National Civics Bee Hawaii Judges
Representative Daniel Holt
House District 28
Hawaii State House of Representatives
Representative Daniel Holt is dedicated to making the community, where he was born and raised, a better place to live for all its residents. He represents House District 28, which encompasses Palama, Sand Island, Iwilei, and Chinatown and was elected into the Hawaiʻi State House of Representatives in November 2016. Since Representative Holt’s first term as a legislator, he has taken a strong stance against crime and continues to advocate for increased funding for social services who assist our most vulnerable populations.
A native of Honolulu, he chairs both the Native Hawaiian Caucus and the Legislative Management Committee, and serves on the committees on Economic Development & Technology, Finance, and Tourism.
Before his election, Daniel spent more than a decade working across the legislative branch, serving as a Bills Researcher, Legislative Director and Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms in the State Senate. He also formerly served as the Chairman of the Kalihi – Palama Neighborhood Board. In 2022 he launched Kapalama Consulting to support community nonprofits in outreach, event planning, and youth programming. Committed to cultural preservation, economic opportunity, and community engagement, Daniel lives in Honolulu with his wife & two dogs and remains dedicated to amplifying the voices of the underserved at the State Capitol.
Tonga Hopoi
Vice President of Economic Development, Government & Community Relations
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. Tonga’s motto is, “If you don’t do something, who will?”
Tonga began her public policy career as a White House intern for First Lady Michelle Obama, contributing to initiatives like “Reach Higher” and “Let Girls Learn.” She was the first Tongan in the White House, recognized in official records. In 2015, she joined the Department of Energy (DOE) as a Special Assistant to the Deputy Chiefs of Staff and later served as Special Advisor to the Under Secretary of Science and Energy, earning the Energy Secretary’s Appreciation Award in 2017.
After moving to Hawaii, Tonga worked as Committee Clerk for the Senate Committee on Transportation and Energy and as Chief of Staff for the Senate Majority Leader. In 2019, she presented workshops on parliamentary practice at a UN conference in Auckland. In 2021, she received the Don & Shirley Young Alumni Award from Oregon State University (OSU), where she studied Philosophy and English and served as Student Body Madam President.
Tonga organized Senate relief efforts for Tonga following a volcanic eruption in 2022. Currently, she is the Vice President of Economic Development at the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii. Outside work, she enjoys family time, hiking, and gardening. Tonga was raised in Portland, Oregon, with her two sisters.
Dr. Colin Moore
Associate Professor
University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization (UHERO)
Dr. Colin Moore is an Associate Professor at the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization (UHERO) and serves as the Director of the Matsunaga Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. A political scientist by training, his research focuses on American political development, public bureaucracies, veterans’ affairs, and the politics of U.S. territories.
In addition to his academic work, Dr. Moore is deeply committed to civic education. He currently serves as a commissioner on the Commission to Promote and Advance Civic Education (PACE Commission) of the Supreme Court of the State of Hawaiʻi.
Reflecting on today’s event, Dr. Moore shared:
“The National Civics Bee reminds us that democracy depends on an informed and active citizenry. I’m honored to be part of a competition that asks students not just what they know, but what kind of civic leaders they aspire to become.”
