Kiʻilani Rodrigues

**Kiʻilani Maile Rodrigues** (born 27 February 1979) is a Hawaiian politician and lawyer who has served as minister of Hawaiian affairs in the first and second Kanazawa ministries since 2018. Additionally, Rodrigues has represented Molokai in the House of Representatives since 2014. She is a member of the Green-Progressive Party.

Born in Kualapuu, Molokai to a Native Hawaiian family, Rodrigues graduated from Molokai High School in 1997. Afterwards, she moved to Honolulu to attend the University of Hawaii, Manoa, and graduated with a dual degree in sociology and Hawaiian studies in 2001. She then enrolled in the University of Hawaii School of Law, receiving her law degree in 2004. After completing her education, Rodrigues began working in housing law at the nonprofit organization the Oahu Housing Assistance Council. In 2009, she returned to Molokai after being hired as lead counsel at the newly created Molokai Housing Assistance Council.

Rodrigues entered politics in 2014, after standing as a candidate in Molokai for the newly formed Hui Pū ʻAna political party in the 2014 election; she was ultimately elected to the House of Representatives from the constituency. Upon taking her seat in parliament, Rodrigues focused her legislating on issues regarding housing and Native Hawaiian affairs. After the 2018 election, Hui Pū ʻAna entered into a coalition with the Hawaiian National Party, ultimately leading to the creation of the Kanazawa ministry. Rodrigues was ultimately nominated by Kanazawa to serve as minister of Hawaiian affairs in the ministry, and later was appointed by Queen Keʻalohilani.

Following the formation of the Green-Progressive Party in 2021, she switched her party membership. Following the appointment of the second Kanazawa ministry, Rodrigues was selected to remain as Hawaiian affairs minister.

## Early life and education

Rodrigues was born on 27 February 1979 in Kualapuu, on the island of Molokai, to parents Kamaka (1953–2005) and Alohalani Rodrigues (née *Brown*; born 1952). Both of her parents are Native Hawaiian, while her father also has partial Portuguese ancestry dating back to the 1890s. Her parents owned a general store in Kualapuu, where Rodrigues was employed as a cashier for much of her youth. Rodrigues is the third of five children; her siblings include Kaʻohu (born 1973), Kauʻilani (born 1976), Kahaʻi (born 1981), and Keliʻi (born 1983). The family was poor, and Rodrigues grew up in a two-bedroom home, where she shared a room with all four of her siblings.

Rodrigues began her education in 1984, attending a local, public elementary school on Molokai. While in elementary school, Rodrigues demonstrated herself to be a gifted student with strong academic potential. She enrolled in Molokai High School in 1993, where she was elected class president and graduated as her class's valedictorian in 1997. Afterwards, she moved to Honolulu to enroll in the University of Hawaii, Manoa, receiving a bachelor's degree in sociology and Hawaiian studies in 2001. Rodrigues subsequently remained in Honolulu, where she enrolled in the University of Hawaii School of Law, graduating with her law degree in 2004.

## Law career

After graduating with her law degree in 2004, Rodrigues became licensed to practice law within Hawaii. She was hired as a housing attorney at the nonprofit organization the Oahu Housing Assistance Council. In the position, Rodrigues represented clients in court who were engaged in housing disputes with their landlords or at risk of eviction. In 2007, Rodrigues became a senior attorney at the Oahu Housing Assistance Council.

In 2009, Rodrigues left her position in order to assist in the establishment of the Molokai Housing Assistance Council, intended to be a new branch of the organization. She moved to Molokai, her home island, in order to serve as the organization's chief attorney. She left the position in 2014, in order to enter politics.

## Political career

### Early politics

Rodrigues began her career in elected politics in 2014, when she stood as a candidate in Molokai for the newly formed Hui Pū ʻAna political party in the 2014 election. The party was formed the year prior by former Hawaii National Party politician Nathalia Arruda, and advocated for social liberalism and progressivism. Rodrigues had formerly been a member of the Workers Party, but registered with Hui Pū ʻAna upon its formation in 2014.

Rodrigues was ultimately elected to the House of Representatives, and took her seat in parliament on 14 July 2014. Upon her election to parliament, Rodrigues focused her legislating on housing issues and Native Hawaiian affairs.

### Hawaiian affairs minister

In the 2018 election, Hui Pū ʻAna expanded their seat count and became the fourth-largest party represented in parliament. After the certification of election results, the party was invited to begin coalition talks with the Workers Party. Negotiations with the Workers Party were not successful, as the parties were unable to reach agreements on key issues such as trade unions and social issues.

After Kenzie Kanazawa was declared the new chairperson of the Hawaii National Party, she opted to begin coalition talks of her own, opening talks with Hui Pū ʻAna. The parties came to an agreement on 12 September, and signed a coalition agreement later that day. After Kanazawa was appointed prime minister of Hawaii on 18 September, Rodrigues was nominated to serve as minister of Hawaiian affairs in the Kanazawa ministry later that day, and was appointed by Queen Keʻalohilani. As Hawaiian affairs minister, Rodrigues is responsible for overseeing land management, including sacred lands for Hawaiian people, in addition to overseeing Hawaiian historical sites, the preservation of Hawaiian history, social programs designated for Native Hawaiians, and issues of discrimination against Native Hawaiians.

Following the formation of the Green-Progressive Party in 2021, she switched her party membership. Following the appointment of the second Kanazawa ministry, Rodrigues was selected to remain as Hawaiian affairs minister.

## Personal life

Rodrigues is unmarried with no children, and has stated that she does not plan on having children; she has been in a relationship with Hawaiian businessman Oliver Chau since 2018, and they reside together in Honolulu. Rodrigues has two homes: a two-bedroom condo in Kaunakakai, Molokai and a one-bedroom condo in the Waikiki neighborhood of Honolulu on Oahu. She splits her time between both residences, but uses her Oahu condo when in Honolulu for government work.

Rodrigues is fluent in both English and Hawaiian. She was raised speaking "primarily" English, but learned Hawaiian through an immersion program at her school. She was raised Christian, but has since identified herself as "irreligious."