REP. DELLA AU BELATTI CONCLUDES HER FINAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – The House of Representatives today recognized Representative Della Au Belatti as she concluded her 20th and final legislative session. The veteran legislator announced she will not seek reelection and plans to retire on November 3, 2026, at the end of her current term.

A dedicated public servant, Belatti has represented urban Honolulu since 2006, serving Makiki, Tantalus, and portions of McCully and Papakōlea. She currently serves House District 26 and previously represented District 25 from 2006 to 2012 and District 24 from 2012 to 2022.

During her tenure, Representative Belatti was recognized for advancing significant legislation, including Hawaiʻi’s Marriage Equality Law (2013). She also served as Chair of the House Committee on Health, and later as House Majority Leader, where she helped shape the State’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, she served as Chair of the House Committee on Public Safety and, most recently, championed government transparency as co-convenor of the Good Government Caucus.

Representative Belatti shared the following statement:

"It has been the honor of a lifetime to represent my constituents in urban Honolulu. I'm grateful to the wonderful community members who have rolled up their sleeves with me to improve our state's healthcare, better our responses to disasters, and strengthen the Legislature and our electoral systems. We've weathered the pandemic, national political turmoil, and an affordability crisis, and I leave this building with optimism, knowing that you will continue to advocate and fight for a better Hawai'i. Mahalo for joining me in this work." 

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Career Highlights

2006

• Elected to the Hawaiʻi House of Representatives.

2011-2012

• Served as Vice Chair of the House Education Committee.

• Worked with Chair Takumi and Senate counterparts Chair Jill Tokuda and Vice Chair Michelle Kidani to reform charter school review systems.

2013

• Received Legislator of the Year Award from the Hawaiʻi Charter Schools Network.

• Received the Giraffe Award from the Patsy T. Mink PAC.

2013–2017: Chair of House Health Committee

• Served as Chair of the Hawaiʻi House Committee on Health.

• Helped establish medical aid in dying.

• Expanded palliative care services.

• Strengthened mental and behavioral healthcare systems.

• Advocated for vulnerable populations including youth, homeless residents, and those in the criminal justice system. 

2013

·     Worked with then-Representative (who was Chair of the House Judiciary Committee) Karl Rhoads on marriage equality

·     Attended the state's first ever same-sex marriage ceremony on November 27, 2013, where six same-sex couples exchanged their vows.

2013–2018: Women’s Legislative Caucus

• Served as co-convenor of the Women's Legislative Caucus (WLC).

• Helped launch the annual WLC Breakfast, which highlights the caucus' bill package.

• Expanded Easter basket traditions/community outreach efforts which helped build stronger connections between legislators and community members.

2013, 2015, 2017

• Named State Representative of the Year by the Healthcare Association of Hawaiʻi.

2018–2022: House Majority Leader

• Served as Majority Leader of the Hawaiʻi House of Representatives.

• Helped navigate the state through the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Worked on landlord-tenant mediation efforts to keep people housed.

• Helped get hospitals, insurers, community health centers, navigators, and patients all communicating during pandemic.

2022–2024: Chair of House Health Committee 

• Returned as Chair of the Health Committee, where she led the response to Dobbs and passed legislation protecting women’s access to reproductive healthcare.

2024–Present: Chair of Public Safety Committee

• Serves as Chair of the Hawaiʻi House Committee on Public Safety.

• Advocate for resilience hubs through two community events in urban Honolulu and an info briefing and resolution. 

2024–Present: Good Government Caucus

• Restarted the Good Government Caucus and served as co-convenor.

• Office ran point on Good Government Day for several years, which brings good government groups to the capitol to engage lawmakers. 

• Held regular community check-ins between the caucus and the public and kept the public updated about good government bills moving through the legislature

• Most recently, did significant advocacy to lead passage of SB2471 – Relating to the Powers of Artificial Intelligence.

Personal Highlights

• Representative Della Au Belatti gave birth to her second daughter in 2010, and her office at the Capitol soon became a welcoming space for community members and lobbyists who needed to nurse. Representative Belatti has consistently prioritized community outreach and engagement outside the Capitol by organizing annual Easter egg hunts, hosting tax clinics for residents, and, most recently, establishing resilience training hubs in urban Honolulu.

• Worked with then Senator Brian Taniguchi and Representative Mark Nakashima to support and grow Art at the Capitol, an annual event celebrating art, music, and culture at the State Capitol.

• Served as a commissioner on the Access to Justice Commission after being named by the Judiciary.

• Currently serves as a key member and organizer for the Hawaiʻi Coalition for Civil Rights