I have lived my entire life in our district of Mänoa, Makiki, Punchbowl and Papakölea. I attended public schools here and earned my law degree from the University of Hawai‘i’s William S. Richardson School of Law. My wife Jan and I raised our two children in Mänoa.
I was first elected to the State House of Representatives, where I served from 1980 to 1994. I chaired the Transportation, Higher Education and Intergovernmental Affairs committees and was chosen Majority Leader.
My tenure in the State Senate began in 1994. Over the years, I have chaired the Economic Development, Commerce and Consumer Protection, Ways and Means and Judiciary committees. Since 2012, I have chaired the Higher Education and the Arts Committee.
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