Former US Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, Hawaii Senate trailblazer, dies at 74

Former Hawaii Lawmaker Colleen Hanabusa Dies at 74 After Battle with Cancer

Colleen Hanabusa, a trailblazing Hawaiian politician who served as the first woman president of the Hawaii State Senate and later as a U.S. Representative, died early Friday following a five-month battle with cancer. She was 74.

The announcement came from Mike Formby, her longtime friend and former chief of staff in the U.S. House. In response, Hawaii Governor Josh Green ordered U.S. and Hawaii flags to be flown at half-staff until sunrise Monday to honor her memory.

“She broke barriers as the first woman president of the state Senate and spent decades advocating for her community with strength, determination and heart,” Green said in his statement. “Her legacy of leadership and public service will continue to inspire generations to come.”

Hanabusa, a lawyer by profession, had deep roots in her native Hawaii. Born and raised in Waianae on Oahu’s west coast, she came from humble beginnings where her family operated a local auto service station. That connection to working-class Hawaii would remain a cornerstone of her political identity throughout her career.

Her political journey began in the Hawaii State Senate, where she represented the Waianae Coast and Leeward Oahu from 1999 to 2010. During this period, she rose to prominence as a respected legislator, eventually making history as the first woman to lead the chamber as president.

Hanabusa’s career was marked by both significant achievements and political challenges. Her relationship with legendary Hawaii Senator Daniel Inouye became a defining element of her political story. When Inouye died in 2012 while Hanabusa was serving in the U.S. House, he left a hand-signed letter dated the day of his death expressing his “last wish” that Hanabusa succeed him in the Senate.

The wish went unfulfilled when then-Governor Neil Abercrombie instead appointed Lieutenant Governor Brian Schatz to the vacant Senate seat. This decision created one of the most notable political tensions in recent Hawaiian political history.

Determined to honor Inouye’s wish, Hanabusa later relinquished her House seat to challenge Schatz in a special election in 2014. “Brian was not elected. He was appointed,” she said at the time, adding that Hawaii voters deserved “an opportunity to weigh in on who they want to represent them in the United States Senate.” The contest was extraordinarily close, with Hanabusa losing by less than one percentage point.

Undeterred, she returned to Washington in 2016 after recapturing her former House seat. Her second congressional term coincided with Donald Trump’s presidential election, which she publicly expressed concern about. “When you think about the things that he said and he stood for, it’s got to give everyone cause to just pause and think about, ‘What are we saying to the world, what are we saying to each other?'” she remarked following her election.

Her political ambitions remained strong, and in 2018 she once again left her congressional seat to pursue the Hawaii governorship. However, she fell short in the Democratic primary against incumbent Governor David Ige.

In her later years, Hanabusa continued to serve the public interest. In 2021, Honolulu’s mayor appointed her to the board overseeing the city’s troubled rail project, which has faced significant delays and budget overruns. Her experience and steady leadership were seen as valuable assets in addressing the complex transportation initiative.

Throughout her career, Hanabusa remained a steadfast advocate for Hawaii’s interests and embodied the diverse heritage and values of her island home. Her passing represents the loss of one of Hawaii’s most dedicated public servants whose impact crossed party lines and generational divides.

She is survived by her husband, John Souza, and her two beloved dogs, Frannie and Pupper, according to Formby, who now serves as managing director in the Honolulu mayor’s office.