Senator Clarence Nishihara currently serves as Chair of the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs and Vice Chair of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health. He also sits as a member on the Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Housing.
Currently in his fourth term, Senator Nishihara was elected to the Hawai‘i State Senate in November 2004, and represents Hawai‘i's 17th Senatorial District (formerly known as the 18th Senatorial District).
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.
Senator Nishihara graduated with the Class of 1961 from Maui High School and received an A.A. degree from Maunaolu Junior College in 1963; a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa in 1970; 5th Year Certificate in Special Education, from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa in 1972; and M.Ed Administration from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa in 1993.