WASHINGTON — In her first six months in office, Democratic U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono of Hawai'i is earning a reputation as one of the House's more liberal members, with votes against Iraq and Afghanistan war funding and for creating a new Department of Peace and Nonviolence.

The former Hawai'i lieutenant governor, one of only two Buddhists in Congress (Hank Johnson, D-Ga., is the other), also is supporting a host of social programs aimed at beefing up federal backing for education and taking care of Hawai'i's priorities.

"It's a great time to be a member of Congress," said Hirono, one of the more than 70 members of the liberal Congressional Progressive Caucus. "We have a new majority and new priorities."

Hirono, with a trademark smile and a quiet demeanor, also is learning the ropes of Congress as she spends her days in committee hearings, on the floor and in meetings with constituents, lawmakers and others.

"I really consider this a privilege and an honor to be here and to have my voice and my vote count," she said.

But some political observers said they have not seen or heard much out of Hirono since she came to Congress in January. Some of her work in Washington may not be translating into credit back in Hawai'i, not something a freshman House member wants to hear.

"She has been, to me, virtually invisible," said Ira Rohter, a politics professor at the University of Hawai'i. "She is only starting, of course, but I have no sense that she has done anything particularly positive or negative."

But Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawai'i, said Hirono is working to establish her presence in the House.

"She spends a lot of time understanding what other people need and being a sympathetic voice, and doing a lot of politicking on the floor and reaching out," he said. "Mazie understands very clearly the universal premise that you have to work on here — people vote for you for their reasons, not yours."

For her part, Hirono said she uses the time on the House floor to engage colleagues.

"That's one of the few times we're all together," she said. "I usually take that time to talk with folks about issues that I would like support for, and I usually touch base with Neil, too, about where he's going on a particular issue."

She also has made her voice heard during floor debate.

For example, Hirono backed emergency funding for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars as long as some kind of time line for withdrawing troops was included. Because that was removed in the final version, she voted against it.

"Every second, minute and hour that passes, lives are being lost in Iraq, and devastation continues with no end in sight," Hirono said on the floor. "We must be resolute in our efforts to bring an end to this quagmire."

When Republicans attacked a bill to re-authorize Native Hawaiian housing programs in March as being unconstitutional and conferring tribal status on Native Hawaiians, Hirono took to the floor to point out the Republican characterization of the bill was wrong.

"The constitutionality of any measure must be decided by the courts and, clearly, the courts have not opined on the constitutionality of this bill," Hirono said. The bill contained nothing about creating a political relationship between Native Hawaiians and the federal government, she said.

But she also is pushing other issues important to the Islands, including enacting the Native Hawaiian government bill, funding a proposed mass transit system on O'ahu and easing immigration restrictions for children of Filipino veterans who fought for the United States in World War II.

Another focus, she said, is education, especially for younger children.

"Early education is critical because it lays the foundation for positive outcomes for children and their parents," she said.

The congresswoman is working on a bill to create grants for universal preschool education and already has seen the House adopt her amendment to a Head Start bill that directs a portion of the funding to the individuals actually running Early Head Start programs.

The bill "moves training and technical assistance responsibility away from Washington, D.C., and into the hands of states and local providers," Hirono said.

Like many other House members, Hirono also hit the ground running in raising money for her next election campaign. By the end of March, she had raised about $185,300, with $177,000 remaining after paying the bills.

Hirono's biggest problem in facing a potential re-election campaign may not be money but time back in the district.

Susan Tolchin, a public-policy professor at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., said the long distance between home and Washington has long plagued other House members, including Rep. Pasty Mink, who served from 1990 until her death in 2002.

"Patsy Mink, that is what she found to be her greatest challenge — just getting home," Tolchin said. "You can be too close, but you can also be too far away. If voters don't see you enough, they will vote you out."

To help solve the problem, Hirono said she started "Congress on Your Corner," where she and her staff set up shop at different locations in her district to handle problems and discuss issues.

Hirono's third such event will take place Saturday at the Windward Mall.

She also plans to use other ways to communicate with her constituents, including videoconferencing and radio programs.

"The physical presence helps a lot," she said. "That's why I do Congress on Your Corner. It's a way to just talk to regular folks."

Reach Dennis Camire at dcamire@gns.gannett.com.