Hard work, service and commitment -- that's Colleen Hanabusa's motto.
“This election has been the toughest I’ve been in,” she said.
Hanabusa was elected to the State Senate in 1998 and has been Senate President since 2006.
She's hoping her next seat will be on Capitol Hill.
“I think when you talk about the footprint or legacy I want to leave it's a Hawaii where people who want to stay here can stay here that provides that we're sustained and in balance,” she said.
Hanabusa has been campaigning hard in her bid for Congress .. sign waving, interviews, and more sign waving.
“If you ask me what I do to relax, I would probably have people over and cook because I really enjoy that,” she said.
Hanabusa's first priority in as representative for Hawaii's first congressional district will be to put more people back to work.
She also supports President Obama on Health Care Reform
On the General Election eve, President Obama spoke to Democrats across Hawaii via conference call.
“Our soon to be Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa for joining on the call tonight. I can't be with you in Hawaii but we look forward to getting there at Christmas,” said the President during the conference call.
“Just to hear him and to hear how connected he to Hawaii is just a wonderful feeling,” said Hanabusa.
It’s a big endorsement for Hawaii's Democratic candidates.
“I also need you to support Colleen Hanabusa. She represents Hawaii’s values,” said President Obama.
This election has been filled with mudslinging and attack ads.
“If there's one message I want to get out it's to tell our seniors and kupuna it's not true about Medicare and social security and they should not believe the politics of fear,” she said.
Polls have Hanabusa and her opponent Charles Djou almost neck and neck.
“The polls as you know have for some reason never been able to read my elections well,” she said.
She says the only poll that really matters is the one on Election Day.
