Former Hawaii congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa dies at 74
Hawaii News Now • • nation
Key Points:
- Former U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, a pioneering Asian American female lawmaker from Hawaii, died at age 74 after a five-month battle with cancer.
- Hanabusa was the first Asian American woman elected president of a state legislative body and served in the Hawaii State Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, and as chair of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART).
- Known for her strategic political influence, she was involved in significant political battles including demanding a recount in the 1998 gubernatorial race and organizing the ouster of Hawaii’s Attorney General Margery Bronster.
- Hanabusa ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate in 2014 and Hawaii governor in 2018
