo law practice), 4 years
                  • Law practice, Perkin & Hosoda, 2 years
                  • Legislative Assistant, U.S. Rep. Eliot L. Engel, 3 years
                  • Legislative Aide, U.S. Rep. Louise M. Slaughter, 2 years
                  • Intern, U.S. Senator John F. Kerry

EDUCATION

                  • J.D., George Washington University (with Honors), 1996
                  • Summer clerk, Judge Corinne K.A. Watanabe (Intermediate Court of Appeals), 1995
                  • M.A., University of London, Soviet & Eastern European Area Studies, 1987
                  • B.A. Andrews University (History major, Chemistry minor), 1986

PERSONAL

          • Happily married to Cindy McMillan for 25 years
          • Basketball team, University of London, 1986-87