Colleen Hanabusa

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Colleen Hanabusa

Member of the Hawaii State Senate from the 21st district
Incumbent
Assumed office 1999

Born	May 4, 1951 (1951-05-04) (age 57) Honolulu, Hawaii
Political party	Democratic
Profession	attorney
Religion	Buddhist

Colleen Hanabusa is a Democratic member of the Hawaii Senate, representing the 21st District since 1999 and serving as the President of the Senate since 2003. she is the first woman to lead either house in the Hawai'i legislature. Her district includes Ko 'Olina, Kahe Point, Nanakuli, Ma'ili, Wai'anae, Makaha, Makua and Ka'ena Point.

Senator Hanabusa is a 1969 graduate of the St. Andrew's Priory. She received her B.A. in Economics & Sociology in 1973 and her M.A. in Sociology in 1975 from the University of Hawaii and in 1977 received her J.D. from the William S. Richardson School of Law.

Hanabusa could be a possible Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate if Daniel Inouye retires in 2010 or Daniel Akaka retires in 2012. It is possible that U.S. Congresswoman Mazie Hirono might be more likely to run as a potential successor Inouye in 2010, as Hirono may pose a more formidable challenge to potential Republican challenger Governor of Hawai'i Linda Lingle. Rather than take on Hirono in a Democratic primary or Lingle in a General Election, Hanabusa may opt to sit out 2010 and wait until 2012 for Akaka's probable retirement. She could also run for Governor in 2010 when Linda Lingle will be term-limited.

In December 2007, Hanabusa hosted a gathering of fellow Senate presidents from Alaska, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands that resulted in the formation of the Outlying Areas Senate Presidents Caucus.