The Hawaii State House of Representatives on opening day adopted a package of resolutions electing interim and permanent leadership and naming standing committee assignments, even as two members publicly opposed the committee list and cited violations of House rules.

Representative Nadine K. Nakamura was elected speaker and Representative Linda Ichiyama elected vice speaker under House Resolution No. 2, and members approved subsequent resolutions naming clerks, sergeants at arms and standing committees. The roll call recorded 50 members present and one excused before the chamber recessed.

The opposition focused on House Resolution No. 4, the resolution that acknowledges caucus leaders and lists chairs, vice chairs and committee members. Representative Kim Coco Iwamoto said she would record a “no” and asked that her notes be placed in the journal. During floor remarks she said she “rise[s] in opposition to the resolution” and identified two alleged rule violations, citing “rule 11 dot, 0.2 subsection 2” on proportional membership and provisions stating that the vice speaker serves as an ex officio member without vote. Iwamoto pointed to the Finance Committee’s composition on the floor, saying, “The committee on finance currently has 16 members. 3 of them are Republican ... There are only 13, currently 13, Democrats on the House Finance Committee. There should be 14.”

Representative Kanani Souza also announced a recorded “no,” saying she opposed the resolution because its membership did not reflect a memorandum on leadership and committee assignments that had been circulated November 27, 2024. Souza told the chamber, “I rise in opposition to the resolution. That's a no vote for me.”

Representative Sean Quinlan spoke in support of the package, arguing rules on proportionality leave room for interpretation and saying, “Today is not about any 1 person.” After debate, the chamber adopted the resolution package by voice vote on multiple motions; no roll-call tallies were read into the record on those final votes.

Votes at a glance

- House Resolution No. 1 — Electing the temporary chair (Mathias Cush): Adopted (moved by Representative Chris Todd; seconded by Representative Lauren Matsumoto).
- Committee on Credentials report — Adopted (moved by Representative David Tarnas; seconded by Representative Lauren Matsumoto).
- Roll call — Clerk recorded 50 members present; 1 excused (Representative Gene Ward).
- House Resolution No. 2 — Electing Speaker Nadine K. Nakamura and Vice Speaker Linda Ichiyama: Adopted (moved by Representative Chris Todd; seconded by Representative Lauren Matsumoto). Representative Kim Coco Iwamoto asked to record a “no.”
- House Resolution No. 3 — Electing officers (chief clerk, sergeant at arms, assistants): Adopted (moved by Representative Chris Todd; seconded by Representative Lauren Matsumoto).
- House Resolution No. 4 — Acknowledging caucus leaders and naming committees: Adopted after floor debate (moved by Representative Chris Todd; seconded by Representative Lauren Matsumoto). Representatives Kim Coco Iwamoto and Kanani Souza announced “no” votes.
- House Concurrent Resolution No. 1 — Recess days for the 2025 session: Adopted (moved by Representative Chris Todd; seconded by Representative Lauren Matsumoto).
- House Concurrent Resolution No. 2 — Requesting the governor address the legislature in joint session on Jan. 21, 2025: Adopted (moved by Representative Chris Todd; seconded by Representative Lauren Matsumoto).
- House Resolution No. 5 — Communicating that the House has assembled and is ready to transact business: Adopted (moved by Representative Chris Todd; seconded by Representative Lauren Matsumoto).
- Motion to adjourn until noon tomorrow: Adopted (moved and seconded on the floor).

Why it matters

Leadership and committee rosters determine which members shape legislation through hearings and votes. The objections raised on the floor highlight a dispute over how the House interprets proportional committee representation and whether the vice speaker should appear as a voting member on standing committees — issues that could shape committee deliberations and majority/minority influence during the 2025 session.

What lawmakers said

Representative Kim Coco Iwamoto, a newly sworn member who spoke against the committee resolution, said members should follow proportionality and committee-rule language, and explicitly asked that her opposition be recorded: “I ask that you record my vote as a no. And in lieu of a speech, I ask that you, allow my notes and comments to be introduced into the journal and to the record.”

Representative Kanani Souza said the published memorandum of Nov. 27, 2024, set expectations for committee membership and that the floor packet differed from that document: “Absent a memorandum to the contrary ... sparks concerns for me procedurally.”

Representative Sean Quinlan defended the package and argued the rules allow interpretation on proportionality, telling colleagues, “proportionality is very poorly defined in our house rules.”

Context and next steps

The chamber also heard the formal swearing-in of members and ceremonial opening remarks from the new speaker, who outlined a 20-year vision for the state and listed priorities including workforce housing, preschool access and invasive species control. The committee assignments adopted today will determine which lawmakers hold chairmanships and which bills receive hearings as the 33rd Legislature proceeds. Members opposed to the assignments said they may seek procedural remedies or rule changes as the session continues, though no formal reconsideration was recorded on opening day.

The House recessed and adjourned until noon the following day.