Bunda retains Three Democratic factions have organized the state Senate by sharing power and will keep Sen. Robert Bunda as president.
Senate presidency
in power sharing
Hanabusa will head the
Judiciary panel and Kim will
become Senate vice presidentBy Richard Borreca
rborreca@starbulletin.com
While Bunda (D, Wahiawa) remains president, his chief rival, Senate Vice President Sen. Colleen Hanabusa (D, Waianae), will become Judiciary Committee chairwoman.
The Senate vice presidency goes to Sen. Donna Kim (D, Kalihi Valley, Halawa), who will also retain her position as chairwoman of the tourism committee.
The agreement was completed and signed over the weekend, but was not formally approved until last night after the committee assignments were agreed upon.
The third group of senators that had boycotted the last Senate organization is included in the power structure with Sen. Suzanne Chun Oakland (D, Kalihi, Liliha) taking over the Human Services Committee and Sen. Roz Baker (D, Maui) running the Health Committee.
Sen. Brian Taniguchi (D, Manoa) will remain as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.
Former Judiciary Chairman Brian Kanno (D, Kalaeloa, Makakilo) will take over the Labor Committee and Sen. Cal Kawamoto (D, Waipahu) will remain as Transportation Committee chairman, but will also become Democratic floor leader.
Hanabusa, who has expressed interest in former U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink's congressional seat, will be majority leader.
Meanwhile, the Senate's five Republicans organized yesterday afternoon, selecting Sen. Fred Hemmings (R, Kailua) as the minority leader. He defeated Sen. Sam Slom (R, Hawaii Kai), who wanted to keep the job.
"It was a caucus choice and it does not mean Sen. Slom will not continue to be an influential member," Hemmings said.
Sen. Bob Hogue (R, Kaneohe) will be Republican floor leader and Sen. Paul Whalen (R, Milolii, Waimea) will be GOP policy leader.
Other positions include Sen. Ron Menor (D, Mililani), Consumer Protection Committee; Sen. Carol Fukunaga (D, Makiki, Punchbowl), Economic Development Committee; and Sen. Norman Sakamoto (D, Salt Lake), Education Committee.
The Republicans and Democrats in the House have not yet formally organized.
State of Hawaii
