On Monday, Colleen Hanabusa was sworn in as a member of the 114th Congress by Speaker of the House Paul Ryan.

The ceremony took place on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Hanabusa was elected Nov. 8 to again represent Hawaii’s 1st Congressional District, following the death of Congressman Mark Takai in July.

The congresswoman with her husband, John Souza, and the House speaker.
The congresswoman with her husband, John Souza, and the House speaker. Her chief of staff, Mike Formby, is at left. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa

“My return to the U.S. House of Representatives is bittersweet following the unfortunate and untimely passing of my dear friend, Mark Takai,” Hanabusa said in a press release, adding that she was nonetheless humbled that voters “have put their trust and faith in me to continue to fight for their values and best interests in our nation’s capital.”

Hanabusa, a labor attorney and former president of the Hawaii State Senate, served two terms in the House, from January 2011 to January 2015.

She unsuccessfully challenged U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz in 2014.

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