Leadership named in state Senate for upcoming 33rd Hawai‘i Legislative Biennium

Hawai‘i Senate President Ronald Kouchi on Wednesday, following Tuesday’s general election, announced the leadership and committee chairmanships for the upcoming 33rd Hawai‘i Legislative Biennium from 2025 to 2026.

Kouchi, who represents Senate District 8 (Kaua‘i, Ni‘ihau), will again serve as the chamber’s president during the next two sessions at the state Capitol in Honolulu. He has served in the position since May 2015.

The longtime state legislator first became a member of the state Senate when he was appointed in 2010 by then-Hawai‘i Gov. Linda Lingle.

He has previously served as majority caucus leader, vice chairman for the Committee on Tourism and vice chairman for the Committee on Ways and Means. He also served as a member on the committees on Agriculture, Education, Transportation and International Affairs.

Kouchi grew up on the west side of Kaua‘i. He is a 1975 graduate of Waimea High School and attended Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

Other state Senate leadership for the 2025 and 2026 legislative sessions will include:

• Vice president: Sen. Michelle Kidani of O‘ahu.
• Majority leader: Sen. Dru Kanuha of Hawai‘i Island.
• Majority floor leader: Sen. Glenn Wakai of O‘ahu.
• Assistant majority floor leader: Sen. Lynn DeCoite.
• Majority policy leader: Sen. Les Ihara Jr. of O‘ahu.
• Majority Whip: Sen. Lorraine R. Inouye of Hawai‘i Island.
• Assistant majority whip: Sen. Henry J.C. Aquino of O‘ahu.
• Assistant majority whip: Sen. Troy Hashimoto of Maui.
• Assistant majority whip: Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole of O‘ahu.
• Assistant majority whip: Sen. Chris Lee of O‘ahu.
• Assistant Majority Whip: Sen. Tim Richards of Hawai‘i Island.

Inouye will also again be chairwoman of the Senate Water and Land Committee.

Committee chairmanships announced Wednesday for the next two legislative sessions in Honolulu are:

• Agriculture and Environment: Sen. Mike Gabbard of O‘ahu.
• Commerce and Consumer Protection: Keohokalole.
• Education: Kidani.
• Economic Development and Tourism: DeCoite.
• Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs: Wakai.
• Government Operations: Sen. Angus L.K. McKelvey of Maui.
• Hawaiian Affairs: Richards.
• Health and Human Services: Sen. Joy San Buenaventura of Hawai‘i Island.
• Higher Education: Sen. Donna Mercado Kim of O‘ahu.
• Housing: Sen. Stanley Chang of O‘ahu.
• Judiciary: Sen. Karl Rhoads of O‘ahu.
• Labor and Technology: Aquino.
• Public and Safety and Military Affairs: Sen. Brandon J.C. Elefante of O‘ahu.
• Transportation and Culture and Arts: Lee.
• Water and Land: Inouye.
• Ways and Means: Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz of O‘ahu.

The 2025 legislative session begins in mid-January.