Chamber Week 2026: Legislative 101 Webinar

Chamber Week(s) presented by Alaska Airlines x Hawaiian Airlines is a multi-week series of events and programming that coincides with the opening of the Hawaii State Legislature to connect members and the business community with legislators and engage them in the legislative process. 

Join us for the first Chamber Week(s) event – Legislative 101 Webinar. This informative Zoom session will provide a “Legislative 101” presentation by Tonga Hopoi, Vice President of Policy and Public Affairs at the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii.
 
Learn how the local legislative process works, how to navigate the State’s website, important deadlines, how to submit testimony, information on how businesses and individuals can effectively engage with lawmakers, and the opportunity to ask questions directly to Tonga. 

Complimentary for Chamber members.

Marketing opportunities are available to promote your company during Chamber Week. Please click here ​for more information.

CLICK HERE to watch our 2025 PSA to learn more about Chamber Week.


Featured Speaker:


Tonga Hopoi
Vice President, Policy and Public Affairs
Chamber of Commerce Hawaii

Tonga began her career in public policy as a White House policy intern in the Office of the First Lady Mrs. Michelle Obama working on initiatives such as “Reach Higher” and “Let Girls Learn”. Beyond her work in the Office of the First Lady, Tonga was the first Tongan to hold a position in the White House and is recognized in the White House Records.

In 2015, Tonga received a political appointment in the Department of Energy (DOE) as a Special Assistant to the Deputy Chiefs of Staff in the Office of the Secretary and 2016, while at DOE, Tonga served as Special Advisor to the Under Secretary of Science and Energy. In January of 2017, Tonga received the Energy Secretary’s Appreciation Award in recognition of her achievements and professional contribution to the Department. 

In August of 2017, Tonga moved to Hawai’i and served as Committee Clerk for the Chair of the Senate Committee(s) on Transportation and Energy, and in 2018, she served as the Chief of Staff for the Senate Majority Leader in the Hawai’i State Senate. In 2019, Tonga presented workshops on parliamentary practice, and legislative procedure at the United Nations Development Program Regional Conference on Parliamentary Oversight in Auckland, New Zealand. In 2021, Tonga was selected in  the Oregon State University (OSU) Orange & Black Awards for the Don & Shirley Young Alumni Award. In February of 2022, she organized the Senate’s donation and relief efforts for the Kingdom of Tonga after the catastrophic flooding from the eruption of a nearby underground volcano. After Tonga’s tenure in the Hawai’i State Senate, she worked at the Honolulu City Council and Kamehameha Schools.