A group of six state House lawmakers will be investigating whether Rep. Calvin Say actually lives in the Palolo district he’s been elected to represent for decades.

The courts have punted on the longstanding concern over the residency of the speaker emeritus, saying it’s the House of Representatives’ kuleana.

On Wednesday, House Speaker Joe Souki announced that he has appointed a special committee to look into the issue.

Rep. Calvin Say speaks during a hearing last March. A special House committee is looking into concerns over his residency.

PF Bentley/Civil Beat

KITV’s Andrew Pereira reported that Souki named Judiciary Chair Karl Rhoads to lead the special committee, which will include Vice Speaker John Mizuno, Majority Leader Scott Saiki, Majority Floor Leader Cindy Evans, Majority Whip Ken Ito and the only Republican, Minority Leader Beth Fukumoto Chang.

After a judge ruled in September that the House had jurisdiction over the matter, six Palolo voters who filed the lawsuit submitted their request to Souki, who initially had denied the request on his belief that it was up to the courts to decide.

Say has represented District 20 since 1976. The district includes St. Louis Heights, Palolo, Maunalani Heights, Wilhelmina Rise and Kaimuki.

Say is not the only state lawmaker with residency issues.

Civil Beat’s Anita Hofschneider broke the news Monday that Senate Majority Leader Brickwood Galuteria acknowledged he has improperly claimed a rental property in Palolo as his primary residence and will likely have to pay back taxes on the nearly $1.8 million home.

She reported that he said he’s moved out of the home several years ago and has since been living in Kakaako, which is part of the district he represents. But there are skeptics who question whether that’s his full-time residence.