Representative Mark M. Nakashima
- Hawaii State Capitol Yearbook 2009
- Representative Isaac Choy
- Representative Henry J.C. Aquino
- Representative Lyla B. Berg
- Governor Linda Lingle
- Representative Cindy Evans
- Senator Les Ihara, Jr.
- Lt. Governor James R. “Duke” Aiona, Jr.
- Representative Gilbert Keith-Agaran
- Representative Joey Manahan
- Representative Chris Lee
- Representative Barbara C. Marumoto
- Representative Mark M. Nakashima
- Representative John M. Mizuno
- Representative Marcus R. Oshiro
- Senator Brian T. Taniguchi
- Senator J. Kalani English
- Representative Jessica Wooley
- Representative Gene Ward
- Senator Norman Sakamoto
- Representative Cynthia Thielen
- Senator Fred Hemmings
- Representative Karl Rhoads
- Senator Colleen Hanabusa
- Senator Josh Green
- Representative Roy M. Takumi
- Senator Will Espero
Phone 808-586-6680, Fax 808-586-6684
repnakashima@capitol.hawaii.gov
1. What was your biggest accomplishment this session?
“Worked to extend money appropriated in act 78, Session laws of 2007 which would have lapsed this year to allow for use until 2010. This would allow the State Civil Defense to expend approximately $8 left in this appropriation to address continuing projects that are still being identified resulting from the Nov, 2006 earthquake that shook North Hawaii. Worked with the bill’s author and Senate to amend the bill and served on the House-Senate Conference Committee which worked on the final draft of the measure.”
2. With which piece of 2009 legislation are you most proud to be affiliated and why?
“As Vice Chair of the Higher Education Committee, I supported HB 1174 which was important legislation to address the preservation and continued stewardship of the Mauna Kea Lands.
This measure also establishes the Mauna Kea Lands Management Special Fund for the University of Hawaii under direction of the Office of Mauna Kea Management that will return authority and control of the University’s stewardship from Oahu to the Big Island. The University has acknowledged the shortcomings of its stewardship of the Mauna Kea lands, and I believe that this measure is the first step in addressing the concerns expressed by the community.”
3. What was the biggest disappointment of the session and how might a similar disappointment be prevented in the future?
“HB 985 was a bill that I authored and became part of the House Majority package to address responsiveness and transparency in the Department of Education especially in school level decision making. This bill passed out of the house but was not given a hearing in the Senate Education Committee. I will need to work with the Senate to insure passage of a bill next session.”
4. Debating which issue turned out to be the biggest distraction from your priorities?
“Focus by many in the media on things that sell papers and no real in-depth reporting or understanding of the issues.”
5. What’s one thing you wish voters better understood about you or the political process as a whole?
“That my constituent’s voice and opinion are important to me and I wished that I heard from them more.”
