Kahele named majority whip

State Sen. Kai Kahele, D-Hilo, on Friday was appointed Senate Democratic majority whip.

Senate President Ronald Kouchi announced the appointment along with the splitting of the Judiciary and Labor Committee into two separate committees.

Sen. Jill Tokuda, recently ousted as Ways and Means chairwoman, will chair the Labor Committee.

Sen. Brian Taniguchi was appointed chairman the Judiciary Committee.