Colleen Hanabusa was a Hawaiian Senator who did a lot for the community. She was the first woman to serve as the president of the state senate, as well as the first woman to represent Hawaii in congress. She passed away in Honolulu at 74 years old. On March 5, 2025, Hanabusa lost her battle to cancer after five months of fighting. Family and friends have confirmed the news. They stated that while she did fight with cancer, she kept it a secret and did fight publically. In honor of her decades of public work, the Governor of Hawaii ordered flags to be at half mast for Hanabusa.
It is true that Hanabusa’s death impacts Hawaii politics heavily. She was known for her strong devotion, admirable law expertise, and sweet nature to those she called her family. She specifically was an advocate for the working class, rights of workers, and the Native Hawaiians. She was a democrat, but a relatively moderate one. She had a lot of political viewpoints that were outside of the mainstream. This was especially the case when it came to Oahu’s Leeward Coast.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Colleen Wakako Hanabusa |
| Born | May 4, 1951 – Waianae, Hawaii, USA (age 74 at passing) |
| Died | March 5, 2026 – Honolulu, Hawaii, USA (after a private five-month battle with cancer) |
| Cause of Death | Cancer (confirmed by family/friends; kept private during her illness) |
| Profession | Lawyer, politician; former U.S. Representative (Hawaii’s 1st District, 2011–2015 & 2016–2019); first woman Hawaii State Senate President (2007–2010) |
| Famous For | Barrier-breaking leader; advocated for Native Hawaiian rights, labor, veterans, and Leeward Oahu communities; centrist Democrat known for independence |
| Political Career | Hawaii State Senate (1998–2010, President 2007–2010); U.S. House (2011–2015, 2016–2019); ran for Governor (2018), Honolulu Mayor (2020); chaired HART rail board until 2025 |
| Education | University of Hawaii at Manoa: BA Economics/Sociology (1973), MA Sociology (1975), JD Law (1977); St. Andrew’s Priory School (1969) |
| Family | Husband: John F. Souza III (married 2008; former state sheriff/businessman); No children; survived by extended ‘ohana in Waianae; adored dogs (Frannie, Pupper, etc.) |
| Net Worth (est.) | Approximately $1.9–2.3 million (peak congressional disclosures ~$1.96M in 2017; from investments, family business ties, legal career) |
| Lifestyle | Grounded, community-focused; lived modestly in Honolulu with husband and pets; rooted in Waianae values—hard work, aloha, and service over glamour |
| Social Media & Legacy Links | (Official/legacy accounts; mostly inactive post-2020, now used for tributes; follow Hawaii news for memorials) |
| Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa – Official page (legacy posts, photos, tributes) | |
| X (Twitter) | @RepHanabusa – Former official account (career updates, statements; search for recent condolences) |
| No major personal/verified account; tributes via Hawaii News Now (@hawaiinewsnow), KHON2 (@khon2), or search #ColleenHanabusa | |
| YouTube | No personal channel; highlights/tributes on Hawaii News Now YouTube, KITV, or C-SPAN archives (search “Colleen Hanabusa” for interviews/speeches) |
| Other / Tributes | Hawaii News Now (@hawaiinewsnow on Instagram/X/Facebook), KHON2, Gov. Josh Green/Mayor Rick Blangiardi statements; search #ColleenHanabusa or #RIPColleenHanabusa for widespread reactions |
Early Life and Education
Colleen Wakako Hanabusa was born in Waianae Hawaii on May 4, 1951, and is a 4th generation Japanese American. Her family has a history of being incarcerated during world war two which has impacted her view on justice. Her father and mother, Isao and June Hanabusa, worked long and hard hours at a popular gas station in Waianae. This meant that Colleens parental figures were her maternal granparents. She learned how to be industrious and have an unwavering will from them.
She graduated from St. Andrew’s Priory School, in Honolulu in 1969, After that, Colleen went to the University of Hawaii at Manoa and in 1973 received her Bachelor’s in economics and sociology. 2 years later in 1975, she got her Masters in Sociology and in 1977 graduated with her Juris Doctor. All of this culminated into her becoming an extremely successful labor attorney. She represented unions and workers and as a result, was able to combat the corporate world in her negotiations.Political Career Highlights
In 1998, Hanabusa began her career in politics after winning a seat in the Hawaii State Senate for District 21 which includes the Leeward and Central sections of Oahu. She began moving up in her political career, and, in 2007, she was the first woman in Hawaii to become a Senate President. During her time as Senate President, she created the first set of labor-related guidelines and implemented budget frameworks. She also helped with the creation of a rail transit system and environmental policies.
She began her run for Congress in 2010 and lost a special election for Hawaii’s 1st District. She then won the 2010 run for Congress and served from 2011 until 2015. After a short break in which she lost a 2014 Senate election to Brian Schatz, she then took over the House from 2016 until 2019 after a special election from Mark Takai’s death.
While in Congress, Hanabusa worked on issues with the military (specially the bases in Hawaii), labor issues, Native Hawaiian self-determination, and veterans’ affairs. She was a part of the New Democrat Coalition, and, when it was necessary, she was bipartisan.
After her time in Congress, she had a go at being a governor in 2018 but lost the Democratic primary to David Ige, and also lost in the 2020 election for mayor of Honolulu, finishing third. She also took on the role of chair of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) and oversaw the rail project, but she had to retire in 2025 for health reasons.
Family and Personal Life
In 2008, she married John F. Souza III, a former state sheriff and Honolulu businessman, for whom she had been engaged for a long time, at least since 2004. The couple, however childless, had a strong relationship and she was an animal lover, and they had dogs (Frannie and Pupper) as well as previous pets including a Border Collie named Little. Family members expressed that she was an incredibly dedicated person to her husband, her dogs, and her extended family in Waianae. She was a rather private person and eschewed the public glare, and she concentrated on dedicating her effort to public service rather than to the media attention.
Net Worth and Lifestyle
Estimates of Colleen Hanabusa’s net worth have varied during her life. The records during her time in Congress show net worth between $1.9 million and $2.2 million, and in 2017 it was approximately $1.96 million. This was the result of her gaining Central Pacific Bank investments and family related businesses (Pueo Enterprises). Having been a corporate officer in family businesses, and as a long time labor lawyer, she was able to secure her financial position highly without requiring a lot of ostentatious spending.
Her way of life showed where she came from. She was modest, down to earth, and really showed the values from the community in Waina. She and her husband lived in downtown Honolulu, and enjoyed the simple things in life like time with their dogs. She was also known for her sense of community in the Leeward Coast region. She was also very practical when it came to Congress. A lot of people pointed out her sense of style, and how she used practical clothing. She was known for being blunt with her dress and her speech, and for being very focused on the end result, rather than anything that would be considered glamorous.
Her commemoration
Congresswoman Hanabusa was known for being a pioneer, advocating for everyday Hawaiians. For Governor Green and Mayor Rick Blangiardi, she showed a lot of conviction and dedication to her cause. A lot of people considered her to be a fighter for people in her community. Social media tributes started pouring in.
Facebook: Videos and comments from Hawaii News Now, while pages like My Kailua posted tributes with tens of thousands of reactions.
YouTube: Hawaii News Now has videos posted in tribute of her legacy, and her passing.
It’s saddening to learn of Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa’s passing. This Waianae-born public servant’s journey from fighting for the underdog in the Waianae gas station to the U.S. Congress is one of the most inspiring stories of our time. Though her battle with cancer has come to a close, we will remember her for the spirit of tenacity, fairness, and love that she embodied in all of her work. Rest in peace, Hanabusa. Hawaii has lost another great kama’aina. 🌺