Hawaii Senate
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Script error: No such module "Coordinates". Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 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.[1]
Composition
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).[2] 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.[3]
| Template:Down-arrow | |
| 22 | 3 |
| Democratic | Rep |
| Affiliation | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)
|
Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| style="background-color:Template:Party color" | | style="background-color:Template:Party color" | | |||
| Democratic | Republican | Vacant | ||
| End of previous legislature (2024) | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | 23 | 2 | 25 | 0 |
| Begin (2025) | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | 22 | 3 | 25 | 0 |
| Latest voting share | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"|Script error: No such module "Percentage". | Script error: No such module "Percentage". | ||
Leadership
| Position | Name | Party | District |
|---|---|---|---|
| President of the Senate | Ron Kouchi | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic | 8 |
| Majority Leader | Dru Kanuha | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic | 3 |
| Minority Leader | Brenton Awa | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican | 23 |
Officers
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Chief Clerk | Carol T. Taniguchi |
| Assistant Chief Clerk | Ainoa A. Naniole |
| Sergeant-at-Arms | Bienvenido C. Villaflor |
| Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms | C.M. Park Kaleiwahea |
List of current members
| District | Name | Party | County(ies) | Areas represented | First elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Dem | Hawaiʻi | Hilo, Pauka‘a, Papaikou, Pepe‘ekeo | 2014Template:Efn |
| 2 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Dem | Puna | 2020Template:Efn | |
| 3 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Dem | Kona, Kaʻū, Volcano | 2018 | |
| 4 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Dem | Hilo, Hāmākua, Kohala, Waimea, Waikōloa, Kona | 2022 | |
| 5 | Script error: No such module "Sort".[Note 1] | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Dem | Maui | Wailuku, Waiheʻe, Kahului, Mauka, Wai'ehu | 2023Template:EfnTemplate:Efn |
| 6 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Dem | West and South Maui, Maalaea, Waikapu | 2022Template:Efn | |
| 7 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Dem | Maui, Kalawao | Hāna, East and Upcountry Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi and Kahoʻolawe, Molokini | 2021Template:EfnTemplate:Efn |
| 8 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Dem | Kauaʻi | Kauaʻi, Niʻihau | 2010Template:Efn |
| 9 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Dem | Honolulu | Hawaiʻi Kai, ʻĀina Haina, Waiʻalae-Kāhala, Diamond Head, Kaimuki, Kapahulu | 2016 |
| 10 | Les Ihara Jr. | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Dem | Kaimukī, Kapahulu, Pālolo, Maunalani Heights, St. Louis Heights, Mōʻiliʻili, Ala Wai mauka, Kapahulu, Moiliili, McCully | 1994Template:Efn | |
| 11 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Dem | Mānoa, Makiki, Punchbowl, Papakōlea, Tantalus | 2022Template:Efn | |
| 12 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Dem | Kakaʻako, Ala Moana, Waikīkī, McCully | 2018 | |
| 13 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Dem | Liliha, Pālama, Iwilei, Nuʻuanu, Pacific Heights, Pauoa, Downtown, Chinatown, Dowsett Heights, Pu'unui | 2016Template:Efn | |
| 14 | Script error: No such module "Sort".[Note 2] | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"| Dem | Moanalua, ʻAiea, Fort Shafter, Kalihi Valley, Red Hill, Kapalama | 2000Template:Efn | |
| 15 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Dem | Kalihi, Māpunapuna, Airport, Salt Lake, Āliamanu, Foster Village, Hickam, Pearl Harbor, Aiea, Pearl City | 2010Template:Efn | |
| 16 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Dem | Pearl City, Momilani, Pearlridge, ʻAiea, Royal Summit, ʻAiea Heights, Newtown, Waimalu, Hālawa, Pearl Harbor, Waiau, Pacific Palisades | 2022 | |
| 17 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Dem | Mililani Town, Mililani Mauka, Waipi'o Acres, Launani Valley, Wahiawa, Whitmore Village | 2010 | |
| 18 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Dem | Mililani Town, Waipiʻo Gentry, Crestview, Waikele, Village Park, Royal Kunia | 2008 | |
| 19 | Script error: No such module "Sort".[Note 3] (Designate) | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Dem | Pearl City, Waipahu, West Loch Estates, Hono'ui'uli, Ho'opii | 2025Template:Efn | |
| 20 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Rep | ʻEwa Beach, Ocean Pointe, ʻEwa by Gentry, Iroquois Point, ʻEwa Village | 2018 | |
| 21 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Dem | Kalaeloa, Fernandez Village, ʻEwa, Kapolei, Makakilo, | 2006 | |
| 22 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Rep | Honokai Hale, Ko 'Olina, Nanakuli, Maili, Waianae, Makaha, Makua | 2024 | |
| 23 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Rep | Kane'ohe, Kahaluu thru Laie, Kahuku to Mokuleia, Schofield Barracks, Kunia Camp | 2022 | |
| 24 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Dem | Kāneʻohe, Kailua | 2018Template:Efn | |
| 25 | Chris Lee | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Dem | Kailua, Waimānalo, Hawaiʻi Kai | 2020Template:Efn |
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- ↑ 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.[4]
- ↑ Became President of the Senate on December 28, 2012, after Shan Tsutsui was appointed by Governor Neil Abercrombie to be Lieutenant Governor.[5] Ousted as Senate President in unusual mid-year leadership reorganization on May 5, 2015.[6] First Filipina, but second Filipino American, Hawaiʻi Senate President[7][8]
- ↑ Democrat Henry Aquino resigned on November 30, 2025. State representative Rachele Lamosao was appointed on December 3, 2025 to fill the seat.[9][10]
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Capitol
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
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See also
References
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- ↑ Cathy Bussewitz, If Democrat wins seat, Hawaii could be first state in U.S. with one-party rule Template:Webarchive, Associated Press (October 23, 2016).
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External links
- Hawaiʻi State Legislature
- Hawaiʻi State Legislature Legislative Reference Bureau
- State Senate of Hawaiʻi at Project Vote Smart
- Template:Ballotpedia
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