Press Releases

(HONOLULU, HI) -- U.S. Representative Ed Case (Hawai‘i-First District) devoted most of his July 7-11th week home from Congress to five days of walking communities across his district, talking with constituents he met along the way at their homes, workplaces and other areas.

In his second weeklong district “Walk Story” this year, Case walked the communities of Pālolo, Kaimukī , Mo’ili’ili, Kalihi, Salt Lake, Āliamanu, Foster Village, Moanalua, Hālawa and ‘Aiea, talking with hundreds of residents wherever he found them.

Case kicked off his Walk Stories while back home the week of April 21st of this year, when over another five day stretch he walked parts of Kalama Valley, Niu Valley, ‘Āina Haina, Wai‘alae, Nui Valley, McCully, Pearlridge, Waimalu, Pearl City, Pacific Palisades, Mililani Mauka, Waipio Acres, Waipahu, ‘Ewa Beach, ‘Ewa Villages, Kalaeloa and Kapolei.

“I’ve always been committed to staying as close to my constituents as possible in different ways that work best for them”, said Case, who over his decade-plus in the U.S. House has hosted hundreds of live, in-person Talk Story community meetings throughout his districts as well as virtual meetings, including six in-person and one virtual Talk Story earlier this year.

“But as this 119th Congress (2025-2027) and the second Trump administration got underway this year and the polarization and noise of anger and division on Capitol Hill and across the country reached new highs, I felt I needed to strengthen my direct connection to all of the residents of Hawaii’s First Congressional District, especially those that do not regularly engage their government or me, by reaching out and talking story in different ways when I’m home. 

“For me, these two full weeks now of Walk Story have been incredibly valuable because I’ve been able to talk personally with a highly diverse and representative part of my constituency just going about their lives and expressing their views and concerns for our country, Hawai‘i, family, workplaces and communities.

“After each of my Walk Story weeks, I’ve returned to Capitol Hill with a sense strong connection back home and direction for the issues I must focus on and directions I must take.

“As for what I heard in my most recent Walk Story, like April’s, it’s no surprise that the cost of living remains a universal concern. But is not just the actual costs; it’s the uncertainty of where the costs are going that makes it so difficult to plan and adjust.

“Closely related, most remain concerned about the direction of our country, especially under the Trump administration. What was different from my April Walk Story, though, was that more folks who had voted for President Trump were undecided to unsupportive about many of his administration’s initiatives, on both foreign and domestic policy, and there was far more concern for preservation of the rule of law. Many regardless of how they voted were especially concerned at the recent reconciliation budget law and its effects on their own families and communities.

“Another major area of concern was our small businesses, which is virtually all of our businesses in Hawai‘i.

“I walked into dozens and dozens of small businesses of all kinds, from eateries to vehicle repair shops, florists, financial institutions, travel agencies, insurers, remodelers, contractors, engineers, food distributors, jewelers and on and on, talking with their owners, managers and employees about their businesses and what concerned them.

“Virtually all expressed uncertainty about their own situations, especially given the administration’s ongoing trade and tariff wars on imports from other countries which is resulting in increasing prices to their customers.

“Although I wasn’t surprised at the big picture of what I heard from my constituents, to have it all validated with real-world stories of personal views and impacts from across the political, economic and social spectrum was deeply valuable to my responsibility to represent all of my district in addressing the major challenges we all face.

“I’m already looking forward to my next Walk Story on one of my upcoming times home, to add again to my many other efforts to stay strongly connected with my constituents to listen to their views and concerns and answer their questions.”

As part of his ongoing efforts, Case is also hosting another live districtwide Tele-Talk Story on Tuesday, July 29th, 6PM to 7:30PM Hawai‘i time. Details on how constituents can join and provide questions are at case.house.gov.

Attached are samples of pictures from Case’s July Walk Story (pictures courtesy of Congressman Ed Case)

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