HONOLULU — On a day of unabashed self-congratulations and farewell tears, state lawmakers closed a historic legislative session Thursday still shaking their heads at what had been accomplished.

After two fraught years of pandemic-gutted coffers and painful budgetary decisions, the two chambers worked together this session to leverage a record surplus into an unprecedented effort to make good on past obligations, restore essential programs and services, and invest in initiatives for the future.

“I’ve never achieved every single goal I’ve talked about before because we run into a problem or we run out of money,” Senate President Ron Kouchi said in his closing remarks. “I never imagined that we’d have a $1 billion commitment to the Native Hawaii community here, but you found a way to make that happen. Various programs that are helping the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families in our community. The commitment to Pre-K, K-through-12, and higher education. This is the most amazing legislation session that I’ve participated in.”

House Speaker Scott Saiki praised his House colleagues for the perseverance it took to arrive at this session’s seemingly gilded results.

“When you take a step back, there was no guarantee that the session would end the way that it did,” he said. “This is because in the past two years, every conceivable obstacle has been thrown at us. But you were resilient, and you overcame all of the hurdles to deliver real results for real people.”

A year removed from pointed public criticism over a less-than-productive 2021 session, legislators this year passed a new minimum-wage bill, appropriated $600 million to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to clear its notorious backlog of lease applications, settled the decades-old Kalima et al. v. State of Hawaii suit, set a new annual payment to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs from Public Land Trust revenue, directed $300 million for affordable housing, provided for a $250 million tax refund and much more, prompting Saiki to reiterate his earlier claim that the 2022 session was a “breakthrough.”

“It was a breakthrough because the Legislature envisioned the possible—and implemented it,” he said. “In the process, you were unafraid to take on the most complicated and controversial issues. This is exactly how a legislature should operate. As a result of your work, hundreds of thousands of people will have opportunity and a better chance in our state.”

Thursday also marked the personal adjournment sine die for nine representatives and three senators who collectively account for roughly 200 years of legislative experience. While some of the departing lawmakers are heading for well-earned retirement, others are leaving to pursue other office or other opportunities.

The Senate is losing three members of considerable tenure: Sens. Clarence Nishihara (18 years), Roz Baker (30 years), and Brian Taniguchi (42 years).

Among those leaving the House is Luella Costales who served two months as a replacement for Ty Cullen (who resigned following his arrest in a bribery scandal) and will not seek election in the fall. Also leaving are Reps. Henry Aquino, Patrick Branco, Sylvia Luke, Bob McDermott, Angus McKelvey, Takashi Ohno, Val Okimoto, and Tina Wildberger.

Aquino is running for Nishihara’s vacated seat in the Senate. Branco intends to run for the U.S. House seat expected to be vacated by Kai Kahele. McDermott will challenge Brian Schatz for his U.S. Senate seat. McKelvey will run for Baker’s seat. Okimoto announced early that she is running for a seat on the Honolulu City Council.

Luke, who is running for lieutenant governor, is expected to leave the biggest vacuum. She spent 24 years in the House, the last 10 as chair of the powerful finance committee. Saiki called her “the greatest finance chair in history.” 

Luke received a standing ovation from her colleagues on the floor and guests in the gallery following her farewell address.