Big Island’s Lorraine R. Inouye takes on the role of Vice President for the Hawaiʻi Senate
Dru Mamo Kanuha will be the Senate Majority Leader, Tim Richards will serve as Chair of the Agriculture Committee, and Joy San Buenaventura will serve as Chair of the Health and Human Services Committee.
The Hawaiʻi State Senate caucus met Wednesday with its newly elected members to select leadership, finalize the structure of its standing committees, and determine committee leadership assignments.
The Senate will have 13 standing committees for the upcoming session, down from 15 during the previous Legislature. The Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committees have been combined, as have the Commerce and Consumer Protection and Government Operations committees.
Additionally, the Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs has been renamed the Committee on Public Safety, Resiliency, and Military Affairs, reflecting the increased focus on disaster preparedness, response, recovery and future challenges facing the state.
The Senate leadership is as follows:
- Senate President: Ronald D. Kouchi
- Vice President: Lorraine R. Inouye
- Majority Leader: Dru Mamo Kanuha
- Majority Floor Leader: Rachele Lamosao
- Assistant Majority Floor Leader: Danielle M.M. Bass
- Majority Whip: Mike Gabbard
- Assistant Majority Whip: Tricia Nakamatsu
- Assistant Majority Whip: Jackson Sayama
The committee chairs are listed below:
Agriculture
- Chair: Herbert M. “Tim” Richards III
- Vice Chair: Mike Gabbard
Commerce and Consumer Protection
- Chair: Troy N. Hashimoto
- Vice Chair: Carol Fukunaga
Economic Development and Tourism
- Chair: Lynn DeCoite
- Vice Chair: Glenn Wakai
Education
- Chair: Donna Mercado Kim
- Vice Chair: Mike Gabbard
Energy and Inter-Governmental Affairs
- Chair: Glenn Wakai
- Vice Chair: Stanley Chang
Health and Human Services
- Chair: Joy San Buenaventura
- Vice Chair: Jackson Sayama
Housing
- Chair: Stanley Chang
- Vice Chair: Troy N. Hashimoto
Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs
- Chair: Jarrett Keohokalole
- Vice Chair: Joy San Buenaventura
Labor and Technology
- Chair: Brandon J.C. Elefante
- Vice Chair: Rachele Lamosao
Public Safety, Resiliency, and Military Affairs
- Chair: Carol Fukunaga
- Vice Chair: Danielle M.M. Bass
Transportation
- Chair: Angus L.K. McKelvey
- Vice Chair: Lorraine R. Inouye
Water, Land, Culture and Arts
- Chair: Chris Lee
- Vice Chair: Lorraine R. Inouye
Ways and Means
- Chair: Donovan M. Dela Cruz
- Vice Chair: Sharon Moriwaki
