Aloha Reader,

Yesterday was another difficult day. Federal agents killed Alex Pretti. Let’s remember him alongside Renée.

Meanwhile, Noem and her bosses are lying, again, both to cover up their crimes and encourage more.

This is a time for action, not despair. A year ago, we didn’t know how to channel our outrage, but the world is different now. We are well-organized and in just three weeks, we pulled off two pop-up protests with great attendance on very short notice, and held another rally on MLK Jr. Day. Check out the pictures including the resistance frog 🐸.

On the highway today, I saw a lone protester on the corner of Nani Kailua Street holding a sign that read "F*&^ Trump." Our Facebook group members are eager to organize more protests spontaneously.

This week we are forming a Public Policy team. We have made great progress with the County Council and Police Commission in the last six months. Now the state legislature is open for business and we are ready. Please join.

You can fight for our democracy with your voice just as powerfully as you can with your feet. Here is what you can do...

2026 Hawai'i Legislative Session: Sign up to Wear a Blue Shirt and Be a Voice!

The Hawai'i State legislative session started this week. In preparation for coordinated, timely testimony, the Indivisible Hawai'i State Network is hosting a legislative kickoff via Zoom. This is your best chance to learn about the urgent issues we need to focus on and the inner workings to truly make a difference at the State level. We highly recommend participating. This is the agenda:

• View from the committees. I will talk story with Big Island firebrand, State Representative Jeanné Kapela (District 5 – South Kona, Na'alehu, Ka'ū, Pāhala, Ocean View, Volcano, Mountain View, and Kea'au) about what to expect and where our advocacy can have the most significant impact for good.
• The key issues. Younghee Overly has been lobbying before our state legislature for many years. As Indivisible Hawaii's expert on public policy and bill tracking, she will lead a panel on our key issues: Migrant Rights, Good Government/Free Elections, Affordability for Working Families, Healthcare Availability, LGBTQIA+ Rights, and Gun Safety. Each of us will introduce the topics we are tracking and identify where we need your help.
• Call to action: We are forming a statewide public policy team. All members will ideally wear blue Indivisible T-Shirts when testifying to amplify our presence. (Order one here). Sign up to receive notification emails whenever testimony or other action is needed, with details on what to do and how to do it. I will demo the web resources and show you how to participate in the process, including the Capitol website and our tailored Indivisible online bill tracker.

TAKE ACTION (3 in 1):

1. Sign up for our virtual legislative kickoff meeting on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, from 5-6:30 pm. Register here.
2. Simultaneously, sign up for Zoom (you find the same link on the Mobilize page), so in case, you miss the live event, the Zoom registration will make the recording available on demand.
3. Sign up to join the statewide public policy team so we can easily assemble a team willing to testify before the Legislature. Register here.

Continue to pressure Senate Democrats in Congress to Block Funding for ICE

The US Senate needs to pass an appropriation bill this week. It takes 60 votes, so Senate Democrats can stop it. While Chuck Schumer released a statement that he will block it, continued pressure is warranted.

Indivisible Hawai'i, along with 500+ other organizations, has signed on to the ACLU letter to Congress. From the letter: "We ask that you refuse to increase funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol, and that you demand that any appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland Security restrains and requires accountability from immigration enforcement agencies." Indivisible has a good explainer page on this issue.

TAKE SUPER EASY ACTION! Indivisible National has made it very easy to contact our Hawai'i Senators, Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono. Use the links below:

• ​Click to Call our Hawai'i Senators
• ​Email them

New Police Chief Selection

Our County Police Commission will interview eight candidates for the position of the new Police Chief on Thursday, January 29, and Friday, January 30, 2026. The local news outlet Big Island Now published a summary of the candidates so that you can familiarize yourself with them ahead of time.

TAKE ACTION: Plan to show up if you can and wear your blue Indivisible shirt. The meetings start at 9 am in Building A of the West Hawai'i Civic Center. Submit written testimony to Charisse.Correa@hawaiipolice.gov by noon on Tuesday. You can read ours here.

Note: You can watch the interviews over Zoom, but they are set up as one-way webinars. No one will see your presence, and you cannot submit live testimony. Below are the direct links to both webinars. No registration needed.

• ​​Thursday, January 29, 2026, at 9 am​
• ​​Friday, January 30, 2026, at 9 am​ ​

Hawai‘i J20+ Solidarity Forum: Take Action for Migrant Rights NOW!

Our partner J20+ hosts this event on Friday, January 30, 2026, from 6-8 pm.
Speakers will share how Trump's immigration crackdown has impacted their constituents/patients/congregation:

• Reverend Dr. Estela Chao-Reza / Director, Faith Action for Community Equity
• Arcelita Imasa MD / Physician, Primary Care Clinic of Hawai‘i
• Allison Ishii Blankenship, Director, KA’I program

You will also learn about four bills coming up in the new legislative session and hear from the groups advocating for them:

• Mandy Fernandes / Policy Director, ACLU Hawai‘i
• Liza Ryan-Gill / Executive Director, Hawai‘i Coalition for Immigrant Rights

TAKE ACTION:

1. ​Register for the event here
2. Watch the livestream on Youtube​

Postcarding -> Action = Hope.

Let’s write postcards to register voters and get out the vote for Democratic candidates. It's easy! We provide you with free postcards, voter lists, scripts, and instructions. You provide the stamps.

If you want to help, go to the postcard page on the KIND website for directions on ordering postcard packets.

TAKE ACTION: Join our postcard party Sunday, February 1, 2026 from at 3 pm - 5 pm at Kahalu'u Beach Park. Register.

We’re writing Wisconsinites about their upcoming State Supreme Court election. With the power of your pen, you can help protect reproductive freedom and voting rights in the Badger State.

Pop-Up Protests

​Our pop-up rallies have been a great success. They are important for emphasizing current issues of the week and bringing political action directly to the public. On the first Thursday of each month, Spanish interpreters are available at the Kona courthouse to assist people during their hearings. If you're looking for something more to do between our larger protests...

TAKE ACTION: Join us on Thursday, February 5, 2026, from 12:30 pm - 3 pm at the Kona Courthouse, 74-5451 Kamaka'eha Ave, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740. We will be there to support our Latino Ohana and share Know Your Rights and other important information.

Volunteer Arrival Time is at 12:15 pm. There is plenty of parking on the street. KIND will provide 5 large signs, and feel free to bring your own! It can get hot there, so please bring water, a hat, or a chair😊.

Contact Ellen at 503 784 6192, or lnlubrano53@gmail.com, to sign up or with any questions. Looking forward to seeing you.

Marc Elias - Nation's Leading Authority on Election Security

Last but not least, the Indivisible Hawai‘i Network is sharing this invitation from the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i:

Marc Elias is one of the nation’s leading authorities on voting rights, election law, and campaign finance. His topic will be Why the 2026 Midterm Elections Matter to Our Democracy & What We Can Do.

TAKE ACTION: Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at noon REGISTER

Yep, lots to do, but it is crucial we stay engaged the coming weeks and months. Stay strong!

I will see you on Tuesday for the Legislative Kickoff!

Warmest Aloha,
Sam
Lead

- The Kona Indivisible Team ​konaindivisible.org​ ​info@konaindivisible.org​

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