HAWAIʻI STATE SENATE ANNOUNCES LEADERSHIP AND COMMITTEE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE 34TH LEGISLATURE
News Release from Senate Democratic Caucus, Nov 5, 2026
HONOLULU, HAWAIʻI - The Hawaiʻi State Senate today announced its leadership and committee assignments for the upcoming legislative session which convenes on January 20, 2027.
The Senate caucus met yesterday 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 our increased focus on disaster preparedness, response, recovery and future challenges facing the state.
The Senate leadership and standing committee chairs and vice chairs are as follows:
Leadership:
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
Committee Assignments:
Agriculture (AGT)
Chair: Herbert M. “Tim” Richards III
Vice Chair: Mike Gabbard
Commerce and Consumer Protection (CPN)
Chair: Troy N. Hashimoto
Vice Chair: Carol Fukunaga
Economic Development and Tourism (EDT)
Chair: Lynn DeCoite
Vice Chair: Glenn Wakai
Education (EDU)
Chair: Donna Mercado Kim
Vice Chair: Mike Gabbard
Energy and Inter-Governmental Affairs (EIG)
Chair: Glenn Wakai
Vice Chair: Stanley Chang
Health and Human Services (HHS)
Chair: Joy San Buenaventura
Vice Chair: Jackson Sayama
Housing (HOU)
Chair: Stanley Chang
Vice Chair: Troy N. Hashimoto
Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs (JHW)
Chair: Jarrett Keohokalole
Vice Chair: Joy San Buenaventura
Labor and Technology (LBT)
Chair: Brandon J.C. Elefante
Vice Chair: Rachele Lamosao
Public Safety, Resiliency, and Military Affairs (PRM)
Chair: Carol Fukunaga
Vice Chair: Danielle M.M. Bass
Transportation (TRS)
Chair: Angus L.K. McKelvey
Vice Chair: Lorraine R. Inouye
Water, Land, Culture and Arts (WLA)
Chair: Chris Lee
Vice Chair: Lorraine R. Inouye
Ways and Means (WAM)
Chair: Donovan M. Dela Cruz
Vice Chair: Sharon Moriwaki
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ABOUT THE HAWAIʻI STATE SENATE MAJORITY
The Hawaiʻi State Senate consists of 25 members who serve staggered four-year terms. The Senate Majority consists of 22 Democrats for the 34th Legislature convenes January 20, 2027. For the latest news and updates, follow the Senate Majority on Facebook, and Instagram, or Hawaiisenatemajority.com.