Meet Mike

My name is Mike Lee and I am running for Hawaii State House District 50, which includes Kailua, Aikahi, and Kaneohe Bay. I am proud of this community, I am proud to serve, and would appreciate the privilege of serving as your representative.

My ‘Ohana

I am a devoted husband and father of two. My wife is a Kailua girl who loves nothing more than lying on the beach on a warm sunny day. She is an Aikahi Elementary, Kailua Intermediate, and proud Kalaheo High School Graduate. My first son is creative, sensitive to the needs of others, and quickly becoming a sixth grader with an attitude. My second son is a strong willed, independent fourth grader that really doesn’t need me anymore. We enjoy camping, hiking, going to the beach, eating at Willow Tree, and cheering for the Buffalo Bills.

Raised by A Village

I was born and raised in Nu’uanu in a multigenerational household that included my maternal grandparents, aunts, uncles, parents, siblings, and two dogs. Growing up in such a diverse environment, I learned the importance of listening without an agenda, the value in others perspectives, and considering the ramifications of choices before they are made. These lessons have served me well throughout my life and I am grateful for it.

Education

I graduated from Punahou School and received my Bachelor’s degree from Pacific University in Oregon, before joining the only Conflict Resolution Graduate program in the nation at the time at Portland State University, OR. I received my Master’s degree in Conflict Resolution Education and Cultural Competency.

In the Community

I currently sit on the Kailua Neighborhood Board, Windward Neighborhood Security Watch, Pali Lions Club, Board for the Hawaiʻi Federation of USA Wrestling and the Paʻani Challenge. I am an active volunteer wrestling coach, youth leadership trainer, program facilitator for the Hawaiʻi Chapter of Lions Club International, and Department of Education (DOE) Natural Resource Academy Advisor.

Since returning home I have created, worked with, and helped advance the following community initiatives:

  • Helped incarcerated and adjudicated youth earn credit in environmental science at Windward Community College, Moku o Loʻe, Waikalua Loko Iʻa and receive their high school diplomas 
  • Provided culture based, experiential education programming to schools grades K-12
  • Restored Hakipuʻu Stream with Hui o ko’olaupoko by engaging community members to remove invasive plants and trees so that native vegetation could flourish and loʻi kalo could be restored
  • Provided free field trips for rural and poorly funded schools K-12 
  • Taught high school students conservation and environmental science technical skills, data collection methods, and ecorestoration in preparation for green jobs 
  • Helped corporate entities subsidize elementary schools leadership and team building programs 
  • Fully funded female athletic teams from the neighbor islands to visit Oahu for olympic level instruction in wrestling, a college and career fair, and to gain the experience necessary to compete at the next level
  • Gave youth in urban Honolulu (McCully and Mōʻiliʻili) a free afterschool sports program that taught them to work hard, believe in themselves, and find success on and off the field of play