Capitol Ghost Stories 2009 - The Spirit of Rep. Bob Nakasone

Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu (left) and Rep. Bob Nakasone in 2006

Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu shared with me some of his personal experiences involving the spirit of the late Rep. Bob Nakasone. Rep. Nakasone, who represented Maui House District 9 – Kahului, Wailuku, Paia, passed away on December 7, 2008. His seat was filled by the appointment of Rep. Gil Keith-Agaran. Rep. Nakasone was regarded as a strong and influential leader of the House. He was considered one of the most knowledgeable legislators on Hawaii’s laws; he always did his homework and he had a respected institutional memory. He didn’t talk much, and he rarely consented to a media interview. He was also someone who understood the need for lawmakers to relieve stress, and the importance of everyone coming together socially even though you may disagree on the issues. His office was a gathering place, often lively, for friends to unwind and restore each other’s spirits.

December 12, 2008
After Rep. Nakasone passed away, many people at the Capitol mourned the loss, and Jon was feeling very sad for the entire week. On the night of December 12th, a Friday, Jon was working late at his capitol office when a friend and her daughter stopped by to visit around 9:15 p.m. They decided to walk over to Honolulu Hale and see the Christmas lights. On the ground level, they were walking down the capitol stairs near the Queen Liliuokalani statue when all of a sudden they heard very loud party noises. It sounded like a gathering of around a dozen people, laughing and talking, coming from the lanai area of Rep. Nakasone’s office. It was so loud that they looked up, the noise stopped, and it became completely silent. All the windows in the offices on the makai side of the building were dark. Jon asked his friend if she heard the noises too. She said she did, and that it sounded like Bob was back having a party. Just then, the sky opened up and they got drenched in a heavy downpour of rain. They ran back inside the capitol and didn’t go out to see the lights until later that night.

February 20, 2009
One of Jon’s friends, who shall remain anonymous, is sensitive to feeling the presence of spirits and sometimes even seeing them. On Thursday, February 19th, she mentioned to Jon that she was walking past Rep. Nakasone’s office (now Rep. Keith-Agaran’s office) and she felt his presence but did not see anything.

On February 20th, shortly after 12 noon, Rep. Karamatsu went up to the podium in the House Chamber and asked the members for a moment of silence in honor of the passing of Rep. Nakasone. Jon’s friend was watching the House proceedings on closed circuit television, and when she saw that Jon was asking for a moment of silence for Rep. Nakasone, she felt the urge to go back to Rep. Nakasone’s office to see if his presence was there.

Sure enough, as she walked toward the office in the narrow hallway, she saw Rep. Nakasone approaching her. They both stopped to talk. He said to her, “Jon listens to you, and that’s good.” Jon’s friend asked Bob, “Is Jon going to Hilo?” He replied, “Don’t worry, he’ll be in Hilo.” With that he continued walking past her, and she saw him fade as he walked away.

We’re not sure what the Hilo reference is about. There was a group of Big Island lawmakers who planned an event in Hilo the following day, Saturday. Rep. Karamatsu did not attend that event. However, he would later launch his neighbor island campaign for Lt. Governor in Hilo on Saturday, July 18, 2009.

Nominees named for House District 9

The Democratic Party today sent out a news release announcing the three people they have chosen as nominees to fill the seat of former Rep. Bob Nakasone, District 9 - Kahului, Wailuku, Puunene, Paia, Spreckelsville. The Governor has until February 5, 2009 to make her selection. She sent out her own release this afternoon soliciting public comment on the nominees, to be submitted by close of business day, January 9th.

The nominees are: Kehau Filimoe'atu, Lance Holter and Gil Keith-Agaran. Governor Lingle will pick one of the candidates to fill Rep. Nakasone's seat and complete the two-year term.

The release contained a brief bio on each nominee, as follows:

Ms. Kehau Filimoe’atu. A founder of several native Hawaiian non-profits, an accomplished community organizer and a strong advocate of social justice issues, Filimoe’atu was born and raised on Maui and is a former business owner who has traveled around the world. Married with three adult children, Filimoe’atu is the supervisor of the Maui Police Department’s 911 Central Dispatch and has worked at the department’s communications section for the past 17 years.

Mr. Lance Holter. Currently Maui Democratic Party Chair, Holter has served with the Peace Corp and on several Boards and Commissions on Maui, including Maui County Board of Variances and Appeals, Habitat for Humanity, Makawao School Community Council, Sierra Club and Maui Tomorrow. He is a strong advocate for energy independence and conservation. The father of three daughters and a new grandson causes him to realize the importance of leaving their generation a legacy of natural coastlines, pristine watersheds and creating a new renewable energy economy for Hawaii.

Mr. Gil Keith-Agaran. An attorney practicing in Wailuku, Keith-Agaran spent a decade in public service as Chair of the State Board of Land and Natural Resources, State Director of Labor and State Deputy Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, and as County Public Works Director. He presently serves on the boards of the Maui Memorial Medical Center Foundation, the Maui Food Bank, the Maui Coastal Land Trust, the Tri-Isle Resource Conservation and Development Council, the Maui High School Community Council, and A Keiki's Dream. Keith-Agaran has a J.D. from Boalt Hall School of Law, the University of California at Berkeley, and a B.A. from Yale College. He is married and is the guardian of a niece who is a senior at his alma mater, Maui High School.

Flags to fly at half-staff in honor of Rep. Nakasone

Governor Lingle has ordered that the flags at the state capitol be flown at half staff tomorrow, Saturday, in remembrance of Rep. Bob Nakasone. The memorial service will be held on Maui at Ballard Family Mortuary tomorrow afternoon. The Advertiser's brief is here.

Hawaii communities remember Rep. Bob Nakasone

Here are excerpts and links to some of the wide news coverage of Rep. Bob Nakasone's passing on Sunday, December 7, 2008.

From The Kauai Garden Island:

Rep. Roland Sagum, a Democrat representing Kaua‘i’s 16th District, said meeting Nakasone was one of his most memorable experiences as a legislator.

“Any time of the day he was available, he’d be willing to talk to you, or answer questions,” Sagum said when reached by phone yesterday, describing his former colleague as a father figure and mentor. “He was a true role model. An awesome, awesome man. He was always looking for the best in people, and hoping for the best for people.”

From The Maui News:

Rep. Joe Souki, a Democrat representing Wailuku, Waikapu and Kahakuloa, said Nakasone "had his fingerprints" on countless Maui infrastructure projects.

"For Maui, we were very lucky to have him there," Souki said. "He always made sure Maui had its share, and, if can, a little bit more."

Nakasone's office was known as a place where lawmakers could gather to "talk story," Souki added.

"Bob would just sit at his desk and not say a thing unless he was called, but that was a mechanism for people to sit down and work out their differences," he said. "In his quiet way, he was a great mediator."

Rep. Kyle Yamashita, a Democrat representing Upcountry, said Nakasone's office was a "safe place" for young lawmakers to get feedback on their ideas. Nakasone was never judgmental, but listened carefully and talked about his past experience with the issues, Yamashita said.

"He was my mentor," he said. "He taught me a lot. I was in his office during session almost every day, just to talk and go over what was going on. Big shoes to fill."

From the Honolulu Star-Bulletin:

"What a sad day for Maui, what a sad day," said William Kennison, Maui division director for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union. "Bob was always a very, very strong supporter of Maui County, and his position in the House Finance Committee was always to get projects for Maui. We always depended on him and relied on him for support. He always came through for us."

From The Honolulu Advertiser:

Sen. Roz Baker, D-5th (W. Maui-S. Maui), said yesterday it was Nakasone's wish that his daughter, Joni McGinnis, succeed him. McGinnis worked with her father at the company he founded, Ameritone-Maui, a paint and wall-covering distributorship with two retail outlets in Kahului and Lahaina.

"I remember it was always a competition between the House and Senate. He was a no-nonsense, tough negotiator, but he was always very fair and tried to take care of projects that really needed to be done," she said.

Rep. Joe Souki, D-8th (Wailuku), said that by the time Nakasone came to the House, "he already was kind of a legend."

"Everybody loved Bob. He kept his doors open, and his office was a kind of meeting place. Members would go there, and he was always ready to give advice and listen," Souki said.
Nakasone rarely made speeches in public or on the House floor, but was passionate nonetheless about healthcare, Maui Community College, education, and long-term care insurance and other issues affecting the elderly, Souki said.

"That's the way Bob was. He was always known as someone who did his homework, and he was a walking encyclopedia of legislation. He didn't believe in going out and making speeches. He didn't do fundraisers. He stayed in his office and worked," he said.

In Memory of Rep. Bob Nakasone

Today, we mourn the passing of State Representative Bob Nakasone who passed away yesterday after a long illness. Here is a statement from Speaker of the House Calvin Say:

“The island of Maui and the state of Hawaii have lost a dedicated public servant,” said Speaker of the House Calvin Say. “Rep. Bob Nakasone was a very private and quiet man, but he was held in great respect in the Legislature due to his experience, his knowledge, and his unwavering commitment to serving Hawaii’s people.”

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Nakasone family,” continued Speaker Say. “As a long-time colleague, we served many years in the House together, and he will be greatly missed. You could always count on Bob Nakasone as a leader and an asset to the House, especially in tough times. Even though he was very reserved, people knew he had a big heart, and that making Hawaii a better place for our families was the essence behind his public service. I felt privileged to work beside him.”

Toughest battle for Maui veteran

He is extremely private and doesn't speak much to press, but Maui veteran, Rep. Bob Nakasone, gave a rare interview to the Maui News today on his battle with lung cancer, his love for public service, and his decision to pursue public office this November. It's good news to hear that Rep. Nakasone anticipates getting his health back to 100% soon. He was here to cast his votes during the Override Special Session last week as well as to sit in through most of the HHSC informational briefing. The Advertiser's The Notebook blog also posted an entry late yesterday on Nakasone's House District 9 race.