At the direction of the President of the United States, Governor Josh Green, MD, ordered that the flag of the United States and the state flag of Hawai’i be flown at half-staff in honor of the late California Senator Dianne Feinstein, who served as a US senator from 1992 to 2023.
Flags at the State Capitol and all state offices and agencies as well as the Hawaiʻi National Guard of the State of Hawaiʻi will be lowered until sunset on the day of his funeral, Thursday, Oct. 5.
“Dianne Feinstein’s extensive career in the Senate has not only impacted California, but has resonated across the country, including here in Hawai’i,” said Gov. Green. “His dedication to public service and his advocacy on important issues is felt far beyond his home state. My thoughts are with him and his family at this time.”
“Senator Dianne Feinstein is a pioneering American and a true trailblazer. In San Francisco, she showed great strength and courage after tragedy, and became a powerful voice for American values,” said President Joe Biden, Jr. “In the United States Senate, he made the love of the cause, and led the fight to ban assault weapons, also making his mark on everything from national security to the environment to protection of civil liberties. Senator Feinstein is a role model for many Americans and she has had a huge impact on young women leaders for whom she has generously opened doors. He is a historic figure, and our country will benefit from his legacy for generations,” he said.
On Friday, US Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai’i) released a statement on the death of US Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) calling her a “trailblazer.”
“For more than 50 years, he made many firsts, both in California and in Washington. As the longest-serving female U.S. Senator, she fought to make our country safer and fairer: taking guns off our streets, strengthening marriage equality, and protecting women and children,” said Sen. Schatz. “As the first woman to chair the Senate Intelligence Committee, she challenged the nation to reflect on our missteps and live up to our values. Her distinguished career is an inspiration to public servants everywhere and a lesson for having the courage of your convictions. May his memory be a blessing to his family and the people of California.”
Fellow US Senator, Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai’i) also used the word “trailblazer” to describe Sen. Feinstein.
“He stood up to powerful interest groups on behalf of his constituents and the rest of us,” Sen. Hirono said Friday during talks on the floor of the Senate. “He’s a fierce lawmaker — fighting to ban assault weapons, protect survivors of domestic violence, protect our country, and more. But he’s also a thoughtful friend. In the past week, he wrote to me expressing his joy that the Banyan tree in Lahaina – badly burned in the fires – was beginning to show signs of new life. He wrote, ‘I hope the beloved tree will continue to heal and serve as a source of hope and a symbol of strength for the entire community.’
