Quotes from Mazie Hirono

The Trump administration gives me so many more opportunities to be verbal and vocal.

As I walk to my office every morning, I know I stand on the shoulders of those who came before me.

The passing of my friend and a great American hero, Dan Inouye, is a major loss for the country and Hawaii. But the people of Hawaii are strong and we will persevere.

If I had to wait around for somebody to pick me for lieutenant governor, I never would have been picked.

I lived out in the Koko Head area as a kid, when it was all farms. We would walk over that mountain into Hanauma Bay almost every day.

I was almost 8 when my mother bravely brought her children to this country so we could have a chance at a better life.

I was in sixth grade at Koko Head Elementary School in Honolulu, and was chosen to pin the 50th star on the American flag in front of my teachers and classmates at a special assembly to celebrate statehood.

Don't talk to me about civility when you're separating families at the border.

For the Navy, developing alternatives to fossil fuels isn't just about fighting climate change - though that's an important side benefit. Biofuels will also play a much more practical role in the Navy's fuel mix, boosting our energy security and supporting the U.S. economy.

Our military's presence in Hawaii not only plays a critical role in our national security but also in driving our state's economy and supporting thousands of jobs in the public and private sectors.

Nobody is entitled to a promotion to the Supreme Court.

In our country, racism is never far below the surface.

We cannot afford to continue losing our coral reefs, which are suffering from a number of threats such as warmer temperatures, more acidic waters, and disease, and that is why Hawaii has become a leader in taking steps to mitigate the harmful impacts of sunscreen on our marine environment.

I am a woman, I am a minority person, and I speak in a very plain way. And I think that reaches people.

Sen. Akaka's care, empathy and compassion were evident to everyone who knew him.

Diversifying our energy sources will create jobs, improve our national security and lay the foundation for a strong, sustainable economy in the future.

I did not want the #MeToo movement to be swept under the rug.

I always saw my mother just making decisions that helped our family. It was much later when I realized how courageous she really was, and I came to understand what a risk-taker she was. That's very much a part of how I am.

In Hawaii we understand why it is important to malama, or take care of, our land, ocean, and air - our way of life depends on it.

Until I got to the nomination of Judge Gorsuch and so much preparation time, I really wasn't familiar with the blue-slip process. But it's time-honored.

There are people getting screwed in our country every single second, minute, hour of the day. And if by our work, we can decrease that number, we'll make a difference; we'll be doing our jobs.

Both political parties should be able to support the idea that taxpayers who are lawfully present, working, and paying taxes should be able to use the programs their tax dollars pay for - it is only fair.

To me, Stephen Miller is like Iago whispering in the president's ear, along with John Kelly. These people are totally anti-immigrant.

There are certain things that should remain forever pristine in your memory, and that's how I look at Hanauma.