‘We will work hard,’ Hirono says of state’s quartet on Capitol Hill

As the 113th Congress was sworn in on Thursday, the four members of Hawaii’s delegation pledged to work as a unified group to begin rebuilding the all-important seniority that was lost recently following the death of U.S. Sen. Daniel Ino­uye and the retirement of U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka.

Together, Inouye and Akaka amassed 72 years of experience in the Senate.

Hawaii’s newest member of the upper chamber, U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, said the delegation would work tirelessly and in unity to build on the foundations left by its predecessors.

"That’s always been the strength of our delegation," Hirono said in a telephone interview from Washington, D.C. "We are four. We work very closely and that is why we’re effective. I expect that to continue, and we will work hard to do what is best for Hawaii."

Hirono is beginning her first term in the Senate after six years in the House.

New U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard echoed those sentiments, adding that the Demo­cratic members will work to build relationships within their party and across the aisle to try to overcome the partisanship that has plagued Washington in recent years.

"By doing that I think that is the only way we can overcome the negativity and the divisiveness that we’ve seen from the last Congress," Gabbard said by telephone.

Members of the delegation highlighted job creation, renewable energy, Asia-Pacific relations, support for Medicare, Medicaid, seniors, veterans and the military in Hawaii as priorities.

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hana­busa, starting her second full term, said she was "anxious" to begin life in Congress without Ino­uye and Akaka, saying that for many in Hawaii, the two always seemed to be able to fix things when needed.

"It’s (because of) where they were in terms of their respective committees. It’s also the skills that they had," Hana­busa said. "A lot of that is relationships. A lot of it is the mutual respect, but that is something that is earned, and they earned it."

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, the state’s senior senator after being sworn in last week to replace Ino­uye, said many of Hirono’s new colleagues stopped by to congratulate her and discuss various issues after she was sworn in, a sign that members are off to a "good start" in building key relationships.

"We understand there’s a lot of work to do, but we’re unified and focused and already working very well together among the four of us and with our staff," Schatz said.

Hirono, Hanabusa and Gabbard are among the record 101 women in the 113th Congress.

Hirono and Gabbard are each making history on their own.

Hirono becomes the first Asian-American woman, the first Buddhist and first Japa­nese-born member of the Senate as well as the first female senator from Hawaii.

Gabbard is the first Hindu in Congress and one of its first two female combat veterans, along with fellow Demo­cratic freshman U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, a McKinley High School graduate.

"I’d like nothing better than for more women to be here, although 20 (in the Senate) is an historic high," Hirono said. "I’d like to see a lot more minority representation in the Senate and the House.

"Why? Because when people of diverse backgrounds come together to make decisions, I believe those decisions are more balanced, fairer, wiser and better."