Hanabusa, Colleen, 1951-

Colleen Wakako Hanabusa (born May 4, 1951) is an American lawyer and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, she served as the U.S. Representative for Hawaii's 1st congressional district from 2011 to 2015 and again from 2016 to 2019.

Born in Waiʻanae, Hawaii, she graduated from Honolulu’s St. Andrew’s Priory School in 1969 before attending the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa where she earned degrees in economics and sociology in 1973, a master’s degree in sociology in 1975, and a law degree in 1977. Hanabusa spent 20 years as an attorney in private practice, and her career as a labor lawyer led to a successful campaign for the state senate in 1998. During her 12 years in state government, Hanabusa focused on education and health care issues, and pushed for civil service reforms. In 2007 Hanabusa became the first woman to lead either of Hawaii’s legislative chambers when she was elected president of the senate. During her tenure as senate president, which lasted until 2010, she endeavored to rectify budget woes by instituting new taxes. She also used her influence to improve Hawaii’s special-education programs and set up charter schools for children in need.

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