Hawaii House and Senate Democrats Announce Leadership for 2017

News Release from House Democratic Caucus November 14, 2016

The Hawaii House of Representatives Majority Caucus met today to reaffirm Rep. Joseph M. Souki as Speaker for the 2017 legislative session.

Speaker Souki was re-elected as Speaker of the House in January 2013. He previously served as Speaker from 1993 to 1999, and Speaker Emeritus from 2000 to 2013. He also served as Chair of the Committee on Finance, and most recently as Chair of the Committee on Transportation.

The 2017 House leadership team includes:

Speaker: Joseph M. Souki
Speaker Emeritus: Calvin K.Y. Say
Vice Speaker: John M. Mizuno
Majority Leader: Scott K. Saiki
Majority Floor Leader: Cindy Evans

Majority Whip: Ken Ito

Majority Policy Leader: Marcus R. Oshiro

Assistant Majority Leader: Roy M. Takumi
Chris Lee
Dee Morikawa

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HOUSE NAMES 2017 COMMITTEE CHAIRS, VICE CHAIRS

New Intrastate Commerce Committee to focus on business regulation

News Release from House Democratic Caucus, November 22, 2016

The House of Representatives Majority named its 2017 Committee Chairs and Vice Chairs during a caucus meeting today.

A new committee, Intrastate Commerce, will focus on regulations and licensing of Hawaii businesses such as banking, telecommunications and property insurance.

House Leaders, Committee Chairs and Vice Chairs are:

• Speaker: Joseph M. Souki
• Speaker Emeritus: Calvin K.Y. Say
• Vice Speaker: John M. Mizuno
• Majority Leader: Scott K. Saiki
• Majority Floor Leader: Cindy Evans
• Majority Policy Leader: Marcus R. Oshiro
• Majority Whip: Ken Ito

Assistant Majority Leaders:

• Chris Lee
• Dee Morikawa
• Roy M. Takumi

Agriculture (AGR)

• Chair: Richard Creagan
• Vice Chair: Lynn DeCoite

Consumer Protection & Commerce (CPC)

• Chair: Angus L.K. McKelvey
• Vice Chair: Linda Ichiyama

Economic Development & Business (EDB)

• Chair: Mark M. Nakashima
• Vice Chair: Jarrett Keohokalole

Education (EDN)

• Chair: Roy M. Takumi
• Vice Chair: Sharon E. Har

Energy & Environmental Protection (EEP)

• Chair: Chris Lee
• Vice Chair: Nicole Lowen

Finance (FIN)

• Chair: Sylvia Luke
• Vice Chair: Ty J.K. Cullen

Health (HLT)

• Chair: Della Au Belatti
• Vice Chair: Bertrand Kobayashi

Higher Education (HED)

• Chair: Justin H. Woodson
• Vice Chair: Mark J. Hashem

Housing (HSG)

• Chair: Tom Brower
• Vice Chair: Nadine Nakamura

Human Services (HUS)

• Chair: Dee Morikawa
• Vice Chair: To be announced

Intrastate Commerce (IAC)

• Chair: Takashi Ohno
• Vice Chair: Isaac W. Choy

Judiciary (JUD)

• Chair: Scott Y. Nishimoto
• Vice Chair: Joy San Buenaventura

Labor & Public Employment (LAB)

• Chair: Aaron Ling Johanson
• Vice Chair: Daniel Holt

Legislative Management (LMG)

• Chair: Bertrand Kobayashi
• Vice Chair: John M. Mizuno

Ocean, Marine Resources & Hawaiian Affairs (OMH)

• Chair: Kaniela Ing
• Vice Chair: Cedric Gates

Public Safety (PBS)

• Chair: Gregg Takayama
• Vice Chair: Matthew S. LoPresti

Tourism (TOU)

• Chair: Richard H.K. Onishi
• Vice Chair: James Kunane Tokioka

Transportation (TRN)

• Chair: Henry J.C. Aquino
• Vice Chair: Sean Quinlan

Veterans, Military & International Affairs & Culture and the Arts (VMI)

• Chair: Ken Ito
• Vice Chair: James Kunane Tokioka

Water and Land (WAL)

• Chair: Ryan I. Yamane
• Vice Chair: Sam Satoru Kong

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De Rigeur: Sister Island Papers Extol Leadership Positions Assigned to Local Politicos

• KGI: Nakamura, Morikawa, Tokioka tabbed for roles
  
• MN: “Everybody (from Maui) got something,” Souki said Tuesday. “Some people may say we got too much.”
  
• HTH: Big Island legislators to lead three state House committees in 2017

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Hawaii Senate Democrats Announce Leadership for 2017

News Release from Senate Democratic Caucus November 10, 2016

The Hawaii State Senate announced Thursday new positions in leadership and key standing committee chairs ahead of the 2017 Legislative session. “These changes we are making reflect the experience and expertise our Senators bring to this legislative body,” said Senate Majority Leader J. Kalani English. “The new alignment within leadership and our committees will continue to make us effective as we do the work of the people.”

Leadership and members in the twelve other Senate Standing Committees will be announced when assignments are confirmed.

• Senate President: Sen. Ronald D. Kouchi
• Senate Vice President: Sen. Michelle N. Kidani
• Senate Majority Leader: Sen. J. Kalani English
• Senate Majority Caucus Leader: Sen. Brickwood Galuteria
• Senate Majority Floor Leader: Sen. Will Espero
• Senate Majority Whip: Sen. Donovan M. Dela Cruz

Senate Committee Assignments

Commerce, Consumer Protection and Health (CPN)

• Chair: Sen. Rosalyn Baker
• Vice Chair: Sen. Clarence Nishihara

Judiciary and Labor (JDL)

• Chair: Sen. Gilbert S.C. Keith-Agaran
• Vice Chair: Sen. Karl Rhoads

Ways and Means (WAM)

• Chair: Sen. Jill N. Tokuda
• Vice Chair: Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz  

Chair: Sen. Mike Gabbard Vice Chair: Sen. Gil Riviere

Chair: Sen. Rosalyn H. Baker Vice Chair: Sen. Clarence K. Nishihara

Chair: Sen. Glenn Wakai Vice Chair: Sen. Brian T. Taniguchi

Chair: Sen. Michelle N. Kidani Vice Chair: Sen. Kaiali‘i Kahele

Chair: Sen. Donna Mercado Kim Vice Chair: Sen. Russell E. Ruderman

Chair: Sen. Maile S.L. Shimabukuro Vice Chair: Sen. Brickwood Galuteria

Chair: Sen. Kaiali‘i Kahele Vice Chair: Sen. Michelle N. Kidani

Chair: Sen. Will Espero Vice Chair: Sen. Breene Harimoto

Chair: Sen. Josh Green Vice Chair: Sen. Stanley Chang

Chair: Sen. Brian T. Taniguchi Vice Chair: Sen. J. Kalani English

Chair: Sen. Gilbert S.C. Keith-Agaran Vice Chair: Sen. Karl Rhoads

Chair: Sen. Clarence K. Nishihara Vice Chair: Sen. Glenn Wakai

Chair: Sen. Lorraine R. Inouye Vice Chair: Sen. Donovan M. Dela Cruz

Chair: Sen. Karl Rhoads Vice Chair: Sen. Mike Gabbard

Chair: Sen. Jill N. Tokuda Vice Chair: Sen. Donovan M. Dela Cruz