In the world of politics, the approach to engaging with constituents and fellow lawmakers varies significantly among legislators. In Hawaiʻi, the 2025 session revealed a wide disparity in the amount of dialogue shared by members of the Legislature, as identified by Civil Beat’s new Digital Democracy platform.
This platform utilizes advanced technology to transcribe discussions and quantify the words spoken by each of the 76 legislators, offering a unique perspective on legislative engagement.
Among the members, Representative Sam Kong stood out as the quietest participant, communicating merely 1,300 words throughout the session.
When approached for comment, Kong initially hesitated, but later explained his preference for one-on-one discussions with stakeholders over speaking during public hearings or caucus meetings.
“I use the power of the office to speak with testifiers before and after hearings so I can have a deeper understanding of the issues at hand,” Kong stated, emphasizing the significance of personal interactions in his legislative strategy.
In stark contrast, Representative David Tarnas emerged as the most vocal lawmaker, contributing a staggering 173,639 words, equating to more than four times the total lyrics of all Beatles songs combined.
As chair of the House Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee, Tarnas noted that his communication style is deliberate and aimed at keeping the public informed about legislative proceedings.
“I speak extensively during the JHA Committee hearings to ensure that everyone understands the process,” he remarked.
Tarnas doesn’t shy away from clarifying complex topics, opting to avoid acronyms that could alienate non-experts from the conversation.
The analysis showed a trend where committee chairs generally led in word counts, as they are responsible for guiding discussions on crucial bills.
Beyond Tarnas, committee chairs like Karl Rhoads, Donovan Dela Cruz, and Kyle Yamashita also ranked among the most talkative due to their key roles within influential committees such as Judiciary and Finance.
Senator Lorraine Inouye, who chairs the Senate Water and Land Committee, highlighted her belief that lawmakers have a duty to communicate their stances on important issues, such as gun control and marijuana legalization.
With over 80,000 words spoken, Inouye was ranked fourth in the list of the most vocal legislators.
“I think constituents want to know exactly where we stand on these issues,” she stated.
While she respects Kong’s reserved nature, Inouye feels it’s important for lawmakers to share their opinions publicly to maintain transparency with voters.
“People want to know what their elected representatives think,” she added.
However, she acknowledged the risk of speaking too much, especially if it leads to unintentional misrepresentation or comes off as self-serving.
Representative Sean Quinlan, the House majority leader, shared a similar perspective to Kong’s.
With only 3,400 words spoken, Quinlan prefers to engage with stakeholders directly before or after committee hearings rather than being performative during discussions.
“I don’t like being performative,” Quinlan expressed.
He emphasized the importance of solid preparation and understanding when discussing legislation, which sometimes leads him to seek out conversations outside the formal hearing context.
Quinlan pointed out that, given the range of topics in the legislature, it’s essential to rely on the expertise of committee chairs rather than trying to micromanage every detail.
Newer legislators, such as Representatives Shirley Ann Templo and Mike Lee, also exhibited lower word counts, as they are still learning the ropes of legislative procedures.
Absences due to various circumstances also impacted some lawmakers’ ability to participate fully.
For example, Rep. Elle Cochran, usually outspoken, managed only 5,043 words due to personal family health issues that required her attention throughout the session.
Despite the varying approaches to communication, it is clear that each lawmaker has their own reasoning behind their style of engagement.
Kong underscored the importance of listening to constituents, emphasizing that his role is to act in accordance with their input.
“The key is the vote,” he concluded.
As the session continued, legislators’ distinct speaking styles and strategies illuminated the diverse methodologies in the pursuit of effective governance in Hawaiʻi.
The complete list detailing each legislator’s spoken words throughout the 2025 session provides a deeper understanding of these communication trends.
Whether through fervent speeches or quiet dialogues, each lawmaker contributes uniquely to the legislative process.
image source from：civilbeat
