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Writer's pictureHawaiʻi State Senate
Sep 14, 2016

SENATE RECOGNIZES CHUN OAKLAND FOR 26 YEARS OF SERVICE


HONOLULU, Hawai‘i – In what is likely the last session of the Twenty-Eighth Legislature, members of the Senate recognized and expressed their appreciation for Senator Suzanne Chun Oakland’s 26 years in the Legislature, the last 20 with the Senate.

Before recessing the Third Special Session, Sen. Chun Oakland was presented with a Senate certificate that recognized and commended the senator from Liliha for her tireless work advocating for those in housing, health care and education. The numbers are astounding: Since being elected in 1990, Sen. Chun Oakland has presided over 22 committees, task forces, boards and other legislative entities, including the Elder Abuse and Neglect Task Force, Child Protection Roundtable, Deaf and Blind Task Force, Mental Health Task Force, and Keiki Caucus; she has served as a member of 62 others, plus another 84 community organizations; over 26 years, she has earned 119 awards from many organizations. Sen. Chun Oakland is the longest-serving chair of the Senate Human Services Committee (18 years).

In presenting her the certificate, Sen. Les Ihara called Chun Oakland the “Mother Theresa of the Senate.”

“Her heart is so big, she doesn’t flinch in making what some feel are huge, significant request for support, because she feels the real needs of others,” said Sen. Ihara. “I don’t think the Legislature has changed Susie’s caring nature; instead, she has made us all more aware and more caring legislators.”

Sen. Chun Oakland announced her retirement from legislative office in May. Her term ends on Nov. 8, 2016.

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