Colleen Hanabusa

Colleen Hanabusa
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Hawaii's 1st district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2011
Preceded by	Charles Djou
Member of the Hawaii Senate from the 21st district
In office 1998–2010
Preceded by	James Aki
Succeeded by	Maile Shimabukuro[1]
Personal details
Born	May 4, 1951 (1951-05-04) (age 60) Wai'anae, Hawaii
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	University of Hawai'i at Manoa
Profession	Attorney
Religion	Buddhist (Jodo Shinshu)
Website	Official website

Colleen Wakako Hanabusa (Japanese: 花房若子, Hanabusa Wakako; born May 4, 1951) is the U.S. Representative for Hawaii's 1st congressional district. She is a member of the Democratic Party. She was formerly a member of the Hawaii Senate, representing the 21st District since 1998.^[2] She served as the Senate Majority Leader, before being elected Hawaii's first woman President of the Senate in 2006, making her the first Asian American woman to preside over a state legislative chamber in the United States.^[3][4] She is the third Buddhist elected to United States Congress, and the fourth woman to be elected to Congress from the state of Hawaii (after Patsy Mink, Pat Saiki, and Mazie Hirono). On August 24, 2011, she announced her intention to run for re-election to her current seat in Congress.^[5]

Early life and education

A fourth-generation American of Japanese ancestry,^[6] Colleen Hanabusa grew up in Waiʻanae with her two younger brothers, her parents, and her grandparents. In 1969 she graduated from St. Andrew's Priory. She received her B.A. in Economics & Sociology in 1973 and her M.A. in Sociology in 1975 from the University of Hawai'i and in 1977 received her J.D. from the University of Hawai'i's William S. Richardson School of Law.

Law career

Colleen Hanabusa is a labor lawyer with almost 30 years of experience, and a corporate officer in a family-run corporation. She has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America, Woodward and White, Inc., served as a delegate to the Hawai`i State Judicial Conference, and was noted in Honolulu Magazine's to be One of Hawai`i's A+ Attorneys in 1993 and subsequent years.

Hawaii Senate

In November 1998, Colleen Hanabusa was elected as the State Senator from the 21st District. The 21st District includes Wai'anae, where her family has resided for four generations, as well as Ko 'Olina, Kahe Point, Nanakuli, Ma'ili, Makaha, Makua and Ka'ena Point.

One of Hanabusa's first acts upon being elected was to organize Senators to vote against second term confirmation of Hawaii Attorney General Margery Bronster.^[7]

Hanabusa served as the Senate Majority Leader, before being elected the first woman President of the Senate in 2006 – making her the first Asian American woman to preside over a state legislative chamber in the United States.^[3] In 2003 she was named one of Hawaii’s “top ten political power brokers” along with the state’s governor and two U.S. senators, by Hawaii Business Magazine.^[8]

Hanabusa previously ran unsuccessfully in a special election held in January 2003 replace the late Patsy T. Mink to represent Hawai'i's 2nd congressional district,^[9] and in 2006 for the seat being vacated by Representative Ed Case, a Blue Dog Democrat.^[10]

Leadership positions

• Serving the Leeward Coast as State Senator since 1998
• State Senate President since 2007
• State Senate Majority Leader since 2007
• Chair, Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee
• Co-chair, Joint Senate House Task Force on Ice and Drug Abatement
• Senate's first statewide hearings on Rice v. Cayetano
• United States Supreme Court decision Co-Chair, Joint Senate House Investigative Committee: Felix Consent Decree
• 2001 Vice Chair, Senate Ways and Means Committee
• Vice President, State Senate
• Chair, Senate Committee on Water, Land, and Hawaiian Affairs^[11]

Key legislation introduced

• 3 R's program for repair and maintenance of schools
• Repeal of the Van Cam Law
• Tax credit to enable construction and jobs at Ko Olina
• Bill to reform election contributions
• Bill to pay the awards of the Individual Rights Panel-DHHL
• Bill to require community notice prior to establishing a halfway house
• Bill for a ceded land inventory Education Initiatives^[11]

Controversies

When in the State Legislature, Hanabusa introduced a bill to offer tax credits of up to $75 million for development at Ko Olina Resort, a move she declared necessary to spur development for the Leeward area but others saw as a reward for her close associate and political backer, Ko Olina developer Jeff Stone. In 2002 Hanabusa emerged as the leading advocate for legislation authorizing $75 million in tax credits for Stone's Ko Olina resort. When Governor Ben Cayetano vetoed the tax credit bill, Hanabusa took the unprecedented step of suing to overturn the veto.^[12][13]

Within months, Hanabusa's then-fiance John Souza received a preferential deal in purchasing one of Stone's homes in Ko Olina. In February 2005, less than two years after Souza bought the home, he sold it for a $421,000 profit, according to real estate records. Souza and Hanabusa, who were engaged at the time and married in 2008, then bought a $1 million home in another Ko Olina subdivision developed by Centex Homes of Texas.^[14]

The Ko Olina tax credit legislation, intended to promote development of a “world-class” aquarium at the resort, expired after plans for the aquarium were abandoned. Ko Olina Resort eventually returned the tax credit, but the Lingle Administration and Hanabusa disagreed on how to use the returned funds.^[15]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

Hanabusa at the Aloha Floral Parade in 2010

See also: Hawaii's 1st congressional district special election, 2010 and United States House of Representatives elections in Hawaii, 2010#District 1

Hanabusa ran unsuccessfully in the May 22, 2010 special election to serve out the remaining months of former Representative Neil Abercrombie's term; then-City Councilman Charles Djou defeated her without winning a majority of the votes due to the rules of the winner-take-all election that split the Democratic vote between Hanabusa and rival Ed Case, a moderate Democrat.^{[16] [17]}

U.S. Senators Daniel K. Inouye and Daniel Akaka supported Hanabusa's special election campaign and backed her again in the September Democratic primary. Some in the national Democratic Party indicated a preference for Case, who previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives before an unsuccessful U.S. Senate primary challenge to Akaka in 2006. The national Democratic leadership remained officially neutral.^[18][19]

On May 30, 2010, Case, citing his third place showing in the special election and to avoid a rift among Democrats that could lead to a Djou win in the November election, announced his withdrawal from the race and threw his support behind Hanabusa.^[20] That placed Hanabusa as the top Democratic candidate in the September party primary, which she then won.^[21] Hanabusa subsequently challenged Djou for the same seat and on November 2 proceeded to win in the general election with a 53.2% to 46.8% margin.^[2][22][23]

Hanabusa has announced her intention to seek re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives, instead of running to replace retiring U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka in the 2012 U.S. Senate elections.^[5]

Tenure

After House GOP leader John Boehner (R-OH) pledged to give incumbent Congressman Charles Djou a seat on the Appropriations Committee, Senator Dan Inouye (D-HI) stated that Democrats would also name Hanabusa to Appropriations.^[24] However, House Democratic leadership instead appointed her to the Armed Services and Natural Resources committees.^[25]

Hanabusa is the third Buddhist to join the United States Congress, the others being Hank Johnson of Georgia and Mazie Hirono of Hawaii. Hanabusa's election makes Hawaii the only state with a majority non-Christian House delegation.

Committee assignments

• Committee on Armed Services
  • Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
  • Subcommittee on Readiness
• Committee on Natural Resources
  • Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs
  • Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs

References

1. ^ Reyes, B.J. (December 22, 2010), "Governor fills Senate seats", Honolulu Star-Advertiser, http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/20101222_Governor_fills_Senate_seats.html, retrieved 2011-01-07 
2. ^ ^{a b} Goodin, Emily (November 3, 2010). "Dems pick up Hawaii seat". The Hill. http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/house-races/127401-dems-pick-up-hawaii-seat. 
3. ^ ^{a b} About Colleen Hanbusa, 2010, http://www.emilyslist.org/profiles/hanabusa/ 
4. ^ Hanabusa 2010, 2010, http://www.hanabusa2010.com/, retrieved 2010-01-01 
5. ^ ^{a b} Blair, Chad (August 24, 2011), "No Senate Run for Hanabusa", Honolulu Civil Beat (Peer News LLC), http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2011/08/24/12630-no-senate-run-for-hanabusa/, retrieved 2011-08-25 
6. ^ Rees, Robert M. (June 12, 2002), "Queen of the Senate Colleen Hanabusa of Wai‘anae has what most Hawai‘i politicians don't: character", Honolulu Weekly, http://www.honoluluweekly.com/archives/coverstory%20%202002/06-12-02%20Hanabusa/06-12-02%20Hanabusa.html 
7. ^ Rees, Robert M. (June 12, 2002). "Queen of the Senate". Honolulu Weekly. http://www.honoluluweekly.com/archives/coverstory%20%202002/06-12-02%20Hanabusa/06-12-02%20Hanabusa.html. Retrieved 2010-08-02. 
8. ^ "Hawaii’s Powerbrokers (List)", Honolulu Business Magazine, October 2003, http://www.hawaiibusiness.com/Hawaii-Business/October-2003/Hawaiias-Powerbrokers-List/, retrieved 2010-05-14 
9. ^ Gima, Craig (January 6, 2003), "Victorious Case sees end of old-style politics", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, http://archives.starbulletin.com/2003/01/06/news/index1.html, retrieved 2011-01-07 
10. ^ Reyes, B.J. (September 25, 2006), "Statewide name recognition gives Hirono the advantage", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, http://archives.starbulletin.com/2006/09/25/news/story03.html, retrieved 2011-01-07 
11. ^ ^{a b} Hanabusa for Hawaii, 2010, http://hanabusaforhawaii.ning.com, retrieved 2010-01-01 
12. ^ Pang, Gordon Y.K. (August 29, 2006), "Is 2nd time charm for U.S. House candidate?", Honolulu Advertiser, http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2006/Aug/29/ln/FP608290346.html/, retrieved 2010-05-14 
13. ^ Dooley, Jim (March 4, 2004), "Senator sees no conflict in many ties to Ko Olina", Honolulu Advertiser, http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2004/Mar/04/ln/ln03a.html, retrieved 2010-06-28 
14. ^ Dooley, Jim (October 28, 2010), "Exclusive Report: Close Ties Between Congressional Candidate Colleen Hanabusa and Ko Olina Developer Rake in Funds", Hawaii Reporter, http://www.hawaiireporter.com/exclusive-report-close-ties-between-congressional-candidate-colleen-hanabusa-and-koolina-developer-rake-in-funds, retrieved 2011-02-07 
15. ^ Kua, Crystal (January 18, 2007), "Ko Olina Resort returns tax credit of $75 million", Honolulu Star Bulletin 12 (18), http://archives.starbulletin.com/2007/01/18/news/story01.html, retrieved 2010-05-14 
16. ^ DePledge, Derrick (January 14, 2010), "Hawaii candidates for Congress outline policy differences", Honolulu Advertiser, http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2010/Jan/14/ln/hawaii1140326.html, retrieved 2011-03-05 
17. ^ DePledge, Derrick (May 24, 2010), "Election results show Djou's appeal outside East Honolulu", Honolulu Advertiser, http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2010/May/24/ln/hawaii5240346.html, retrieved 2011-01-07 
18. ^ DePledge, Derrick (May 6, 2010), "Hanabusa defies polls, will stay in race", Honolulu Advertiser, http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2010/May/06/ln/hawaii5060342.html, retrieved 2011-01-07 
19. ^ DePledge, Derrick (January 10, 2010), "Senators boost Hanabusa", Honolulu Advertiser, http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2010/Jan/10/ln/hawaii1100359.html, retrieved 2011-03-05 
20. ^ DePledge, Derrick (May 31, 2010), "Case stuns with withdrawal from Hawaii congressional primary", Honolulu Advertiser, http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2010/May/31/ln/hawaii5310345.html, retrieved 2011-02-07 
21. ^ Star-Advertiser staff (September 19, 2010), "Djou and Hanabusa have rematch Nov. 2", Honolulu Star-Advertiser, http://www.staradvertiser.com/elections/2010/primary/20100919_Djou_and_Hanabusa_have_rematch_Nov_2.html, retrieved 2011-02-07 
22. ^ "House Map - Election Results 2010 - The New York Times", New York Times, http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/house, retrieved 2011-02-07 
23. ^ Reyes, B.J. (November 4, 2010), "Hanabusa sweeps districts", Honolulu Star-Advertiser, http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/20101104_Hanabusa_sweeps_districts.html, retrieved 2011-02-07 
24. ^ Associated Press (October 20, 2010), "Inouye: Hanabusa would win appropriations spot", Honolulu Star-Advertiser, http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/105359163.html, retrieved 2011-02-07 
25. ^ Associated Press (January 19, 2011), "Hanabusa appointed to armed services and natural resources committees", Honolulu Star-Advertiser, http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/114242329.html, retrieved 2011-02-07 

External links

• Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa official U.S. House site
• Colleen Hanabusa for U.S. Congress official campaign site
• Biography at WhoRunsGov.com at The Washington Post
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Congressional profile at GovTrack
• Congressional profile at OpenCongress
• Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
• Financial information at OpenSecrets.org
• Staff salaries, trips and personal finance at LegiStorm.com
• Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
• Campaign contributions at the National Institute for Money in State Politics
• Appearances on C-SPAN programs
• Profile on Emily's List

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Charles Djou	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Hawaii's 1st congressional district January 3, 2011 – present	Succeeded by Incumbent
United States order of precedence
Preceded by Frank Guinta R-New Hampshire	United States Representatives by seniority 377th	Succeeded by Richard Hanna R-New York

Persondata
Name	Hanabusa, Colleen
Alternative names
Short description	American politician
Date of birth	May 4, 1951
Place of birth	Wai'anae, Hawaii
Date of death
Place of death