Washington, March 6 -- Representative Jill Tokuda issued the following press release:

Today, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) released the following statement honoring the legacy of her friend and colleague, Colleen Hanabusa, remembering her as a mentor, a trailblazer, and a fierce advocate for the people of Hawai'i. "Colleen was a mentor and good friend. When I was first elected to the Hawai'i State Senate, she became the very first woman to lead the body. As Senate President, she led with her heart and incomparable smarts. She stood by me during some of my toughest battles; as a young mother in the chamber, she never once questioned that I could both lead and nurture. In so many ways, she was a trailblazer and a fighter who left...