NOVEMBER 5, 2010: Maui State Senator Shan Tsutsui has been selected as the President of the State Senate, and will preside during the 26th Legislative Session. He succeeds outgoing Senate President Colleen Hanabusa who will resign her seat after being elected to Congress earlier this week.
Senator Sam Slom, now the only member of the minority party in the State Senate, looks forward to working with the new Senate President. He will be meeting with Senator Tsutsui next week.
State Senator Donna Mercado Kim will serve as Vice President of the State Senate and will chair the Tourism committee. Senator David Ige will chair the Ways & Means Committee and Senator Michelle Kidani will serve as his Vice Chair.
“I’m humbled by the confidence my colleagues have bestowed upon me. We are excited to work with the new Governor on moving Hawaii forward and improving the quality of life of our residents, now and in the future,” said Senator Shan Tsutsui.
The State Senate leadership and committee chairs include:
| President | Shan Tsutsui |
| Vice President | Donna Mercado Kim |
| Ways & Means | David Ige |
| Ways & Means, Vice Chair | Michelle Kidani |
| Majority Leader | Brickwood Galuteria |
| Floor Leader | Les Ihara, Jr. |
| Caucus Leader | Ron Kouchi |
| Majority Whip | Suzanne Chun Oakland |
| Majority Whip | Will Espero |
| Judiciary and Labor | Clayton Hee |
| Commerce and Consumer Protection | Rosalyn Baker |
| Agriculture and Housing | Donovan Dela Cruz |
| Committee of Investigative Affairs | Donna Mercado Kim |
| Economic Development and Technology | Carol Fukunaga |
| Education | Jill Tokuda |
| Energy and Environment | Mike Gabbard |
| Hawaiian Affairs | Brickwood Galuteria |
| Health | Josh Green, M.D. |
| Human Services | Suzanne Chun Oakland |
| Public Safety and Military Affairs | Will Espero |
| Tourism | Donna Mercado Kim |
| Transportation and International Affairs | J. Kalani English |
| Water and Land | Russell Kokubun |
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