HONOLULU — The state senator from Kaua‘i will keep his post as Senate president next year.
The state Senate announced Wednesday that Ronald D. Kouchi (D-8 – Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau) will remain Senate president next session, a position he has held since 2015.
Michelle N. Kidani (D-18 – Mililani Town, Waipi‘o Gentry, Crestview, Waikele, portion of Waipahu, Village Park and Royal Kunia), will remain as the Senate vice president.
“As we look to build on last year’s historic session, I am confident that our new leadership team and committee chairs will help us in our efforts to keep this momentum heading into 2023,” Kouchi said.
Last year — in which all members of the Legislature were up for reelection — the state Legislature raised Hawai‘i’s wage to $18 an hour by 2028, allocated $600 million of funding for the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, and paid out $300 rebates to all Hawai‘i taxpayers making less than $100,000 a year.
It was also a legislative session marred by scandal, as former Senate Majority Leader J. Kalani English and former state Rep. Ty Cullen pleaded guilty in February in connection with accepting bribes from businessman and political power player Milton Choy. The scandal prompted some limited ethics reforms at the state level.
Ethics and campaign finance reform are expected to remain a priority for the Legislature in its next session, beginning Jan. 18, 2023.
Leadership and chairs of the 15 standing committees are:
Leadership:
President: Kouchi
Vice President: Kidani
Majority/Caucus Leader: Dru Mamo Kanuha
Majority Floor Leader: Glenn Wakai
Majority Assistant Floor Leader: Lynn DeCoite
Majority Policy Leader: Les Ihara
Majority Whip: Lorraine Inouye
Majority Assistant Whip: Gil Keith-Agaran
Majority Assistant Whip: Chris Lee
Majority Assistant Whip: Tim Richards
Committee Chairs:
Agriculture and Environment (AEN)
Chair: Mike Gabbard
Vice Chair: Tim Richards
Commerce, Consumer Protection (CPN)
Chair: Jarrett Keohokalole
Vice Chair: Carol Fukunaga
Education Chair (EDU)
Chair: Kidani
Vice Chair: Donna Mercado Kim
Energy, Economic Development and Tourism (EET)
Chair: DeCoite
Vice Chair: Wakai
Government Operations (GVO)
Chair: Angus McKelvey
Vice Chair: Gabbard
Hawaiian Affairs (HWN)
Chair: Maile Shimabukuro
Vice Chair: Kurt Fevella
Health and Human Services (HHS)
Chair: Joy San Buenaventura
Vice Chair: Henry Aquino
Higher Education (HRE)
Chair: Kim
Vice Chair: Kidani
Housing (HOU)
Chair: Stanley Chang
Vice Chair: Kanuha
Judiciary (JDC)
Chair: Karl Rhoads
Vice Chair: Gabbard
Labor and Technology (LBT)
Chair: Sharon Moriwaki
Vice Chair: Lee
Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs (PSM)
Chair: Wakai
Vice Chair: Elefante
Transportation and Culture &Arts (TCA)
Chair: Lee
Vice Chair: Inouye
Water and Land (WTL)
Chair: Inouye
Vice Chair: Elefante
Ways and Means (WAM)
Chair: Donovan M. Dela Cruz
Vice Chair: Keith-Agaran
