
House District 5: Portions of Kea‘au and Kurtistown, Mountain View, Glenwood, Fern Forest, Volcano, Pāhala, Punalu‘u, Nā‘ālehu, Wai‘ōhinu, Hawaiian Ocean View, Ho‘okena, Kaʻawaloa

ABOUT The district
Previously, Jeanne was a member of the Kona Coffee Farmers Association Board of Directors and Director of the Miss Kona Coffee Scholarship Competition. She founded Unite Hawaii in 2015, an organization devoted to ending sexual exploitation through education.
Today, she serves as a board member for Imua Alliance, a nonprofit service provider for victims of sex trafficking. As a leader in Hawaii's efforts to combat sexual slavery, she has facilitated anti-violence education programming to over 2,000 of Hawaii's children and worked tirelessly to provide freedom and justice to women and children affected by sexual violence.
Jeanne grew up in poverty and is committed to uplifting working families like the one in which she was raised. she currently serves as the Vice Chair of the House Committee on Education, where she strives to deliver the schools our keiki deserve. Jeanne believes that economic and social justice are essential to our democracy. She is eager to craft a Green New Deal that protects people and our plant from the twin threats of economic inequality and climate change.
Jeanne is also a classically trained ballet dancer and has performed with some of the nation's most prestigious ballet companies, including the Boston Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, and the American Ballet Academy. She served as Miss Hawaii in 2015 and won the title of Miss Congeniality at the Miss America competition.
Passionate About Inspiring Others

Jeanne was born in Kona and raised on a small coffee farm in the nearby town of Captain Cook. She graduated from Konawaena High School in 2012 and currently serves as a member of the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival Board of Directors, a Lions Club of Kona member, and the Communications Chair for Konawaena High School's 100th Anniversary Committee.
Previously, Jeanne was a member of the Kona Coffee Farmers Association Board of Directors and Director of the Miss Kona Coffee Scholarship Competition. She founded Unite Hawaii in 2015, an organization devoted to ending sexual exploitation through education.
Today, she serves as a board member for Imua Alliance, a nonprofit service provider for victims of sex trafficking. As a leader in Hawaii's efforts to combat sexual slavery, she has facilitated anti-violence education programming to over 2,000 of Hawaii's children and worked tirelessly to provide freedom and justice to women and children affected by sexual violence.
Jeanne grew up in poverty and is committed to uplifting working families like the one in which she was raised. she currently serves as the Vice Chair of the House Committee on Education, where she strives to deliver the schools our keiki deserve. Jeanne believes that economic and social justice are essential to our democracy. She is eager to craft a Green New Deal that protects people and our plant from the twin threats of economic inequality and climate change.
Jeanne is also a classically trained ballet dancer and has performed with some of the nation's most prestigious ballet companies, including the Boston Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, and the American Ballet Academy. She served as Miss Hawaii in 2015 and won the title of Miss Congeniality at the Miss America competition.
My Staff
I'm thrilled to have such a great team working with me!

Kris Coffield ~ Office Manager
Kris Coffield is the Chief of Staff for Rep. Jeanne Kapela at the Hawaiʻi State House of Representatives. He has over a decade of experience working in legislative affairs and political advocacy, including as a government relations consultant with the Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association and as the former Chief of Staff for Rep. Amy Perruso.
Kris is also the Executive Director of Imua Alliance, a nonprofit victim service provider for survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. In 2021, he was awarded the Landecker Democracy Fellowship from Humanity in Action for his leadership in advocating global human rights.
A trauma survivor, Kris writes poetry in his spare time that reflects his commitment to delivering care and compassion for victims of violence.
Natalie Ovena ~ Committee Clerk
Natalie Ovena studied environmental science at HPU, where she graduated as valedictorian in 2023. Working with the Blue Planet Foundation as their Policy Fellow after graduation, Ovena researched renewable energy, energy efficiency, and energy equity policies.
Natalie currently conducts research with HPU professor Dr. Carmella Vizza and the North Shore Community Land Trust to profile of water quality parameters for Kalou fishpond and wetland taro patch to help inform restoration efforts. Her longer-term career plan is to study environmental law and help build a sustainable and equitable society.


Ruby-Simone Jordan ~ Legislative Aide
Ruby-Simone Jordan is graduating with her B.A. in political science from the University of Hawai'i in 2024. She grew up in Captain Cook on Hawai'i Island, where she was crowned as Miss Kona Coffee 2019.
Ruby was also the first ever youth member of the Friends of the Children of West Hawai'i Board of Directors and the first Youth Outreach Liaison and inaugural chair to group's Youth Leadership Alliance leadership and self governance program.
After she graduates, Ruby plans to attend law school, so that she can continue championing the rights of underserved youth and vulnerable populations.
Shana Mitsui ~ Legislative Aide
Shana Mitsui is a graduate student in the University of Tokyo's Master's of Public Policy program, where she is specializing in equitable clean energy transitions and environmental sustainability.
She is currently interning with the International Energy Association's People-Centered Clean Energy Transitions Team. A Humanity In Action senior fellow, Shana has also worked Program Manager and Student Development Adviser at the University of Auckland.
She graduated from Tufts University and is committed to advancing energy efficiency, gender justice, economic equality, and human rights in local and global contexts.
