Hawaii Senate

21°18′26.4″N 157°51′26.2″W / 21.307333°N 157.857278°W / 21.307333; -157.857278

Hawaii State Senate
Ka ‘Aha Kenekoa
32nd Hawaii State Legislature
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Term limits
None
History
New session started
January 20, 2021
Leadership
Ron Kouchi (D)
since May 5, 2015
Vice President
Michelle Kidani (D)
since November 10, 2016
Majority Leader
Dru Kanuha (D)
since May 5, 2021
Minority Leader
Kurt Fevella (R)
since November 6, 2018
Structure
Seats25
Political groups
Majority
  •   Democratic (23)

Minority

Length of term
4 years
AuthorityArticle III, Constitution of Hawaii
Salary$72,348 per year +
$225 per diem for non-Oʻahu members (2023)[1]
Elections
Last election
November 8, 2022
(25 seats)
Next election
November 5, 2024
RedistrictingHawaii Reapportionment Commission
Meeting place
State Senate Chamber
Hawaii State Capitol
Honolulu, Hawaii
Website
capitol.hawaii.gov/senate
Rules
Rules of the Senate

The Hawaii State Senate (Hawaiian: Ka ‘Aha Kenekoa) is the upper house of the Hawaii State Legislature. It consists of twenty-five members elected from an equal number of constituent districts across the islands and is led by the President of the Senate, elected from the membership of the body, currently Ron Kouchi. The forerunner of the Hawaii Senate during the government of the Kingdom of Hawaii was the House of Nobles originated in 1840. In 1894, the Constitution of the Republic of Hawaii renamed the upper house the present senate. Senators are elected to four-year terms and are not subject to term limits.

Like most state legislatures in the United States, the Hawaii State Senate is a part-time body and senators often have active careers outside government. The lower house of the legislature is the Hawaii House of Representatives. The membership of the Senate also elects additional officers to include the Senate Vice President, Senate Chief Clerk, Assistant Chief Clerk, Senate Sergeant at Arms, and Assistant Sergeant at Arms. The Hawaii Senate convenes in the Hawaii State Capitol in Honolulu.

According to Article III, section 4 of the Hawaii State Constitution, a legislator's term begins on the day of the general election and ends the day of the general election if a new member is elected.[2]

  1. ^ National Conference of State Legislatures. "2023 Legislator Compensation by State". Archived from the original on November 15, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  2. ^ "ELECTION OF MEMBERS; TERM". Archived from the original on June 25, 2023. Retrieved June 25, 2023.