Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) recently spent the day in Hilo where she participated in activities and met with community members.

The Senator started her day by meeting with 15 students from Lahainaluna High School on Maui who are participating in the Merrie Monarch Festival. The students are members of the Papa Hula O Lahainaluna halau and are being hosted by the YMCA of Hawaiʻi Island during their visit to Hilo.

Senator Hirono then visited Big Island Coffee Roasters and Creative Arts Hawaiʻi, where she met with business owners and employees and spoke with them about how they started, grew their businesses, and what they expect for the future. Following these visits, Senator Hirono visited craft fair vendors at the Merrie Monarch Festival.

Following the small business visits, the Senator ended her day viewing the Puainako Street paving project near Waiakea Elementary and Intermediate schools in Hilo with representatives from the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation (HDOT).  The $4.8 million project will reconstruct the lower portion of the road, improve the connections between the elementary and intermediate school parking areas, and help reduce traffic back-ups during school drop-off and pick-up times.