Colleen Hanabusa

It is with hearts both heavy and full of gratitude that we say goodbye to our beloved Colleen Wakako Hanabusa. To those of us who knew her best, she wasn’t just a formidable force in Washington or a dedicated public servant; she was the heart of our family, the friend who showed up with a pot of simmering oden and a listening ear, and the obāchan whose laugh could fill a room and make everyone feel like they belonged. We’ll forever remember her quiet strength, her sharp wit that could defuse any tension, and the way her eyes would sparkle when she talked about her grandchildren, her garden in Waipahu, or the next big idea she had to help her community. Colleen’s love was a verb. It was in the