Following the retirement of former Senator Leader J. Kalani English on May 1, 2021, the Hawaiʻi State Senate today announced the appointment of Senator Dru Kanuha (District 3 – Kona and Kaʻū) as the new Senate Majority Leader.
Senator Kanuha served as the Majority Caucus Leader since being elected to the Senate in 2018. He also serves as a member of the Senate Committees on Housing, Education, and Ways and Means.
Prior to being elected to the Senate, he served six years as a member of the Hawaiʻi Island County Council, including two years as Council Chair.
In addition to his new role as the Senate Majority Leader, Senator Kanuha will maintain the responsibilities that he previously held as Caucus Leader.
“Senator Kanuha is an experienced legislator who has served as an integral part of our Senate leadership team since being elected to our chamber in 2018,” said Senate President Ronald D. Kouchi (District 8 – Kauaʻi and Niʻihau). “I am confident that as Majority Leader, he will help shape our priorities and guide our caucus as we begin to prepare for the next legislative session.”
The Senate also announced today that Senator Bennette Misalucha (District 16 – Pearl City, Momilani, Pearlridge, ‘Aiea, Royal Summit, ‘Aiea Heights, Newtown, Waimalu, Hālawa, Pearl Harbor) has been appointed to replace Senator English as a member of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means.
Leadership and members in the sixteen standing committees are:
LEADERSHIP
President: Senator Ronald D. Kouchi
Vice President: Senator Michelle N. Kidani
Majority Leader: Senator Dru Mamo Kanuha
Majority Policy Leader: Senator Les Ihara, Jr.
Majority Floor Leader: Senator Jarrett Keohokalole
Majority Whip: Senator Lorraine Inouye
Assistant Majority Whip: Senator Brian Taniguchi
Senator Gilbert S.C. Keith-Agaran
Senator Clarence Nishihara
Minority Leader/Floor Leader: Senator Kurt Fevella
COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
Agriculture and Environment (AEN)
Gabbard, Mike (Chair)
Nishihara, Clarence (Vice Chair)
Acasio, Laura
Rhoads, Karl
Fevella, Kurt
Commerce and Consumer Protection (CPN)
Baker, Rosalyn H. (Chair)
Chang, Stanley (Vice Chair)
Nishihara, Clarence
Riviere, Gil
San Buenaventura, Joy
**District 7 Senator
Fevella, Kurt
Education (EDU)
Kidani, Michelle N. (Chair)
Kim, Donna Mercado (Vice Chair)
Dela Cruz, Donovan
Kanuha, Dru Mamo
Fevella, Kurt
Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism (EET)
Wakai, Glenn (Chair)
Misalucha, Bennette (Vice Chair)
Lee, Chris
Riviere, Gil
Fevella, Kurt
Government Operations (GVO)
Moriwaki, Sharon Y. (Chair)
Dela Cruz, Donovan (Vice Chair)
Chang, Stanley
Gabbard, Mike
Fevella, Kurt
Hawaiian Affairs (HWN)
Shimabukuro, Maile S. L. (Chair)
Keohokalole, Jarrett (Vice Chair)
Acasio, Laura
Ihara, Jr., Les
Fevella, Kurt
Health (HTH)
Keohokalole, Jarrett (Chair)
Baker, Rosalyn (Vice Chair)
Moriwaki, Sharon Y.
San Buenaventura, Joy
Fevella, Kurt
Housing (HOU)
Chang, Stanley (Chair)
Kanuha, Dru Mamo (Vice Chair)
Moriwaki, Sharon Y.
Rhoads, Karl
Fevella, Kurt
Higher Education (HRE)
Kim, Donna Mercado (Chair)
Kidani, Michelle N. (Vice Chair)
Keith-Agaran, Gilbert S. C.
Wakai, Glenn
Fevella, Kurt
Human Services (HMS)
San Buenaventura, Joy (Chair)
Ihara, Jr., Les (Vice Chair)
Acasio, Laura
Misalucha, Bennette
Fevella, Kurt
Judiciary (JDC)
Rhoads, Karl (Chair)
Keohokalole, Jarrett (Vice Chair)
Acasio, Laura
Gabbard, Mike
Kim, Donna Mercado
Lee, Chris
Fevella, Kurt
Labor, Culture and Arts (LCA)
Taniguchi, Brian T. (Chair)
Ihara, Jr., Les (Vice Chair)
Chang, Stanley
Keohokalole, Jarrett
Fevella, Kurt
Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs (PSM)
Nishihara, Clarence K. (Chair)
Baker, Rosalyn H.
Riviere, Gil
**District 7 Senator
Fevella, Kurt
Transportation (TRS)
Lee, Chris (Chair)
Inouye, Lorraine R. (Vice Chair)
Shimabukuro, Maile S. L.
**District 7 Senator
Fevella, Kurt
Water and Land (WTL)
Inouye, Lorraine R (Chair)
Keith-Agaran, Gilbert S.C. (Vice Chair)
Misalucha, Bennette
Riviere, Gil
Fevella, Kurt
Ways and Means (WAM)
Dela Cruz, Donovan M. (Chair)
Keith-Agaran, Gilbert S.C. (Vice Chair)
Inouye, Lorraine R
Kanuha, Dru Mamo
Kidani, Michelle N.
Misalucha, Bennette
Moriwaki, Sharon Y.
Shimabukuro, Maile S. L.
Taniguchi, Brian T.
Wakai, Glenn
Fevella, Kurt
** The Democratic Party of Maui will convene on May 15, 2021 to nominate three candidates that will be transmitted to the Governor for consideration as a short-term replacement to fill the remainder of Senator English’s term. The Governor has until June 30, 2021 to fill the vacancy.
