Gilbert Keith-Agaran

Member of both chambers of the Hawaii State Legislature

What is Gilbert Keith-Agaran known for?

Gilbert Keith-Agaran is a notable alumnus from Maui High School, in Kahului, Hawaii. He was born in Wailuku, Hawaii, and is known as an American attorney and politician, having served as a member of the Hawaii Senate, representing the 5th district from 2013 to 2023. He previously represented the 9th district in the Hawaii House of Representatives from 2009 to 2013.

After graduating from Maui High School, Gilbert Keith-Agaran pursued higher education at Yale University, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree. He went on to further his studies at University of California, Berkeley, earning a Juris Doctor from the UC Berkeley School of Law.

Having graduated from law school, Gilbert Keith-Agaran returned to Hawaii, where he worked as a partner at Takitani Agaran Jorgensen & Wildman LLLP. He served as the first deputy director of the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, the director of the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, and as the deputy director of the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

His political career involves his 2009 appointment by Governor Linda Lingle to serve out the term of Representative Bob Nakasone, after his death. Keith-Agaran then transitioned to the Hawaii State Senate in January 2013, following an appointment by Governor Neil Abercrombie to represent District 5, which was vacated by Shan Tsutsui. Here, he served as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee from 2014, and since the 2013–2014 legislative session, he served as vice-chair of the Senate Tourism and Hawaiian Affairs Committee. Since 2019, he additionally served as vice chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee and Senate Water and Land Committee. In August 2023, Gilbert Keith-Agaran announced his resignation from the Hawaii Senate.

More about Gilbert Keith-Agaran can be found at capitol.hawaii.gov and you can read some Q&A with him on Honolulu Civil Beat.