State Senator Joy San Buenaventura represents the Puna / Kaʻu state senate district 2. This past legislative session she served as the chair of HHS/ Homelessness.
She is an advocate for the improvement of Hwy 130 and alternative routes to decrease congestion. She has been able to acquire funds for a new Puna ambulance and champions expansion of Hilo Hospital and improvements to Ka’ū hospital, along with Telemedicine services to the community. She is an advocate for penal reform with the introduction of decriminalization of paraphernalia and civil asset forfeiture reform bills.
The recent pandemic has shown a light on the state’s over dependence on Tourism. One of her goal would be the diversification of our economy.
Joy grew up in Honolulu. She is the product of Hawaii public schools, attending Lunalilo elementary, Washington Intermediate and McKinley High School. She went on to graduate with a bachelor of science in mathematics from University of Nevada Las Vegas and a Juris Doctor from the University of California, Hastings School of the Law. She has been practicing law in Hilo for the past 30 yrs. She is licensed to practice law in the State of Hawaii, the United States District Court of Hawaii and California, she’s a member of the Hawaii State and Hawaii County Bar Associations, and is listed in Who’s Who in American Law. She volunteered in the Hilo Self Help Clinic, which is a joint effort of the Hawaii State Judiciary, the Hawaii State and Hawaii County Bar Associations, and the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii; served as a mediator with Kuikahi Mediation; an arbitrator with the Court Annexed Arbitration Program; and as an attorney with the Volunteer Legal Services of Hawaii.
Joy lives in Hawaiian Paradise Park with her husband Sheldon “weldin” Lehman, and their dog Makamai. She is an avid photographer and has had awards for her photography. It is not unusual to see her lugging all her camera equipment to capture that perfect shot.