HAWAIʻI STATE SENATE MAJORITY ANNOUNCES LEADERSHIP AND COMMITTEE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE 34TH LEGISLATURE

HONOLULU, HAWAIʻI- The Hawaiʻi State Senate Majority today announced its leadership and committee assignments for the upcoming legislative session which convenes on January 20, 2027.

The Senate Majority 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:

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

Chair: Herbert M. “Tim” Richards III

Commerce and Consumer Protection (CPN)

Vice Chair: Carol Fukunaga

Economic Development and Tourism (EDT)

Energy and Inter-Governmental Affairs (EIG)

Vice Chair: Stanley Chang

Health and Human Services (HHS)

Chair: Joy San Buenaventura

Vice Chair: Jackson Sayama

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)

Vice Chair: Danielle M.M. Bass

Chair: Angus L.K. McKelvey

Vice Chair: Lorraine R. Inouye

Water, Land, Culture and Arts (WLA)

Vice Chair: Lorraine R. Inouye

Chair: Donovan M. Dela Cruz

Vice Chair: Sharon Moriwaki