Longtime Hawaiʻi County Council member Sue Lee Loy to tackle new challenges in State Legislature

A new session of the Hawai‘i Legislature begins today and so does the next public service chapter of a former Hawai‘i County Council member.

Sue Lee Loy is among the freshmen legislators at the state Capitol in Honolulu — as Big Island’s new state representative for House District 2, which encompasses most of Hilo. But she also is a familiar face to many in the Legislature because of her 8 years on the council.

Lee Loy takes over the seat occupied by longtime state Rep. Richard Onishi, who decided to retire last fall. She handily defeated fellow Democrat Tanya Yamanaka in the August 2024 primary election to win the seat, with no Republican challengers in November’s general election.

“I think Sue will be a great legislator and will represent us effectively and with compassion,” said Onishi. “We both have lived in Hilo our whole life and we know how special Hilo is to us, our families and the residents and businesses.”

Lee Loy said: “I am excited, particularly for the work that Richard and I have done over time. I feel like I get to carry on the legacy that he handed over.”

That includes work the two started together, such as revitalizing Banyan Drive and improvements at Waiākea Uka Park. It also includes work toward a new Four Mile Creek Bridge on Kīlauea Avenue, a project sought by the community for several years.

Current issues important to the community also will be among her priorities.

“Economy continues to be a focal point. Getting people back to work, making sure they can pay their bills,” the 54-year-old said. “Hilo definitely is a college town, so doing better partnerships with the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo and some of the other schools.”

When she met with state lawmakers in her capacity as a county council member, housing and housing options were and continue to be a focus throughout the state.

Admittedly, there will be a learning curve as Lee Loy gets up to speed in her new post.

She’s working with a much larger group, 51 people instead of nine. Deadlines are tighter; instead of having a month or more to work on bills, now she must get them over the finish line during the 3-month legislative session.

She’s fortunately already spent plenty of time in the halls of the Capitol, working with legislators on measures to benefit Hawai‘i County, so that side of the playbook she said she has down.

Furthermore, she has the benefit of good relationships with several colleagues in Honolulu, including Big Island state Rep. Chris Todd.

Lee Loy served with national organizations, sometimes in leadership roles, including with the National Association of Counties and Western Interstate Region, while sitting on the Hawai’i County Council, providing her with additional insight into how to work with larger bodies.

She also is backed by a strong and diverse Hawai‘i Island delegation, consisting of 12 lawmakers, of which half are women — four in the state House and two in the state Senate.

Lee Loy brings another Native Hawaiian voice to the table, too, joining Hawai‘i Island lawmakers Reps. Jeanné Kapela and Kirstin Kahaloa, and Senate Majority Leader Sen. Dru Kanuha.

Several of the island’s lawmakers share Lee Loy’s county council background, and along with it deeper understanding and knowledge, in county government, including Kanuha; Sens. Tim Richards and Lorraine Inouye, who is also a former Hawai‘i County mayor; and Rep. Greggor Ilagan.

Lee Loy said all of that makes for a functional and dynamic group of legislators.

The 70-year-old Onishi was looking for someone he could trust to represent him and his district before stepping down. He said he found that person in Lee Loy.

She wasn’t planning to seek the seat until Onishi approached her about it last year during Memorial Day Weekend.

The mother of three was term limited on the county council and expecting to move into private life by consulting for Native Hawaiian public charter schools.

She also planned to spend the next two years or so making sure her youngest son, who is 19 with special needs, was ready by his 21st birthday to step out into the world or another educational program.

Becoming a state lawmaker would be a big step and huge change for her family, with a schedule that takes her off-island weekdays — and away from her family, especially her youngest son — during the legislative session and even before.

But with her family’s support, she pulled papers online to run with a little more than a week left until the filing deadline and only about 2 months to campaign.

Onishi and his wife Joni, who was one of her teachers in Keaukaha, have watched Lee Loy grow up and supported her when she ran for county council.

Onishi said through their work together — which also included continued development of Wailoa River State Recreation Area and the Bayfront Trails, repaving and widening Pūʻainakō Street, replacement of the condemned Hilo Intermediate School gym and building of a kauhale to serve homeless — they established a template for how the state and county can work together on projects and issues that affect the Hilo community.

“Her understanding, work and relationships at the county level, her previous private work experiences and knowledge and her knowledge and experience in the social services system will all be invaluable to her working for our residents and businesses,” he said.

Hawai‘i County Councilwoman Heather Kimball, who represents District 1 and was council chairwoman during Lee Loy’s final council term, says it’s her former colleague’s attention to Hawai‘i Island issues that will distinguish her as a state lawmaker.

“Sometimes lawmakers go to Honolulu and lose touch,” Kimball said. “I don’t see that happening with Sue. She has deep roots here that will keep her connected and grounded in East Hawai‘i.”

Representing a district with many different interests, Kimball said Lee Loy did well finding the balance required.

“She’s got this,” Kimball said. “She has been battle tested and she knows how to build the relationships that will make her an effective legislator, without burning bridges or being taken advantage of.”

Despite any lingering new job jitters heading into the 2025 session, Lee Loy is honored and privileged to be entrusted by the people of Hilo to represent them. She’s ready to overcome any hurdle that comes her way.

“Absolutely,” Lee Loy said. “Hilo’s my hometown. I love this place. … I’m ready for the challenge.”