Hawaii House of Representatives
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| Hawaii House of Representatives | |
|---|---|
| Name | Hawaii House of Representatives |
| Legislature | Hawaii State Legislature |
| House type | Lower house |
| Body | Hawaii State Legislature |
| Term limits | None |
| New session | January 17, 2023 |
| Leader1 type | Speaker |
| Leader1 | Scott K. Saiki |
| Election1 | 2017 |
| Leader2 type | Vice Speaker |
| Leader2 | Dale T. Kobayashi |
| Election2 | 2023 |
| Leader3 type | Majority Leader |
| Leader3 | Nadine K. Nakamura |
| Election3 | 2022 |
| Leader4 type | Minority Leader |
| Leader4 | Lauren Matsumoto |
| Election4 | 2023 |
| Members | 51 |
| Political groups1 | Majority (45), , Minority (6) |
| Last election1 | November 8, 2022 |
| Next election1 | November 5, 2024 |
| Meeting place | Hawaii State Capitol, Honolulu |
| Website | http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov |
Hawaii House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Hawaii State Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Hawaii. It convenes at the Hawaii State Capitol in Honolulu on the island of Oahu. The body consists of 51 members elected from single-member districts across the major islands of the Hawaiian archipelago.
History
The origins of the House trace to the Kingdom of Hawaii and the Hawaiian Constitution of 1840, which established a bicameral legislature. Following the Overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1893 and subsequent annexation, the Hawaii Territorial Legislature was created by the Hawaiian Organic Act of 1900. Upon achieving statehood through the Hawaii Admission Act in 1959, the current Hawaii State Constitution formally established the modern House. Significant historical figures include Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole, who served as a territorial delegate, and later speakers like James K. Kealoha.
Composition
The House is composed of 51 representatives, each serving two-year terms with no term limits. Members must be at least 18 years old, U.S. citizens, and residents of their district for at least one year. The body is dominated by the Democratic Party, which has held a majority since the 1962 Hawaiian Democratic Revolution. The minority Republican Party typically holds a small number of seats. The current partisan composition stems from the 2022 Hawaii House of Representatives election.
Leadership and committees
The presiding officer is the Speaker of the Hawaii House of Representatives, a position held since 2017 by Scott K. Saiki. Other key leaders include the Vice Speaker Dale T. Kobayashi, Majority Leader Nadine K. Nakamura, and Minority Leader Lauren Matsumoto. The House operates through a system of standing committees, such as the powerful Committee on Finance and the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs. These committees are chaired by senior members like Kyle T. Yamashita and David A. Tarnas.
Powers and responsibilities
The House shares legislative power with the Hawaii Senate, including the authority to introduce and pass bills, draft the state budget, and confirm gubernatorial appointments. It holds the sole power to initiate revenue bills and articles of impeachment, which are then tried by the Hawaii Senate. The body works in conjunction with the Governor of Hawaii, currently Josh Green, and other state agencies like the Hawaii Department of Budget and Finance. It also exercises oversight over departments such as the Hawaii Department of Education.
Elections and districts
Elections are held in even-numbered years, coinciding with the United States presidential election and United States House of Representatives elections. Districts are reapportioned every ten years following the United States Census by the Hawaii Reapportionment Commission. The current district map, established after the 2020 United States Census, includes districts across Honolulu County, Hawaii County, Maui County, and Kauai County. Notable competitive districts have included those in areas like Kailua and Kāneʻohe.
Current membership
Following the 2022 Hawaii House of Representatives election, the Democratic caucus holds 45 seats and the Republican caucus holds 6. Prominent members include Speaker Scott K. Saiki of the McCully–Moʻiliʻili district, Majority Leader Nadine K. Nakamura representing Hanalei, and Minority Leader Lauren Matsumoto from Mililani. Other notable representatives are Sonny Ganaden of Kalihi, Dee Morikawa of Niʻihau, and Lisa Kitagawa of Kaneohe. The membership reflects the diverse demographics of the Hawaiian Islands.
Category:Hawaii House of Representatives Category:State lower houses in the United States Category:Government of Hawaii