Honolulu Downtown views from Prospect Street showing the core of downtown.

Karl Rhoads

Democrat, State Senate
District 13, Oʻahu
Time in office:
  • Senate: 2016-present
  • House: 2006-2016

Bio

Karl Rhoads has been in the Legislature nearly 20 years and currently serves as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He was first elected to the House in 2006 where he was also the House Judiciary chair. His Senate district includes Nu‘uanu, Pacific Heights, Pauoa, Punchbowl, Pālama, Liliha, Iwilei, Chinatown and Downtown.

Rhoads holds a law degree from George Washington University and worked as a legislative assistant to U.S. Rep. Eliot L. Engel of New York, as a legislative aide to U.S. Rep. Louise M. Slaughter (New York) and as an intern to former U.S. Senator John F. Kerry of Massachusetts.

Leader Badges

Bill Activity

0

Of 275 bills:
6 Passed
260 Failed
9 Pending

For this session year, this legislator initiated 275 bills: 6 passed, 260 failed, and 9 are currently pending.

Alignment Meter

See all-time percentage of this legislator’s alignment with any organization based on total votes.

xx% votes: xx

Financials

This feature tracks sources of money intended to help a candidate win election.

Election

This display shows money given directly to the incumbent’s campaign committee (NOTE: The industry categories for donors come from Open Secrets, a nonpartisan research organization for campaign finance. Some contributions are “uncoded,” meaning they have not been assigned to an industry sector. As a result, the total for each sector is also an estimate).

Communications & Electronics

$1.5K

Construction

$3.0K

Finance, Insurance & Real Estate

$2.0K

General Business

$1.5K

Health

$500.0

Labor

$5.3K

Lawyers & Lobbyists

$2.5K

Transportation

$2.5K

Uncoded

$13.1K

Candidate Donations

Individuals, corporations, organizations and committees are limited to a maximum donation to candidates of $4000 for the Senate and $2000 for the house.

Total
$31.9K

41.0% lower than the average legislators

Grand Total for Elections

$31.9K

40.0% lower than the average legislators

This is a total of the money targeting this legislator's campaign(s) including direct donations to the candidate, money spent by Independent Expenditure Committees and money from political parties.


Influence

There are two categories of donations to legislators after they are elected that encourage a working relationship between the donor and the legislator. The categories are: 1-Gifts, 2-Travel.

Giver
Value
Date
Description
Peter Fritz $210 May 4, 2018 Twenty-one loaves of homemade bread.

Gifts

For gifts that are allowed, legislators must file an annual gifts disclosure statement with the Hawai'i State Ethics Commission if they or their spouse or dependent child receive from a single source one or multiple gifts and the whole aggregate value exceeds $200.

Gift Received Rating
#9/76

This legislator is ranked 9th highest for the amount of personal gifts received.

Policy

Bills Authored by Karl Rhoads

SB 2721
Hawaii Penal Code; Advisory Committee Recommendations; Implementation

Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary

Passed
Hawaii Penal Code; Advisory Committee Recommendations; Implementation Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary
SB 2143
Elections Commission; Chief Election Officer; Vacancy; Order of Succession

Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary

Passed
Elections Commission; Chief Election Officer; Vacancy; Order of Succession Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary
SB 2727
Hawaii Civil Rights Commission; Anti-discrimination; Statute of Limitations

Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary

Passed
Hawaii Civil Rights Commission; Anti-discrimination; Statute of Limitations Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary
SB 2466
Elections Commission; Chief Election Officer; Termination

Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary

Passed
Elections Commission; Chief Election Officer; Termination Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary
View All Bills

Committees

Most of the policy work in the Hawai’i state Capitol is done in “Standing” committees.

Hearings

Featured Comments

Below are links to the video and transcript of recent, substantive comments by this legislator in committee hearings or floor sessions.

Preview image for SB 2471 14MIN
May 8, 2026

SB 2471

Bill Not Specified at this Time Code

Preview image for SB 2471 1MIN
May 6, 2026

SB 2471

Bill Not Specified at this Time Code

Preview image for SB 2152 55SEC
May 1, 2026

SB 2152

Constitutional Amendment; Judges; Mandatory Retirement Age

Preview image for SB 2446 24SEC
May 1, 2026

SB 2446

Intermediate Court of Appeals; Membership

Preview image for SB 2919 40SEC
May 1, 2026

SB 2919

Office of the Public Defender; Position; Appropriation

Preview image for SB 2152 46SEC
May 1, 2026

SB 2152

Constitutional Amendment; Judges; Mandatory Retirement Age

Preview image for SB 2446 17SEC
May 1, 2026

SB 2446

Intermediate Court of Appeals; Membership

Preview image for SB 2471 3MIN
May 1, 2026

SB 2471

Bill Not Specified at this Time Code

Preview image for SB 2919 39SEC
May 1, 2026

SB 2919

Office of the Public Defender; Position; Appropriation

Preview image for SB 2446 31SEC
Apr 30, 2026

SB 2446

Intermediate Court of Appeals; Membership

Preview image for SB 2919 31SEC
Apr 30, 2026

SB 2919

Office of the Public Defender; Position; Appropriation

Preview image for SB 2152 42SEC
Apr 30, 2026

SB 2152

Constitutional Amendment; Judges; Mandatory Retirement Age

View All Hearings

District

State Senate District 13

Previous Election (2022):

Kwock, Michelle
6.7%
Rhoads, Karl
59.4%
WON
Souza, Kapono Aluli
5.9%
Tinay, Matthew
20.3%

Census Data

Median age 0 10 20 30 40

Median age