THE 2002 HAWAI'I STATE LEGISLATURE
Senate dominated by lawyers, business people
| • | Where legislators stand on the issues |
| • | Reach your legislator: State House of Representatives |
| • | Reach your legislator: State Senate |
| • | House shifts to more full-time legislators |
Sen. Jan Yagi Buen
D4th (W. Maui, Moloka'i, Lana'i)
Born: Dec. 30, 1942
Occupation: retired, Maui Electric Co., Ltd.
Spouse: Richard Combo Buen, retired line foreman in construction, Maui Electric Co.
Political experience: Senate 1998-present
Committees: Agriculture (Chair); Health and Human Services (Vice Chair); Ways and Means, Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations; Tourism and Intergovernmental Affairs
Robert Bunda
D-22nd (Wahiawa, Waialua, Sunset Beach)
Born: April 25, 1947
Occupation: Insurance Broker, Atlas Insurance Agency
Spouse: Gail Bunda, part-time bookkeeper, Tanioka Fish Market
Senate President
Political experience: House 1983-1994; Senate 1994-present
Avery Chumbley
D-6th (E. Maui, N. Kaua'i)
Born: March 19, 1955
Occupation: President and COO, Wailuku Agribusiness Co., Inc.; General Manager, Maui Tropical Plantation
Spouse: Mary Jay, secretary/agent, American Airlines
Political experience: House 1992-94; Senate 1994-present.
Committees: Education (Vice Chair); Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Housing; Labor
Jonathan Chun
D-7th (S. Kaua'i, Ni'ihau)
Born: Jan. 26, 1957
Occupation: attorney
Spouse: Sandra, former office clerk, Prudential Insurance
Political experience: Senate 1998-present
Senate Majority Co-leader
Committees: Hawaiian Affairs (Chair); Agriculture (Vice Chair); Ways and Means; Judiciary; Water, Land, Energy, and Environment
Suzanne Chun Oakland
D-14th (Palama, 'Alewa Heights)
Born: June 27, 1961
Occupation: full-time legislator; former research assistant and office manager to former Honolulu City Council Member Gary Gill
Spouse: Michael Sands Chun Oakland, deputy sheriff, state Department of Public Safety
Political experience: Senate 1996-present; House 1990-1996
Committees: Water, Land, Energy and Environment (Vice Chair); Hawaiian Affairs; Ways and Means; Education
J. Kalani English
D-5th (Kahului, Upcountry Maui)
Born: Aug. 7, 1966
Occupation:
Political experience: Senate 2000-present; Maui County Council 1997-2000
Senate Majority Floor Leader
Committees: Tourism and Intergovernmental Affairs (Vice Chair); Ways and Means; Commerce, Consumer Protecton, and Housing; Health and Human Services; Education; Water, Land, Energy and Environment
Carol Fukunaga
D-12th (Makiki, Ala Moana, Tantalus)
Born: Dec. 12, 1947
Occupation: attorney
Political experience: Senate 1992-present; House 1978-82, 1986-92
Committees: Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations (Vice Chair); Judiciary; Health and Human Services
Colleen Hanabusa
D-21st (Kalaeloa, Makaha)
Born: May 4, 1951
Occupation: attorney
Political experience: Senate 1998-present
Senate Vice President
Committees: Ways and Means (Vice Chair); Hawaiian Affairs; Judiciary; Labor; Agriculture
Fred Hemmings
R-25th (Kailua, Waimanalo)
Born: Jan. 9, 1946
Occupation: Owner/president, Sports Enterprises Inc.
Political experience: Senate 2000-present; House 1984-1990
Senate Minority Floor Leader
Committees: Ways and Means; Water, Land, Energy, and Environment; Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations; Hawaiian Affairs
Bob Hogue
R-24th (Kane'ohe, Kailua)
Born: Sept. 7, 1953
Occupation: freelance columnist for MidWeek, Hawaii Teens on the Go, Markee Magazine; play-by-play announcer, Hawaii Pacific University and Hawaii Sports Network
Spouse: Elaine Hogue, bank executive, American Savings Bank
Political experience: Senate 2000-present
Senate Minority Policy Leader
Committees: Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Housing; Health and Human Services; Education; Agriculture
David Ige
D-17th (Pacific Palisades, Pearl City)
Born: Jan. 15, 1957
Occupation: vice president of engineering, NetEnterprise
Spouse: Dawn Amano-Ige, public school elementary teacher
Political experience: Senate 1994-present; House 1986 — 1993
Committees: Economic Development and Technology (Vice Chair); Ways and Means; Education
Les Ihara, Jr.
D-10th (Waikiki, Kaimuki)
Born: April 19, 1951
Occupation: full-time legislator; former executive director, Community Work Day Program
Political experience: Senate 1994-present; House 1986-1994
Committees: Labor (Vice Chair); Judiciary; Water, Land, Energy, and Environment; Economic Development and Technology
Lorraine R. Inouye
D-1st (Hawi, N. Kona, Waimea)
Born: June 22, 1940
Occupation: President, Aloha Blooms, Inc. (anthurium farm)
Spouse: Vernon Inouye, President and CEO, Floral Resources
Political experience: Senate 1998-present; Hawaii County Mayor 1990-1992; Hawaii County Council 1984-1990
Committees: Water, Land, Energy and Environment (Chair); Ways and Means; Tourism and Intergovernmental Affairs; Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations
Brian Kanno
D-20th ('Ewa Beach, Makakilo, Kapolei)
Born: Oct. 23, 1961
Occupation: father facilitator, Parents and Children Together; youth worker, Boys & Girls Club
Spouse: Lorrie Kanno, program director, YMCA Communities in Schools
Political experience: Senate 1992-present
Committees: Judiciary (Chair); Health and Human Services; Labor; Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations
Cal Kawamoto
D-19th (Waipahu, Pearl City)
Born: April 14, 1940
Occupation: retired, U.S. Air Force
Spouse: Carolyn, accounting clerk, state Department of Transportation
Political experience: Senate 1994-present
Senate Majority Co-leader
Committees: Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations (Chair); Ways and Means; Labor; Education; Tourism and Intergovernmental Affairs; Agriculture
Donna Mercado Kim
D-15th (Kalihi Valley, 'Aiea)
Born: July 31, 1952
Occupation: Public Affairs Director, KUMU Radio
Political experience: Senate 2000-Present; Honolulu City Council 1985-2000; State House 1982-1985
Committees: Tourism and Intergovernmental Affairs (Chair); Ways and Means; Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Housing; Economic Development and Technology
Russell Kokubun
D-3rd (Ka'u, Kona)
Born: May 15, 1948
Occupation: former Hawaii County deputy planning director
Spouse: Anne Kokubun, special education administrator, state Department of Education
Political experience: Appointed in 2000 to fill vacancy left by former Sen. Andy Levin; Hawaii County Council 1984-92.
Committees: Hawaiian Affairs (Vice Chair); Judiciary; Health and Human Services; Agriculture; Water, Land, Energy and Environment, Ways and Means
Matt Matsunaga
D-9th (Wai'alae, Palolo)
Born: Nov. 22, 1958
Occupation: attorney, Carlsmith Ball Wichman Case and Ichiki
Political experience: Senate 1992-present
Committees: Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Housing (Vice Chair); Water, Land, Energy, and Environment; Education; Economic Development and Technology
David Matsuura
D-2nd (S. Hilo, Puna)
Born: Feb. 21, 1963
Occupation: owner, Orchid Isle Nursery; General Manager/Corp. Secretary, Umikoa Ranch; Project manager/Corp. Secretary, A & O International
Spouse: Elizabeth Matsuura
Political experience: Senate 1998-present
Committees: Health and Human Services (Chair); Judiciary (Vice Chair); Labor; Tourism and Intergovernmental Affairs; Agriculture
Ron Menor
D-18th (Waipi'o Gentry, Wahiawa)
Born: Sept. 29, 1955
Occupation: attorney
Spouse: Patricia Ann Menor, public school teacher
Political experience: Senate 2000-present, 1986-1990; House 1982-1986, 1992-2000
Committees: Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Housing (Chair); Education; Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations
Bob Nakata
D-23rd (Kane'ohe, Kahuku)
Born: April 2, 1941
Occupation: executive director, KEY Project
Spouse: JoAnne, former executive director of Combined Farm Services Agency
Political experience: Senate 1998-present; House 1982 — 1986
Committees: Labor (Chair); Judiciary; Health and Human Services; Water, Land, Energy and Environment
Norman Sakamoto
D-16th (Moanalua, Salt Lake)
Born: May 22, 1947
Occupation: president, SC Pacific Corp. and Roll-A-Way Shutters of the Pacific
Spouse: Penny Sakamoto, office manager, SC Pacific Corp.
Political experience: Senate 1996-present
Committees: Education (Chair); Tourism and Intergovernmental Affairs; Labor; Ways and Means
Sam Slom
R-8th (Wai'alae Iki, Hawai'i-kai)
Born: April 13, 1942
Occupation: consulting economist, SMS Consultants; executive director, Small Business Hawaii
Spouse: Francine Slom, pre-school teacher
Political experience: Senate 1996-present
Senate Minority Leader
Committees: Judiciary; Labor; Tourism and Intergovernmental Affairs; Economic Development and Technology
Rod Tam
D-13th (Nu'uanu, Downtown, Sand Island)
Born: Oct. 3, 1953
Occupation: life insurance representative; sales representative, Gima Pest Control; travel agent; marketing consultant
Spouse: Lynette Tam, office manager, Akal Security
Political experience: Senate 1994-present; House 1982-94
Committees: Economic Development and Technology (Chair); Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations; Education; Ways and Means; Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing
Brian Taniguchi
D-11th (McCully, Mo'ili'ili, Manoa)
Born: Nov. 7, 1951
Occupation: corporate marketing specialist/attorney, City Bank
Spouse: Janice Taniguchi, student recruitment, University of Hawai'i
Political experience: Senate 1994 — present; House of Representatives 1980-1994
Committees: Ways and Means (Chair); Health and Human Services; Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations; Economic Development and Technology
