Senator Clarence Nishihara currently serves as chair of the committee on Agriculture,  vice chair of the committee on Technology and the Arts.  He also sits as a member on the committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection, and Health.
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17th Senatorial District:  Currently in his third term, Senator Nishihara was elected to the Hawaii State Senate in November, 2004 and represents Hawaii's 17th Senatorial District (formerly known as the 18th Senatorial District).
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Senator Nishihara and his wife, Lynn, have two daughters:  Joy Otsuka, son-in-law Cy, Grandson Zachary, Grand-daughter Hailey; and Julie Ota, son-in-law Chad, Grandson Chase.
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Senator Nishihara graduated with the Class of 1961 from Maui High School and received a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 1970; 5th Year Certificate in Special Education, from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 1972; and M.Ed Administration from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 1993.