The state House Democrats have finished naming representatives to committee leadership positions. There are few major changes.

Here is the release from the House Majority office:

Honolulu, Hawaii.  Speaker of the House Calvin Say today announced the House of Representatives leadership team and the Committee chairmanships for the 25^th Legislature.  They are:

House Leadership Team

Speaker:  Calvin K.Y. Say (District 20 – St. Louis Heights, Palolo Valley, Maunalani Heights, Wilhelmina Rise, Kaimuki)

Vice Speaker:    Michael Magaoay (District 46 – Kaena Point, Schofield, Mokuleia, Waialua, Haleiwa, Waimea, Pupukea, Sunset, Kahuku)

Majority Leader:  Blake Oshiro (District 33 – Aiea, Halawa Valley, Halawa Heights, Aiea Heights)

Majority Floor Leader:  Cindy Evans (District 7 – North Kona, South Kohala)

Majority Whip:  Pono Chong (District 49 – Maunawili, Olomana, Enchanted Lake, Kaneohe)

Speaker Calvin Say remains as Speaker of the House, a position he has held since 1998.  Say was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1976, and has served on virtually every committee, including as Finance Chair from 1993 – 1998.  He is President of Kotake Shokai, Ltd., an import business.

Vice Speaker Michael Magaoay was first elected to the House in 2000 and most recently served as Chair of the Legislative Management Committee.  He was born and raised in Waialua and grew up in sugar plantation housing.  He is a Senior Project Engineer by profession.

Majority Leader Blake Oshiro was first elected to the House in 2000 and most recently served as Majority Floor Leader and Vice Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.  He graduated from the William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawaii, and is an associate attorney with the law firm Alston Hunt Floyd & Ing.

Majority Floor Leader Cindy Evans was first elected to the House in 2002 and most recently served as Chair of the Public Safety and Military Affairs Committee.  She has a background in state government and is active in various West Hawaii organizations.

Majority Whip Pono Chong was first elected to the House in 2004 and most recently served as Vice Speaker.  He has a background in state government, international affairs, and teaching.

Committee Chairs

Agriculture

Chair: Clift Tsuji                 Vice Chair: James Tokioka

Consumer Protection and Commerce

Chair: Robert Herkes                      Vice Chair: Glenn Wakai

Economic Revitalization, Business, and Military Affairs

Chair: Angus McKelvey  Vice Chair: Isaac Choy

Education

Chair: Roy Takumi                            Vice Chair: Lyla Berg

Energy and Environmental Protection

Chair: Hermina Morita   Vice Chair: Denny Coffman

Finance

Chair: Marcus Oshiro                      Vice Chair: Marilyn Lee

Hawaiian Affairs

Chair: Mele Carroll                           Vice Chair: Maile Shimabukuro

Health

Chair: Ryan Yamane                        Vice Chair: Scott Nishimoto

Higher Education            

Chair: Jerry Chang                            Vice Chair: Mark Nakashima

Housing

Chair: Rida Cabanilla                        Vice Chair: Roland Sagum

Human Services

Chair: John Mizuno                         Vice Chair: Tom Brower

Judiciary

Chair: Jon Riki Karamatsu              Vice Chair: Ken Ito

Labor

Chair: Karl Rhoads                            Vice Chair: Bob Nakasone

Legislative Management

Chair: James Tokioka                      Vice Chair: Blake Oshiro

Public Safety 

Chair: Faye Hanohano                    Vice Chair: Henry Aquino

Tourism, Culture and International Affairs

Chair: Joey Manahan                      Vice Chair: James Tokioka

Transportation

Chair: Joe Souki                                Vice Chair: Karen Awana

Water, Land and Ocean Resources

Chair: Ken Ito                                     Vice Chair: Sharon Har