Colleen Hanabusa, a former US representative who broke barriers as the first woman to serve as president of the Hawaii state senate, has died at the age of 74 after a five-month battle with cancer.
Her death was announced on Friday by Governor Josh Green, who ordered US and Hawaii flags to be flown at half-staff until Monday. Her friend and former chief of staff, Mike Formby, confirmed she died early on Friday.
Hanabusa was a lawyer from Waianae on Oahu's west side, where her family ran an auto service station. She represented the Waianae Coast and Leeward Oahu in the state senate from 1999 to 2010. Governor Green praised her as someone who 'broke barriers' and 'spent decades advocating for her community with strength, determination and heart'.
She served in the US House of Representatives and, after the death of Senator Daniel Inouye in 2012, sought to succeed him following his dying wish that she fill his seat. However, Governor Neil Abercrombie appointed Brian Schatz instead. Hanabusa later gave up her House seat to challenge Schatz in 2014, losing by less than a percentage point. She returned to Washington in 2016 after recapturing her former House seat.
After losing a 2018 Democratic primary for governor to David Ige, Hanabusa was appointed to the board of Honolulu's troubled rail project in 2021. She is survived by her husband, John Souza, and her dogs Frannie and Pupper.
