Hawaii Senate

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21°18′26.4″N 157°51′26.2″W / 21.307333°N 157.857278°W / 21.307333; -157.857278

Hawaii State Senate
Ka ‘Aha Kenekoa
Hawaii State Legislature
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Term limits
None
History
New session started
January 20, 2021
Leadership
Ron Kouchi (D)
since May 5, 2015
Vice President
Michelle Kidani (D)
since November 10, 2016
Majority Leader
Dru Kanuha (D)
since May 5, 2021
Minority Leader
Kurt Fevella (R)
since November 6, 2018
Structure
Seats25
Political groups
Majority
  •   Democratic (23)

Minority

Length of term
4 years
AuthorityArticle III, Constitution of Hawaii
Salary$72,348 per year +
$225 per diem for non-Oʻahu members (2023)[1]
Elections
Last election
November 8, 2022
(25 seats)
Next election
November 5, 2024
RedistrictingHawaii Reapportionment Commission
Meeting place
State Senate Chamber
Hawaii State Capitol
Honolulu, Hawaii
Website
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/senate.aspx

The Hawaii State Senate (Hawaiian: Ka ‘Aha Kenekoa) is the upper house of the Hawaii State Legislature. It consists of twenty-five members elected from an equal number of constituent districts across the islands and is led by the President of the Senate, elected from the membership of the body, currently Ron Kouchi. The forerunner of the Hawaii Senate during the government of the Kingdom of Hawaii was the House of Nobles originated in 1840. In 1894, the Constitution of the Republic of Hawaii renamed the upper house the present senate. Senators are elected to four-year terms and are not subject to term limits.

Like most state legislatures in the United States, the Hawaii State Senate is a part-time body and senators often have active careers outside government. The lower house of the legislature is the Hawaii House of Representatives. The membership of the Senate also elects additional officers to include the Senate Vice President, Senate Chief Clerk, Assistant Chief Clerk, Senate Sergeant at Arms, and Assistant Sergeant at Arms. The Hawaii Senate convenes in the Hawaii State Capitol in Honolulu.

According to Article III, section 4 of the Hawaii State Constitution, a legislator's term begins on the day of the general election and ends the day of the general election if a new member is elected.[2]

Composition[edit]

The Democrats have controlled the chamber since 1963, and have held a supermajority since 1984.

From 2016 (when Sen. Sam Slom, Hawaii's sole Republican state Senator, was defeated in his bid for reelection) to 2018, the Democratic Party held all 25 seats in the Hawaii Senate. This made the Hawaii Senate the only state legislative chamber with no opposition members (this excludes the officially nonpartisan Nebraska Legislature).[3] It was the first time since 1980 (when both the Alabama Senate and Louisiana Senate were all-Democratic) that any state legislative chamber had been completely dominated by a single party.[4]

↓
23 2
Democratic Rep
Affiliation Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
 Total
Democratic Republican Vacant
End of previous legislature (2022) 24 1 25 0
Begin (2022) 23 2 25 0
Latest voting share 92% 8%

Leadership[edit]

Position Name Party District
President of the Senate Ron Kouchi Democratic 8
Majority Leader Dru Kanuha Democratic 3
Minority Leader Kurt Fevella Republican 20

Officers[edit]

Position Name
Chief Clerk Carol T. Taniguchi
Assistant Chief Clerk Jennifer T. Chow
Sergeant at Arms Bienvenido C. Villaflor
Assistant Sergeant at Arms C.M. Park Kaleiwahea

List of current members[edit]

District Name Party Areas Represented First Elected
1 Lorraine Inouye Dem Hilo, Pauka‘a, Papaikou, Pepe‘ekeo 2014[a]
2 Joy San Buenaventura Dem Puna 2020[b]
3 Dru Kanuha Dem Kona, Kaʻū, Volcano 2018
4 Tim Richards III Dem Hilo, Hāmākua, Kohala, Waimea, Waikōloa, Kona 2022
5 Troy Hashimoto[Note 1] Dem Wailuku, Waiheʻe, Kahului, Mauka, Wai'ehu 2023[c][d]
6 Angus McKelvey Dem West and South Maui, Maalaea, Waikapu 2022[e]
7 Lynn DeCoite Dem Hāna, East and Upcountry Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi and Kahoʻolawe, Molokini 2021[c][f]
8 Ron Kouchi Dem Kauaʻi, Niʻihau 2010[c]
9 Stanley Chang Dem Hawaiʻi Kai, ʻĀina Haina, Waiʻalae-Kāhala, Diamond Head, Kaimuki, Kapahulu 2016
10 Les Ihara Jr. Dem Kaimukī, Kapahulu, Pālolo, Maunalani Heights, St. Louis Heights, Mōʻiliʻili, Ala Wai mauka, Kapahulu, Moiliili, McCully 1994
11 Carol Fukunaga Dem Mānoa, Makiki, Punchbowl, Papakōlea, Tantalus 2022[g]
12 Sharon Moriwaki Dem Kakaʻako, Ala Moana, Waikīkī, McCully 2018
13 Karl Rhoads Dem Liliha, Pālama, Iwilei, Nuʻuanu, Pacific Heights, Pauoa, Downtown, Chinatown, Dowsett Heights, Pu'unui 2016[h]
14 Donna Mercado Kim[Note 2] Dem Moanalua, ʻAiea, Fort Shafter, Kalihi Valley, Red Hill, Kapalama 2000[i]
15 Glenn Wakai Dem Kalihi, Māpunapuna, Airport, Salt Lake, Āliamanu, Foster Village, Hickam, Pearl Harbor, Aiea, Pearl City 2010[j]
16 Brandon Elefante Dem Pearl City, Momilani, Pearlridge, ʻAiea, Royal Summit, ʻAiea Heights, Newtown, Waimalu, Hālawa, Pearl Harbor, Waiau, Pacific Palisades 2022
17 Donovan Dela Cruz Dem Mililani Town, Mililani Mauka, Waipi'o Acres, Launani Valley, Wahiawa, Whitmore Village 2010
18 Michelle Kidani Dem Mililani Town, Waipiʻo Gentry, Crestview, Waikele, Village Park, Royal Kunia 2008
19 Henry Aquino Dem Pearl City, Waipahu, West Loch Estates, Hono'ui'uli, Ho'opii 2022[k]
20 Kurt Fevella Rep ʻEwa Beach, Ocean Pointe, ʻEwa by Gentry, Iroquois Point, ʻEwa Village 2018
21 Mike Gabbard Dem Kalaeloa, Fernandez Village, ʻEwa, Kapolei, Makakilo, 2006
22 Maile Shimabukuro Dem Honokai Hale, Ko 'Olina, Nanakuli, Maili, Waianae, Makaha, Makua 2010[l]
23 Brenton Awa Rep Kane'ohe, Kahaluu thru Laie, Kahuku to Mokuleia, Schofield Barracks, Kunia Camp 2022
24 Jarrett Keohokalole Dem Kāneʻohe, Kailua 2018[m]
25 Chris Lee Dem Kailua, Waimānalo, Hawaiʻi Kai 2020[n]
  1. ^ Democrat Gilbert Keith-Agaran resigned on October 31, 2023. State representative Troy Hashimoto was appointed on November 9, 2023 to fill the seat until a special election is held in November 2024.[5]
  2. ^ Became President of the Senate on December 28, 2012, after Shan Tsutsui was appointed by Governor Neil Abercrombie to be Lieutenant Governor.[6] Ousted as Senate President in unusual mid-year leadership reorganization on May 5, 2015.[7] First Filipina, but second Filipino American, Hawaiʻi Senate President[8][9]
  1. ^ Previously served in Senate from 1998 to 2008
  2. ^ Previously served in House from 2014 to 2020
  3. ^ a b c Senator was originally appointed
  4. ^ Previously served in House from 2018 to 2023
  5. ^ Previously served in House from 2006 to 2022
  6. ^ Previously served in House from 2015 to 2021
  7. ^ Previously served in House from 1979 to 1982, House from 1987 to 1992, and Senate from 1992 to 2012
  8. ^ Previously served in House from 2006 to 2016
  9. ^ Previously served in House from 1982 to 1985
  10. ^ Previously served in House from 2002 to 2010
  11. ^ Previously served in House from 2008 to 2022
  12. ^ Previously served in House from 2002 to 2010
  13. ^ Previously served in House from 2014 to 2018
  14. ^ Previously served in House from 2008 to 2020
Entrance to the Hawaii State Senate chamber

Capitol[edit]

The Hawaiʻi State Senate has been meeting at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol in downtown Honolulu since March 15, 1969. Previous to the decision of Governor John A. Burns to build the new Capitol building, the Hawaiʻi State Senate met in ʻIolani Palace.

Past composition of the Senate[edit]

Main article: Political party strength in Hawaii

References[edit]

  1. ^ National Conference of State Legislatures. "2023 Legislator Compensation by State". Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  2. ^ "ELECTION OF MEMBERS; TERM".
  3. ^ Cocke, Sophie (November 9, 2016). "Chang ousts Slom to create nation's only all-blue Senate". Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
  4. ^ Cathy Bussewitz, If Democrat wins seat, Hawaii could be first state in U.S. with one-party rule, Associated Press (October 23, 2016).
  5. ^ "Hawaii Governor Appoints Troy Hashimoto To State Senate". Honolulu Civil Beat. November 9, 2023.
  6. ^ "State Senate chooses Donna Kim as new president". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. December 28, 2012. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
  7. ^ Dayton, Kevin (May 5, 2015). "Kauai's Kouchi replaces Kim as Senate president". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  8. ^ Medina, Andrei (January 16, 2013). "Donna Kim makes history as first Filipina-American Hawaiʻi Senate President". GMA News. Retrieved January 19, 2013. Hawaiʻi Senate Vice President Donna Mercado Kim will make history on Thursday as she is installed as the first Filipina-American State Senate President.
  9. ^ "Senator Donna Mercado Kim's Biography". Project Vote Smart. One Common Ground. 2012. Retrieved January 19, 2013.

External links[edit]

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