Maui Senators Included in Leadership, Committee Assignments

Left to Right: Senator J Kalani English, Senator Gil Keith-Agaran, and Senator Roz Baker. File photo Courtesy Senate Communications.

The Hawaiʻi State Senate announced its 2019 Committee Chairs and Vice Chairs ahead of the Thirtieth Legislature that opens on Jan. 16, 2019. Senate Majority Leader J. Kalani English of Maui  said the new committee assignments are reflective of the Senate’s practice of making the best use of its members’ skills and experiences.

Sen. English will serve as Vice Chair of the Technology Committee, and as a member of the Transportation and Ways & Means Committees.

Fellow Maui legislator, Sen. Gil Keith-Agaran was named Assistant Majority Whip; and will also serve as Vice Chair of the powerful Ways & Means Committee as well as Vice Chair of the Water & Land Committee.  He is also a member of the Higher Education Committee.

Senator Roz Baker of West Maui will Chair the Commerce, Consumer Protection & Health Committee and as a member of the Government and Operations Committee.

Leadership and members in the sixteen other Senate Standing Committees are:

Leadership
President: Ronald D. Kouchi
Vice President: Michelle N. Kidani
Majority Leader: J. Kalani English
Majority Floor Leader: Kaialiʻi Kahele
Majority Caucus Leader: Dru Kanuha
Majority Policy Leader: Les Ihara, Jr.
Majority Whip: Lorraine R. Inouye
Assistant Majority Whip: Gilbert S. C. Keith-Agaran
Assistant Majority Whip: Clarence K. Nishihara
Assistant Majority Whip: Brian Taniguchi
Minority Leader/Floor Leader: Kurt Fevella

Committee Assignments

Agriculture and Environment (AEN)
Gabbard, Mike (Chair)
Ruderman, Russell E. (Vice Chair)
Rhoads, Karl
Thielen, Laura H.
Fevella, Kurt

Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health (CPH)
Baker, Rosalyn H. (Chair)
Chang, Stanley (Vice Chair)
Keohokalole, Jarrett
Moriwaki, Sharon
Nishihara, Clarence K.
Ruderman, Russell E.
Fevella, Kurt

Education (EDU)
Kidani, Michelle N. (Chair)
Kim, Donna Mercado (Vice Chair)
Dela Cruz, Donovan M.
Kanuha, Dru
Fevella, Kurt

Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism (EET)
Wakai, Glenn (Chair)
Taniguchi, Brian T. (Vice Chair)
Inouye, Lorraine R.
Keohokalole, Jarrett
Fevella, Kurt

Government Operations (GVO)
Thielen, Laura H. (Chair)
Inouye, Lorraine R. (Vice Chair)
Baker, Rosalyn H.
Kanuha, Dru
Fevella, Kurt

Hawaiian Affairs (HWN)
Shimabukuro, Maile S. L. (Chair)
Kahele, Kaialiʻi (Vice Chair)
Ihara, Jr., Les
Keohokalole, Jarrett
Fevella, Kurt

Higher Education (HRE)
Kim, Donna Mercado (Chair)
Kidani, Michelle N. (Vice Chair)
Kahele, Kaialiʻi
Keith-Agaran, Gilbert S. C.
Fevella, Kurt

Housing (HOU)
Chang, Stanley (Chair)
Kanuha, Dru (Vice Chair)
Harimoto, Breene
Moriwaki, Sharon
Fevella, Kurt

Human Services (HMS)
Ruderman, Russell E. (Chair)
Rhoads, Karl (Vice Chair)
Ihara, Jr., Les
Riviere, Gil
Fevella, Kurt

Judiciary (JDC)
Rhoads, Karl (Chair)
Wakai, Glenn (Vice Chair)
Gabbard, Mike
Kim, Donna Mercado
Fevella, Kurt

Labor, Culture and Arts (LCA)
Taniguchi, Brian T. (Chair)
Ihara, Jr., Les (Vice Chair)
Chang, Stanley
Gabbard, Mike
Fevella, Kurt

Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs (PSM)
Nishihara, Clarence K. (Chair)
Wakai, Glenn (Vice Chair)
Baker, Rosalyn H.
Thielen, Laura H.
Fevella, Kurt

Technology (TEC)
Keohokalole, Jarrett (Chair)
English, J. Kalani (Vice Chair)
Moriwaki, Sharon
Wakai, Glenn
Fevella, Kurt

Transportation (TRS)
Inouye, Lorraine R. (Chair)
Harimoto, Breene (Vice Chair)
English, J. Kalani
Shimabukuro, Maile S. L.
Fevella, Kurt

Water and Land (WTL)
Kahele, Kaialiʻi (Chair)
Keith-Agaran, Gilbert S.C. (Vice Chair)
Nishihara, Clarence K.
Riviere, Gil
Fevella, Kurt

Ways and Means (WAM)
Dela Cruz, Donovan M. (Chair)
Keith-Agaran, Gilbert S.C. (Vice Chair)
English, J. Kalani
Harimoto, Breene
Inouye, Lorraine R.
Kahele, Kaialiʻi
Kanuha, Dru
Kidani, Michelle N.
Riviere, Gil
Shimabukuro, Maile S. L.
Taniguchi, Brian T.
Fevella, Kurt