About Joe Gedeon
Born and Raised in Hawaii Kai
Representative Joe Gedeon
House District 18
Hawaiʻi Kai, Kalama Valley, Portlock
Aloha Mai Kakou
Hawai'i Kai is more than where I live, it's home for three generations of my family. I was born and raised here, attending Kamiloiki Elementary School, Niu Valley Middle School, and Kaiser High School. I grew up bodyboarding and bodysurfing at Sandy's, paddling in Maunalua Bay, and spending long days in the water spearfishing. The ocean taught me respect, discipline, and aloha, and those values continue to guide me today.
This community raised me, and that's why I've dedicated my life to giving back. I've served through the Rotary Club of Waikīkī, helped support local businesses and young professionals with the American Advertising Federation Hawai'i, and worked alongside organizations like the Hawai'i Food Industry Association, March of Dimes, the Hawai'i Lodging & Tourism Association, and the Hawai'i Restaurant Association.
Over the past year, it has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as your State Representative. I've worked to be accessible and engaged by attending Neighborhood Board meetings, hosting monthly Talk Story events, helping residents navigate state government, advocating for infrastructure improvements, addressing homelessness and public safety concerns, and bringing community voices directly to the State Capitol.
But more than titles or committees, service for me is about people. The kūpuna who remind us of our roots, the families working hard to make ends meet, and the keiki who deserve the same opportunities we had growing up here. That's what motivates me every day: making sure Hawaii Kai remains a safe, vibrant, and thriving community for generations to come.
Mahalo,
Core Values
Trust
I am trustworthy because my word is my bond. It's a trait taught to me early in life through my church service and with the Boy Scouts of America, where I became an Eagle Scout.
Once I entered the business world with JPG Hawai'i my clients learned they could rely on me to follow through, not because I had to, but because it was the right thing to do. When mistakes happened, I held myself accountable, took ownership of my actions, and focused on finding a solution rather than shifting responsibility. My reliability is not a performance, but a core part of who I am.
For me, being reliable and trustworthy is more than a reputation, it's a fundamental choice to treat others with honesty and respect.
Integrity
While trust is often discussed in terms of two or more individuals, integrity is more about how one treats themselves.
Integrity is about how my internal moral compass guides my actions, the connection between my words and deeds. If I make a promise, I keep it, always in confidence. I have always taken responsibility for my actions, and I treat others with respect.
When others sense my integrity, it builds trust and confidence and secures the relationship because people know they can rely on my honesty and consistency. My positive actions also inspire others, creating a ripple effect of trust and respect.
Service
For me, service to others is less about grand, publicized gestures and more about the small, consistent acts that brighten someone's day. My brothers and I learned that growing up in Hawai'i Kai from our parents.
Holding the door for a stranger juggling coffee and a laptop or simply taking the time to listen when a friend is having a tough day. Our kindness serves others.
Accepting Governor Green's appointment allows me the opportunity to serve the residents of the community I grew up in. It is in Hawai'i Kai where I am reminded that service does not require a large stage; it only requires a willing heart. Serving our kupuna, our keiki, our neighbors and our State, will be an honor of a lifetime.
Experience
Hawaii House of Representatives
Joe Gedeon was appointed by Governor Josh Green on May 28, 2025, to succeed the late Representative Gene Ward in representing House District 18 residents which includes Hawai'i Kai, Portlock and Kalama Valley. Representative Gedeon's service to his District commenced the same day.
Marketing Executive
In 2008, Joe joined JPG Hawaii, a family company he helped grow into one of the state's premier large-format printing and design firms. He later expanded the business with JPG Media, an out-of-home advertising division that delivers bold visual campaigns across high-traffic locations like shopping malls, gas stations, convenience stores, grocery stores, and mobile vehicle fleets.
Academic Background
Joe Gedeon was born and raised in Hawai'i Kai and is a proud graduate of Kaiser High School, Class of 1997. After high school, he attended Kapiʻolani Community College for two years before moving to San Diego, where he earned a degree in Graphic Design from ITT Tech.
Community Leadership
Joe grew up in the Scouting program in Hawai'i Kai and is a proud Eagle Scout. He serves through his church, and is a dedicated community leader, having served as president of the Waikīkī Rotary Club from 2015 to 2016. Through his work in business, service, and now public office, Joe brings a spirit of aloha and a deep-rooted commitment to uplifting the community that raised him.