(808) 258-8889
P.O. Box 775, Kaneohe, HI 96744
From Hawai`i for Hawai`i

  • Melodie aduja District 23 SCC Rep.

    • Party Leadership Experience
    • Environmental & Economic Experience
    • Medical Equity Experience
    • Legislative Experience
    • Litigation & Legal Experience
    Aloha! I’m Melodie Aduja, Co Chair of the Environmental Caucus and the Chair of the Health Committee and District 23 State Central Committee Representative. We face many environmental and other challenges on O`ahu and specifically, Windward O`ahu. These issues include:
    (1) Permanently decommissioning KAPUKAHI Red Hill Underground Fuel Storage Facility, (2) Flooding from blocked streams; (3) Cesspool conversion needs in Kahaluu and Waimanalo; (4) Reef deterioration from sedimentation, runoff, sewage discharge, invasive limu species, ocean warming, and depletion of fish stock due to contamination and the aquarium fish trade; (5) Real property prices soaring; (6) Overcrowded beaches; (7) Development of Gentlemen estates on agricultural lands; and (8) Homelessness and affordable housing shortages, illegal seawalls and the need for more DHHL homes, among other countywide issues, including COVID-19.
    As Chair of the Health Committee and Co Chair of the Environmental Caucus, I enjoy hosting public forums and working with other party leaders to improve our quality of life. We are making progress through our legislators. Community efforts and activism inspire me, and we would be happy to have you join us!
    I have served on numerous State and O`ahu County Democratic Party caucuses and committees. I’m currently on the State Central Committee as the Kupuna Caucus SCC Rep.; co-chair of the Environmental Caucus, and chair of the Health Committee. I am a former Deputy Prosecuting Attorney; former District 23 State Senator; and retired attorney.
    I’m known for my focus and drive for the issues close to home on Windward Oahu, namely the Homeland Security Radar at Kahuku, the AES Windmills, flooding, aquarium fish harvesting, illegal seawalls, among others. But currently, Red Hill has taken front and center as tens of thousands of human lives have been impacted, all of which could have been prevented had the Facility been shuttered back in 2014 after the 27,000 gallon fuel spill. I served in the Hawai`i State Senate, representing Senate District 23, Kane`ohe to Kawela Bay, Kahuku. I bring to the position of District 23 SCC Rep.: (1) Senatorial experience, (2) litigation and legal experience, (3) Party leadership experience, and (4) Hawai`i Legislative experience from a lobbyist perspective as Co Chair of the Environmental Caucus and Chair of the Health Committee. Currently the Health Committee has several resolutions going through the Legislative process: HCR 18; HR 16; SCR 208; SR 15 on Medicare for All (Working Families Legislative Caucus Package); HCR 142; HR 142; SCR 116 on a Medicaid Audit by the State Auditor (Progress Caucus Package); and SCR 239; SR140 on an EUTF Audit by the Legislative Reference Bureau.
     I plan to assist in the events that are changing O`ahu as we know it today: (1) SHUT DOWN RED HILL: It took years of unified community effort to bring the Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to direct the Secretary of the Navy to close Red Hill permanently, an endeavor that the Party has been involved in since 2018. (2) COVID-19 PANDEMIC: Now, more than ever, we need Single-payer or All-payer Healthcare for an adequate healthcare system. We must improve and enhance telehealth, telecommuting, work from home, and access to technology for public education. (3) ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION: We need to reduce our dependency on the military and Tourism and increase our production of agriculture for local consumption and limit "Gentleman Estates" on O`ahu. (4) PRESERVATION OF OUR OCEAN RESOURCES: Cesspool and pollution abatement and a prohibition on the harvesting for the aquarium fish trade. (5) NO HOMELAND DEFENSE RADAR: Fight against the siting of the $2 billion Homeland Defense Radar-Hawaii (HDR-H) at the Kahuku Training Area Site 1 as having redundant discriminatory capabilities, and being harmful and hazardous to the environment and its human and wildlife inhabitants with the clearing of 150 acres and the building of a storage facility for fossil fuels, petroleum constituents and other toxic chemicals, in addition to the requirement of a 9 mile airspace restriction . The community cannot accommodate more traffic and housing for workers in the area. Mahalo nui loa, Melodie Aduja Co Chair of the Environmental Caucus, and Chair, Health Committee (808) 258-8889 Call or Text

democratic party Voter Registration & Enrollment Drives, democratic party parade contingents, & oCC resolutions

* 2020, Martin Luther King, Jr., Parade and Unity Rally, * 2020, Pearl Harbor Day Evening Parade, (First time Democratic Party Presence), * 2017, 2018, 2019, Kane`ohe Christmas Parade, Kane`ohe. * 2019, Pride Parade, * 2018, 2019, Kailua 4th of July Parade, * 2020, Hawai`i State Teachers Association Voter Registration and Enrollment Drives at Castle High School, * 2020, Hawaiian Caucus Day Voter Registration and Enrollment Drive at the Hawai`i State Capitol, * 2020, Helped fold & mailed over 7,000 Region 9 Newsletters with the help of Region 9 District Chairs and Treasurer, *2018, 2019, Volunteered for Democratic Party at Young at Heart Kupuna Expo at the Blaisdell Center, * 2018, Platform Committee Scribe, Democratic State Convention, (See, https://hawaiidemocrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2018-State-Platform-1-6-13-18.pdf), * 2018, 2019, Platform Committee Co-Chair with Don Koelper, Democratic O`ahu County Conventions, (See, for 2019 Platform: https://www.oahudemocrats.org/convention19/OCD_Platform%20_2019May4.pdf ) 2022 STATE RESOLUTIONS * 2022-4.0 Honoring the 50th Anniversary of Patsy T. Mink's Title IX Amendment * 2022-7.0 Strongly urging the State of Hawai`i to Transition to Climate Change Resilient Buildings, Infrastructure, and Services * 2022-11.9v2 Demanding that the Red Hill Fuel Tanks and Piping Infrastructure be Expeditiously Decommissioned and New Monitoring and Exploratory Wells be Immediately Developed * 2022-17.0 Urging that Medicaid Cover Dental Services and Prosthodontic Services * 2022-18.5 Urging Adoption of the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act * 2022-25.5 Urging the Hawai`i State Legislature to Ban the Sale of Sunscreens that Contain the Toxic Chemicals Avobenzone and Octocrylene that are Harmful to Human Life, Wildlife, and Coral Reefs * 2022-26.5v2 Coral Reef Wildlife Collection * 2022-28.9 Urging the Hawai`i State Legislature to Place a Proposed Constitutional Amendment for Term Limits on the Ballot * 2022-44 Demanding Bayer/Monsanto Cease Operations in the State of Hawai`i after Pleading Guilty to Multiple Violations that Harm People and Environment and to pay Just Compensation for Injuries * 2022-45 Urging Hawai`i's Department of Human Services to Adopt a Clear Plan to Improve the Child Welfare Services Division's Child Welfare System * 2022-46 Urging the State Legislature to pursue more Solar, Wind and Battery capcity rather rather than Firm Renewable Energy because geothermal and biomass energy plants cause more greenhouse gas emissions than coal and oil-burning power plants 2022 OAHU COUNTY RESOLUTIONS * OCC 22 -03 Honoring the 50th Anniversary of Patsy T. Mink's Title IX Amendment * OCC 22 -06 Urging the City and State to Transition to Climate Change Resilient Buildings, Infrastructure, and Services * OCC 22 -10 Urging That the Red Hill Fuel Tank Storage Facility and Piping Infrastructure be Decommissioned * OCC 22 -16 Urging that Medicaid cover Dental Services and Prosthodonic Services * OCC 22-17 Urging adoption of the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act * SCC 2022 ___ Urging the Immediate Draining of the U.S. Navy Red Hill Fuel Storage Tanks and Closure of the Facility * OCC 2021-06: Urging the State Legislature to keep suitable agricultural lands for agriculture and kepp agricultural lands affordable for farming * OCC 2021-7: Supporting legislative action to end the commercial harvesting of reef wildlife for the aquarium pet trade * OCC 2021-10: Urging the Hawaii State Legislature to ban the sale of sunscreens that contain the toxic chemicals avobenzone and octocrylene for their harmfulness to human life, wildlife, and coral reef * OCC 18-02 RESOLUTION: Urging Hawai`i State Department of Education to provide girls' athletic facilities throughout the state to comply with Title IX of the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1972, * OCC 18-05 RESOLUTION: Urging Cesspool Abatement Measures, * OCC 18-11 RESOLUTION: Urging the United States Navy to retrofit its twenty jet fuel tanks or relocate them to a location away from the aquifer. (For OCC Resolutions see, https://www.oahudemocrats.org/resolutions2018.html)

Informational Briefings & candidate Forums

* June 9, 2022, Henry Curtis, Life of the Land, on SB 2510 on Firm Renewable Energy and an Update on Hu Honua Biomass Power Plant * April 22, 2022, Ernie Lau & Erwin Kawata, BWS, Red Hill Updates, Everything You Wanted to Know about Red Hill * April 6, 2022, Ikaika Hussey, Decarbonizing Hawaii's Aviation Impact through the Production of Carbon-neutral Jet Fuel * March 24, 31,2022, April 4, 2022, Mike Ewall, Founder, Energy Justice Network, Advocate for Zero Emissions, Zero Waste Future; Everything You Wanted to Know about H-POWER and COVANTA but was Afraid to Ask; Discussion with Sen. Maile Shimabukuro RE SB 2662 on Green Construction Waste * March 21, 2022, Becky Gardner, Professional Wellness Coach & Community Activist, How to Overcome Activist Burnout & Build Resilience * March 9, 2022, Ann Wright, Janet Weil, and Pete Doktor, U.S. Military vs. the Climate and the Environment * February 23, 2022, Noel Morin, Electric Cars for the Environment, Pocketbook & the Planet * February 9, 2022, Danielle Bass, Sustainability Coordinator Reviews "Hawaii 2050 Sustainability Plan" * January 29, 2022, Maya Van Rossum, A Constitutional Right to Clean Air, Water & a Healthy Climate * January 26, 2022, Marti Townsend, EarthJustice, Former Director, Sierra Club, "Insights on the Legislative Process" * January 4, 2022, "Imminent Peril" featuring Wai Ola Alliance Attorneys: Dan Cooper, Jesse Swanhuyser, Margaret Wille, and Tim Vandeveer, * December 13, 2021, "Red Hill Update" Does the Navy have Sovereign Immunity or Preemption Power over Ige's Emergency Order? with Margaret Wille and Tim Vandeveer * June 28, 2021, Henry Curtis, President, Life of the Land, on Life after Coal-Burning Power Plant - A Portfolio of Options * October 2, 2020, OHA Office of Hawaiian Affairs Candidate Forum * September 17, 2020, National Epidemiologists on COVID-19, 1st in Lunch & Learn Series, Dr. Alison Bettenheim (U.Penn) and Dr. Daniel Westreich (UNC) * June 24, 2020, Hawaiian Nationality Forum on SR 59 featuring Leon Siu and Poka Laenui * June 15, 2020, O`ahu County Democrats District 50 CANDIDATES FORUM (Kailua-Kane`ohe Bay), * June 17, 2020, O`ahu County Democrats Council District III FORUM (Ahuimanu – Kane`ohe – Waimanalo), * June 18, 2020, O`ahu County Democrats District 51 CANDIDATES FORUM (Kailua – Waimanalo), * June 5, 2020, MEDICARE FOR ALL and Hawai`i Health Authority with Reps. John Mizuno and Romy Cachola, * May 22, 2020, MEDICARE FOR ALL and Hawai`i Health Authority with Reps. John Mizuno and Romy Cachola, * May 7, 2020, MEDICARE FOR ALL and Hawai`i Health Authority with Reps. John Mizuno and Tina Wildberger, * January 6, 2020, DAN GALPERN Esq., Environmental Attorney, Advocating for Nations to sue the Carbon Majors for Damages from Sea Level Rise; Climate emergency to stop fossil fuel expansion and preserve forests as carbon sinks,* October 24, 2019, RIGHTS OF NATURE, KAI HUSCHKE, Esq, Environmental Attorney and Community Environmental Defense Fund, * October 21, 2019, HELEN JACCARD and the ship GOLDEN RULE engaging in Environmental Direct Action by VETERANS FOR PEACE to promote Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament, * July 17, 2019, PAUL ERYE, Hydrologist, on RED HILL UNDERGROUND FUEL STORAGE TANKS, * July 8, 2019, POHAKULOA TRAINING AREA and the Hawai`i Supreme Court’s affirmation of “Malama `āina,” with David Kimo Frankel, Esq., attorney in Ching v. Aila, Dir. of DLNR, to compel the U.S. Military to clean-up post-training debris and to restore the `aina, * December 20, 2018, HU HONUA BIOENERGY Plant, nka Honua Ola Bioenergy Firm regarding unbridled Greenhouse Gas Emissions from burning eucalyptus trees for renewable energy, with Life of the Land Henry Curtis and Lance Collins, Esq., Environmental Attorney, * November 18, 2018, RED HILL UNDERGROUND FUEL STORAGE TANK Informational Briefing with Board of Water Supply (BWS) Manager and Chief Engineer ERNEST LAU, and ERWIN KAWATA, BWS Water Quality Program Administrator, *August 3, 2018, District 23 CANDIDATES FORUM with candidates for U.S. Congress, Gov., Lt. Gov., Senate District 23, House District 48, and Council District II .

Democratic party Leadership experience. Working and Making a Difference – not just holding office

* 2020 - present, State Central Committee Kupuna Caucus Rep.; Former Senate District 23 State Central Committee Rep. * 2020 - present, Co-Chair Environmental Caucus with Alan Burdick; emphasis on the negative environmental impacts of Red Hill Underground Fuel Storage Tanks; Pohakuloa Training Area; and Hu Honua nka Honua Ola Bioenergy Plant, and Priority #1 cesspools in Kahalu`u; Co-Chair, Human Environmental Impacts Committee since 2018 * 2020, CD 2 Delegate for Bernie Sanders, Democratic National Convention (DNCC) Virtual Convention * 2018 - 2020, State Central Committee for District 23 (Kane`ohe, North Shore, Wahiawa, Kunia); * 2018 - 2021, Oahu County Region 9 Chair (Waiahole, Kane`ohe, Kailua, Waimanalo); * 2019 - present, Chair, Health Committee, advocating for the "Expanded and Improved Medicare for All" and local healthcare reforms * 2019 - 2020, Co-chair with Jeff McKnight, Subject Committee on the Green New Deal advocating for the GND Legislative Package of 33 bills on net-zero greenhouse gases, clean air and water, green infrastructure and jobs, resilience and sustainability. * 2018 - present, Vice-Chair, Kupuna Caucus, under Chair Larry Smith and former Chair Alan Burdick. * 2018 - 2022, Second Vice-Chair, Hawaiian Affairs Caucus, under Chair Juanita Kawamoto-Brown and former Chair Leimomi Khan. *2018 - present, Treasurer, Women’s Caucus, * 2018 - present, Precinct President, District 48, Precinct 1, * 2018 Platform Committee scribe, State Democratic Convention at Waiakoloa, * 2018, 2019 Co-Chair Platform Committee, O`ahu County Democratic Conventions * 2017-2018, Chair, O`ahu County Legislation Committee, * 2019 - 2020, Member, Legislation Committee, State Central Committee, * April 5, 2018, Signing ceremony for "Our Care, Our Choice" Act, HB 2739, pictured with Gov. David Ige, the the late John Radcliff and the late Marsha Rose Joyner, * January 20, 2009, Attended President Barack Obama's Inauguration, Washington, D.C., * 2020, Delegate for Bernie Sanders, Democratic National Convention (DNCC) Virtual Convention * 2008, Alternate Delegate for Barack Obama, Democratic National Convention (DNCC), Denver, Colorado, pictured with the late U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye,

About My `Ohana & Me

  • * Born in Hawai`i * Raised in Kane`ohe and Kahalu`u * Resides in Kahalu`u
  • * St. Ann's Schools and St. Francis School * Mid-Pacific Institute * B.A., Hawai`i Pacific University * Attended, U.H.- Manoa * J.D., Golden Gate University School of Law * LL.M.- Fed. Taxation, Golden Gate University School of Law * My father, the late Peter Aduja, was raised in Hakalau, Hawai`i, and received the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor for his WWII service. * My Heritage has prepared me for this moment as my father, Peter Aduja, was the first person of color to be elected to public office in Hawaii in 1954, a year before the Montgomery Bus Boycott led by Martin Luther King, Jr. Both my father and MLK, Jr., attended Boston University at the same time. I will continue in their legacy of helping the community, our State and this nation in striving for civil rights, * 1954, Dad won a House Seat and served 10 years * 1968, Dad was a ConCon Delegate * A fishing `Ohana: Growing up we were always fishing, crabbing, clam digging, ogo & limu wawae`iole picking, catching fresh water prawns, pole-fishing, and deep water fishing. * My son, William, is a licensed boat captain; entrepreneur; Men's Amateur Longboard Champion 2016-2017 * My daughter, Amber Nanea, Hawaii Pacific University, Magna Cum Laude, BS in Biological Sciences/Pre-Med; Environmental Activist on Sustainability and Resilience; Miss O`ahu 2017; 2nd Runner-up, Miss Hawai`i 2017; Miss Paradise Hawai`i 2018 * Kupuna Caregiver for my mother, the late Melodie Cabalona, who was raised in Koloa, Kauai, Hawai`i, small business owner of "Rebecca's Puka Shells" at Coral Kingdom.
My son, William, & our Australian Shepherd, "Pirate"

WWII Vet, Judge & Rep. Peter Aduja
(1920 - 2007)
My daughter, Amber Nanea; my siste-in-law, Maryann and my brother, Jay
2017
My son, William, Coast Guard Licensed Boat Captain

My daughter, Amber Nanea, Miss Paradise Hawai`i 2018, Miss O`ahu 2017,
2nd Runner-Up, Miss Hawai`i 2017
My son's girlfriend, Rochelle; my son, William; and my daughter, Amber Nanea

Democratic party Leadership experience. Working to Make Difference

During the 2020 Elections, many Region 9 Forums were organized. Many of them were planned with Flora Pua Obayashi, District 48, Precinct 1 VP. We presented forums of all the Region 9 candidates to give them an opportunity to inform their constituents of their positions on major issues concerning their districts, the County and the State. After the primary elections, we kept supporting our general election candidates with flyers, volunteers, sign-wavers, and friend to friend cards.

ENVIRONMENTAL & ECONOMIC JUSTICE EXPERIENCE

ENVIRONMENTAL CAUCUS Co CHAIR STRONG ENVIRONMENTAL and ECONOMIC JUSTICE EXPERIENCE: * Co-chair of the Green New Deal (GND) Hawai`i, of the Legislation Committee, * GND Legislative Package based on Senator Bernie Sanders' S.Res. 59, focused on: * Agriculture; * Ecosystem Restoration & Management; * Education; * Energy; * Health and Human Services; * Housing; * Transportation; and * Waste Management. We will continue to fight for these Progressive principles: * Building smart power grids; * Upgrading buildings to achieve maximum energy and water efficiency; * Removing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from transportation and agricultural sectors; * Ensuring that businesses are free from unfair competition; * Cleaning-up existing hazardous waste and abandoned sites; and * Providing higher education, * High-quality health care, and * Affordable, safe, and adequate housing for all. With these goals come: * High-wage green jobs; * Economic security for all; * Investing in infrastructure and jobs; * Ensuring clean air and water; * Resilience to climate change; * Healthful foods; * Sustainable environment; and * Promoting justice and equality.

MEDICAL EQUITY EXPERIENCE

STRONG MEDICAL EQUITY EXPERIENCE: As Chair of the Democratic Party of Hawai`i Health Committee, we continue to advocate for the Federal H.R. 1384, Expanded and Improved Medicare For All that would provide: * Primary and inpatient care, * Hospital and out-patient services, * prescription drugs, * mental health, * substance abuse treatment, * dental, * vision, * hearing, * long-term services and * supports reproductive health, including abortions, and * laboratory and diagnostic services for all. We also support HB1462 to self-insure health care for state employees and retirees and to cancel managed care of Medicaid which will save the State millions of dollars by reducing third-party administrative costs.

LEGISLATIVE EXPERIENCE

LEGISLATIVE EXPERIENCE AS A FORMER STATE SENATOR: * District 23 State Senator (Kane`ohe to Kawela Bay), * Spear-heading two Joint Legislative Task Forces: * Joint Legislative Task Force on Ice and Drug Abatement with Co-chairs Sen. Colleen Hanabusa and Rep. Eric Hamakawa, and * Joint Legislative Task Force on Waste Management and Recycling. The Joint Legislative Task Force on Ice and Drug Abatement allowed for clean and sober homes post-drug rehabilitation to avert recidivism, and other drug addiction treatment measures. Helping the well-being of those fallen victims to drugs and alcohol abuse has been one of my community passions, having previously served on the Board of Hina Mauka Rehabilitation Center and Makana Foundation, for several years. With the Joint Legislative Task Force on Waste Management and Recycling, we met with each county council and visited Hawai`i Island, Maui, Moloka`i, Kaua`i and O`ahu to discuss ways to improve our opala disposal, diversion, recycling, and illegal dumping. As a Legislative Task Force, we visited every county dump site, non-county dumpsite, and areas prone to illegal dumping. Saving the environment has developed into one of my most important passions.

LITIGATION & LEGAL EXPERIENCE

LITIGATION AND LEGAL EXPERIENCE IN BOTH CRIMINAL AND CIVIL TRIALS: * Former Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, Robbery/Burglary Team, includes assaults with deadly weapons, * Tried 19 jury trials from Driving Under the Influence to attempted murder. * Legal Masters Degree in Federal Taxation (LL.M.-Tax). * Former Foreclosure Attorney defending homeowners from predatory lending practices such as: * truth-in-lending violations, * lending fraud, * “robo-signing,” * defective assignments, * recharacterization of the note into securities, and * sales of bank Notes in tranches on Wall Street as Securities, * lack of standing to foreclose, * Sole trial defense attorney & appellate attorney in U.S. Bank v. Mattos, 140 Haw. 26, 398 P.3d 615 (2017) where the Hawai`i Supreme Court reversed the Hawai`i Intermediate Court of Appeals and ruled in favor of my clients, holding that lenders must show that they are in possession of the original bank note and any assignments before they can file a foreclosure action. * Hawai`i Research Institute, LLC, now engaged in legal writing and research * Retired Attorney

Other affiliations

* 2019 - present, Board Member of Americans for Democratic Action - Hawai`i, an organization once chaired nationally by the late U.S. Rep. Patsy T. Mink * 2017 - present, FAMES - Hawai`i Former Vice-President. Board Member of FAMES, an all female Board with the mission to mentor, educate, motivate, and promote leadership development for college students and young entrepreneurs, www.fameshawaii.org * 1999 - 2000 Board Member, Kahalu`u Neighborhood Board #29 * Former Board Member, National Kidney Foundation - Hawai`i Chapter * Former Board Member, Hina Mauka Rehabilitation Center * Founder and Former Board Member, Makana Foundation * Former Member, Rotary Club of Metropolitan Honolulu

Mahalo nui loa, Aloha ke akua

With your support, I will continue to help to coordinate and implement a strategy for the improvement of the quality of life in the State of Hawai`i. We can continue to promote measures to close and remediate the RED HILL UNDERGROUND FUEL TANK FACILITY, combat COVID-19, and advocate for single-payer and all-payer Healthcare; prevent the proliferation of "Gentleman Estates" in place of productive agricultural lands for local food production; prevent further destruction and pollution to our beautiful ocean resources by eliminating cesspools and other faulty wastewater systems, and preventing the continued harvesting for the aquatic reef fish trade, and stop the siting of the Homeland Defense Radar - Hawai`i (HDR-H) at the Kahuku Training Area Site 1 to prevent environmental damage and harm to human life and wildlife in the surrounding community. Me ke aloha pumehana,
MELODIE ADUJA Text/voice: (808) 258-8889 Email: legislativepriorities@gmail.com
MELODIE ADUJA, HEALTH COMMITTEE CHAIR, CO CHAIR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CAUCUS, & DISTRICT 23 SCC REPRESENTATIVE