State Senate Announces Committee Members for 2009 Legislative Session
Assignments reflect “talents and interests” of Senators
Senate President Colleen Hanabusa today announced the members of the Hawai‘i State Senate committees that will consider legislation for the 2009 legislative session. “We have a very strong lineup,” said Hanabusa. “Our committee assignments let us make the best use of our Senators’ talents, interests, and experience. Everyone is aware that we are facing a challenging session, but our committees are ready to address the issues that will help our state move forward.”
The makeup of the fourteen Senate committees is:
Consumer Protection (CPN)
Baker, Rosalyn H. (Chair)
Ige, David Y. (Vice Chair)
Espero, Will
Green, M.D., Josh
Ihara, Jr., Les
Sakamoto, Norman
Hemmings, Fred
Economic Development and Technology (EDT)
Fukunaga, Carol (Chair)
Baker, Rosalyn H. (Vice Chari)
Hee, Clayton
Ige, David Y.
Slom, Sam
Education and Housing (EDH)
Sakamoto, Norman (Chair)
Kidani, Michelle N.(Vice Chair)
Chun Oakland, Suzanne
Galuteria, Brickwood
Hemmings, Fred
Energy and Environment (ENE)
Gabbard, Mike (Chair)
English, J. Kalani (Vice Chair)
Green, M.D., Josh
Hooser, Gary L.
Ihara, Jr., Les
Kokubun, Russell S.
Hemmings, Fred
Health (HTH)
Ige, David Y. (Chair)
Green, M.D., Josh (Vice Chair)
Baker, Rosalyn H.
Espero, Will
Nishihara, Clarence K.
Hemmings, Fred
Higher Education (HRE)
Tokuda, Jill N. (Chair)
Sakamoto, Norman (Vice Chair)
Baker, Rosalyn H.
Kokubun, Russell S.
Taniguchi, Brian T.
Takamine, Dwight Y.
Slom, Sam
Human Services (HMS)
Chun Oakland, Suzanne (Chair)
Ihara, Jr., Les (Vice Chair)
Green, M.D., Josh
Hemmings, Fred
Judiciary and Government Operations (JGO)
Taniguchi, Brian T. (Chair)
Takamine, Dwight Y. (Vice Chair)
Bunda, Robert
Gabbard, Mike
Galuteria, Brickwood
Nishihara, Clarence K.
Slom, Sam
Labor (LBR)
Takamine, Dwight Y. (Chair)
Taniguchi, Brian T. (Vice Chair)
Bunda, Robert
Hee, Clayton
Slom, Sam
Public Safety and Military Affairs (PSM)
Espero, Will (Chair)
Bunda, Robert (Vice Chair)
English, J. Kalani
Gabbard, Mike
Galuteria, Brickwood
Kidani, Michelle N.
Hemmings, Fred
Tourism (TSM)
Nishihara, Clarence K. (Chair)
Galuteria, Brickwood (Vice Chair)
Kidani, Michelle N.
Tsutsui, Shan S.
Slom, Sam
Transportation, International Affairs and Intergovernmental Affairs (TIA)
English, J. Kalani (Chair)
Gabbard, Mike (Vice Chair)
Espero, Will
Nishihara, Clarence K.
Slom, Sam
Water, Land, Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs (WTL)
Hee, Clayton (Chair)
Tokuda, Jill N. (Vice Chair)
Bunda, Robert
Fukunaga, Carol
Kokubun, Russell S.
Takamine, Dwight Y.
Hemmings, Fred
Ways and Means (WAM)
Kim, Donna Mercado(Chair)
Tsutsui, Shan S. (Vice Chair)
Chun Oakland, Suzanne
English, J. Kalani
Fukunaga, Carol
Hee, Clayton
Hooser, Gary L.
Kidani, Michelle N.
Kokubun, Russell S.
Tokuda, Jill N.
Hemmings, Fred
As announced previously, three of the four incoming Senators, Brickwood Galuteria, Josh Green, and Michelle Kidani, will serve as vice-chairs. Incoming Senator Dwight Takamine will chair the Labor committee.
The Senate has also created a new position in leadership for a Majority Technology Leader, which will be filled by Senator David Ige. Senator Ige has led past technology initiatives, including the Senate paperless project and network upgrades.
Senator Russell Kokubun takes over as Senate Vice President, a position formerly held by Senator Donna Mercado Kim. Senator Kim assumes the chair of the Ways and Means Committee, with Senator Shan Tsutsui continuing as vice-chair. Former Ways and Means chair Roz Baker will now head the Senate’s Consumer Protection Committee.