Representative Dee Morikawa (Niihau, Lehua, Koloa, Waimea) has been tapped as Chair of the House Committee on Human Services, where she has served as a member since first elected in 2010. Morikawa succeeds Rep. Mele Carroll, who earlier this week announced her resignation from the Hawaii State Legislature due to health complications.
The scope of the committee focuses upon programs relating to financial assistance, medical assistance, vocational rehabilitation, social welfare services, and the general well-being of the state's elderly and youth, including juvenile correctional services.
“First of all, my thoughts and prayers are with Mele and her family,” Morikawa said. “As chair, she did much to help us focus on helping those who need our compassion and assistance, and I look forward to carrying on her good work.”
Morikawa noted that her familiarity with the subject matter of the human services, housing and health committees should be valuable in her new position.
"The issues are all related, and I think the chairs know each other and work well together, in sharing information and collaborating on clarifying and developing policies," she said.
Morikawa most recently served for the last four years as Vice Chair of the Health Committee. She currently also sits as a member of the Committees on Housing, Judiciary, and Health.
Also on the committee are Vice Chair Bertrand Kobayashi and Reps. Della Au Belatti, Jo Jordan, Marcus R. Oshiro, Beth Fukumoto Chang, Richard P. Creagan, Mark J. Hashem.
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