About
Early Life
Bennette Misalucha is a graduate of the University of Hawaii School of Communications, the BIA Graduate School of Retail Banking at the University of Wisconsin at Madison and attended the University of Washington Pacific Coast Banking School. She has been a resident of Aiea for twenty-five years and is the mother of two adult children, Christian and Danielle.
Prior to her appointment, Bennette has held key executive positions in banking, marketing, public policy and community outreach sectors. She spent 16 years in banking and was Senior Vice President and Senior Manager at Central Pacific Bank. Early in her career, Bennette was a television reporter and news producer, both in Hawaii (KHON Channel 2News) and in the Philippines.
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Bennette is deeply involved in community and nonprofit work in Hawaii. She is the founding President of WTS (Women in Transportation) Hawaii Chapter and sits on the Board of Regents at Chaminade University. She was also on the board of the Oahu Transit Services (TheBus) for sixteen years, the Community Advisory Board for Hawaii Public Radio, the Filipino Chamber of Commerce and the Filipino Community Center. She was the Managing Editor from 2013-2019 of the FilAm Courier, the oldest Filipino publication in the State of Hawaii.
Present Day
Bennette Misalucha is a Hawaii State Senator representing Senate District 16 which covers Aiea, Pearl City, Pearl Harbor and Lower Halawa since 2020. She was appointed by Governor David Ige to replace Senator Breene Harimoto who passed away in June 2020. Bennette ran for this seat in a special election in November 2020 and easily won, specially with the support of fourteen union endorsements.
Bennette is the Vice Chair of the Committee on Energy, Economic Development and Tourism, and sits on the following Committees as a member: Ways and Means Committee, Human Services Committee, and the Committee on Water and Land. She is the co-convenor of the Legislative Filipino Caucus, and a member of the Women’s Legislative Caucus.
Recognition
“2021 Banaag Presidential Award,” which is conferred on select Filipino individuals and organizations for advancing the interests of overseas Filipino communities
“100 Most Influential Filipino Americans” (2020)
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“Woman of Distinction in Banking” from the Girl Scouts of Hawaii (2002)
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United Filipino Community Council “Progress Awards in Banking and Finance” (2003)
“State Mother of the Year” for American Mothers Inc (2007)
“Woman of the Year: Advocate for Higher Education” by the Filipino Women’s Civic Club (2011)
One of top “Ten Women Volunteers in Hawai‘i” by Pacific Business News (2011)
She is also a 2003 alumnus of the Pacific Century Fellows program, which is Hawaii’s version of the White House Fellows program.
Recent Work
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Organized three Food Drives for Aiea, Pearl City and Halawa Housing during the pandemic. It was the first time that Aiea and Pearl city communities worked together for a purpose.
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Initiated the annual Pearl City School Supply Drive to honor the legacy of Sen Breene Harimoto. (Now on its third year, it is now spearheaded by Pearl City Community Association)
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Started the annual Aiea School Supply Drive to honor the legacy of Sen Breene Harimoto. (Now on its third year, the effort is now being spearheaded by the Aiea High School PTSO)
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Organized the Annual Community Heroes Awards to honor outstanding volunteers in the community.
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Started the Community Day in Our Schools (a project aimed at cleaning our schools before class opening.
Last year, we had 150 volunteers in ten schools with ten organizations involved.)
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Organized the first annual Peace Prayer Rally (held during the anniversary of September 11; faith-based organizations in Aiea and Pearl City came together to pray for peace. We had 11 churches from various sects/religions which participated)
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Conceptualized the Neighbors Helping Neighbors (A virtual education forum for community volunteers which will be held on April 20, April 27 and May 4)
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Organized the annual Christmas Toy Drive for Halawa Housing children
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Starting this year, we will offer an award to the Community volunteer of the year for graduating high school students at both Pearl City and Aiea High School.
