On September 7, 2010, Governor Linda Lingle appointed Ronald D. Kouchi to complete the term of the vacant seventh senatorial district.  Since then Senator Kouchi has been elected to serve in his first term as the current senator representing Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau.
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Senator Kouchi currently serves as Majority Caucus Leader and Vice Chair of the Committee on Tourism.  He also serves as a member on the Committee on Agriculture, Transportation and International Affairs, and Ways and Means. 
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Raised on Kaua&#8216;i's Westside, Senator Kouchi graduated from Waimea High School in 1975 and attended Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.  Senator Kouchi is married to the former Joy Tanimoto and they have two sons, Dan and Egan, who are both currently attending college.