Jesse Kawika Souki

Aloha! My name is Jesse K. Souki, and I am running for SCC Senate District 9. I humbly ask for your support and vote.

I am a former SCC member for Senate District 12. I want to bring my experience and background to Senate District 9 to get democrats elected, encourage party unity, and ensure community input, transparency, and fairness in SCC decision-making.

I was born and raised on Maui, where I attended public school and graduated from Baldwin H.S. I am the first in my family to receive a higher education degree. I graduated from the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa twice, once with a BA in economics and again with an MA in Poli Sci/Futures Studies. I worked to pay my bills and tuition. After UH, I worked for Senator Akaka in D.C. (where I met my life partner and wife), and then went to law school. I graduated from Seattle University. I also worked and took out student loans (ugh).

Since law school, I have worked in private practice and government as a land use and environmental law attorney. I served as a director of a few state agencies. I currently work at UH in the Office of General Counsel.

Throughout my career, I have volunteered for the state and national Democratic parties in various capacities to help get democrats elected. From sign waiving, to door knocking, to serving as a state central committee member (SD 12), to leading the rules committee at the state convention, to managing campaign strategy, no task is too small.

I currently volunteer with my son's Cub Scout Pack, serve on the Filipino Community Center Board, and participate in the Hahaione Elementary PTSA. For fun, I enjoy fixing the house were my wife, son, dachshund, and I live; hiking; reading; listening to political podcasts; or running a marathon.

It would be an honor to serve my East Oahu community as an SCC member of SCC Senate District 9. Mahalo for your consideration.