Four Hawaiʻi Island Representatives have been given leadership roles in the Hawaii State House of Representatives by House Speaker Scott Saiki.

Representative Mark M. Nakashima (D-1, Hāmākua, North Hilo, South Hilo)  will chair the  Committee on Judiciary which will now be combined with the Hawaiian Affairs Committee.

Nakashima has been the Vice Speaker.   That position will now be held by Rep. John Mizuno (D-28, Kalihi Valley).

House Speaker Saiki says the move from Vice Speaker to committee chair puts Nakashima directly into the center of critical legal and cultural issues that have divided our people in recent years.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge of meeting expectations of the Hawaiian community in fulfilling Native Hawaiian Trust issues that have been festering for over 60 years and adjusting the bureaucracy to more effectively meet Native Hawaiian concerns,” said Representative Nakashima. “I hope to review a number of pressing issues such as lessons learned from Hawaiʻi’s first all-mail election and issues arising from sunshine requirements during the pandemic.”

Representative David Tarnas (D-7, North Kona, North Kohala, South Kohala) will chair the Water and Land Committee which is responsible for all issues relating to water resources, land use, coastal and marine resource management, and adaptation to climate change and sea level rise.

 

“I plan to focus on legislation to implement the recommendations of the Hawaiʻi Ocean Resources Management Plan and the 2020 Hawaiʻi Climate Change Annual Report, especially regarding sea level rise,” Representative Tarnas said. “To create a resilient and sustainable economy in Hawaiʻi, we need a vibrant ocean economy. That means protecting our beaches from sea level rise, sustaining our marine resources and ecosystems, and improving nearshore water quality. The State also needs to develop a legal framework around sea level rise issues, support Community Resilience Building planning, prioritize nature-based solutions, and require any state investments, permits and policies to consider future climate change impacts. I look forward to working with my colleagues to make progress on these important matters.”

A long-time leader in supporting environmental issues, Representative Lowen (D-6 Kailua-Kona, Hōlualoa, Kalaoa, Honokōhau) has been named chair of the House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection.

“As the Legislature comes together to help rebuild Hawaiʻi’s economy this session, I will work to ensure that our future is more sustainable, resilient, and protects our natural resources,” Representative Lowen said. “My committee will continue to facilitate Hawaiʻi’s transition to renewable energy, clean transportation, and to focus on reducing Hawaiʻi’s contribution to global climate change.”

Representative Richard H.K. Onishi (D-3, Hilo, Kea‘au, Kurtistown, Volcano, Pāhala) will chair the combined Committee on Labor and Tourism.  Onishi is entrusted with finding solutions to the state’s economic challenges caused by the pandemic, including unemployment and jobs lost in tourism.  Part of the challenge is to not only get travelers to return and bolster the economy, but to develop a more culturally and environmentally sensitive type of tourism for our islands home.

“I am extremely humbled to have been asked to continue as the House of Representatives’ Chair for the Tourism Committee and for the Labor Committee to be added to my responsibilities,” Representative Onishi said. “I hope that I will be able to provide the appropriate guidance as we rebuild our tourism economy and address the unprecedented unemployment in Hawaiʻi.”

House Speaker Scott K. Saiki announced this appointments earlier this week.  The entire State House will have several challenges to address–such as resolving issues related to the coronavirus pandemic, the economy, and climate change.

The list of the State House Leadership and Committee Chairs for the 2021-2022 legislative session, which is slated to begin on Wednesday, January 20, 2021:

Leadership

 

Speaker…………………………………………………………………………………… Scott K. Saiki

 

Vice Speaker……………………………………………………………………….. John M. Mizuno

 

Majority Leader …………………………………………………………………… Della Au Belatti

 

Majority Floor Leader……………………………………………………………… Dee Morikawa

 

 

Committee Chairs

 

Agriculture………………………………………………………………………….. Mark J. Hashem

 

Consumer Protection and Commerce……………………………….. Aaron Ling Johanson

 

Corrections, Military, and Veterans …………………………………………… Takashi Ohno

 

Culture and Arts……………………………………………………………. Cedric Asuega Gates

 

Economic Development…………………………………………………………….. Sean Quinlan

 

Education………………………………………………………………………… Justin H. Woodson

 

Energy and Environmental Protection……………………………………. Nicole E. Lowen

 

Finance……………………………………………………………………………………… Sylvia Luke

 

Government Reform……………………………………………………. Angus L.K. McKelvey

 

Health, Human Services, and Homelessness…………………………….. Ryan I. Yamane

 

Higher Education and Technology ………………………………………… Gregg Takayama

 

Housing………………………………………………………………………… Nadine K. Nakamura

 

Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs………………………………………… Mark M. Nakashima

 

Labor and Tourism…………………………………………………………. Richard H.K. Onishi

 

Legislative Management……………………………………………………. Dale T. Kobayashi

 

Pandemic and Disaster Preparedness……………………………………….. Linda Ichiyama

 

Transportation………………………………………………………………….. Henry J.C. Aquino

 

Water and Land …………………………………………………………………… David A. Tarnas

 

For a list of all state legislators, both State Senators and State Representatives, click here.

Attached photo is House Speaker Scott Saiki.