As Civil Beat anticipated two months ago, the Hawaii state Senate has reorganized its leadership following Tuesday’s elections.

Donna Mercado Kim will remain president and Les Ihara will remain policy leader. But other top jobs have new faces:

• Will Espero is vice president, replacing Ron Kouchi
• Kalani English is majority leader, replacing Brickwood Galuteria
• Josh Green is floor leader, replacing Espero
• Jill Tokuda chairs Ways and Means, replacing David Ige
• Gil Keith-Agaran chairs Judiciary and Labor, replacing Clayton Hee

Ige, of course, is the governor-elect while Hee lost the primary for lieutenant governor and is leaving the Senate. “Re-orgs,” as they are called, are all about certain leaders forming majority coalitions within the majority party; they signal clear winners and losers and are commonly done after elections.

Gil Kahele will be the Senate’s caucus leader. Other positions:

• Majority Whip: Brian Taniguchi
• Ways & Means Vice Chair: Ron Kouchi
• Consumer Protection: Roz Baker
• Hawaiian Affairs: Maile Shimabukuro
• Education: Michelle Kidani
• Health: Josh Green
• Economic Development and Technology: Glenn Wakai
• Water and Land: Laura Thielen
• Tourism and International Affairs: Gil Kahele
• Human Services and Housing: Suzanne Chun Oakland
• Higher Education and the Arts: Brian Taniguchi
• Government Operations: Donovan Dela Cruz
• Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs: Will Espero
• Energy and Environment: Mike Gabbard
• Agriculture: Russell Ruderman
• Transportation: Clarence Nishihara

Senate President Donna Kim speaks with a voter at the Lanakila Multi-Purpose Senior Center Candidates Fair on July 25.

©PF Bentley/Civil Beat