Yoshito Takamine

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Yoshito Takamine
Member of the Hawaii House of Representatives from the 1st District
In office
1959–1984
Preceded by?
Succeeded byDwight Takamine
Personal details
Born(1924-06-24)June 24, 1924
Hakalau, Territory of Hawaii
DiedOctober 27, 2015(2015-10-27) (aged 91)
Honokaa, Hawaii
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseKimiko Takamine
ResidenceHonokaa, Hawaii
ProfessionLabor leader
Politician

Yoshito Takamine (

labor leader in Hawaii. Takamine, who was first elected to the Hawaii House of Representatives in 1958, when the state was still the Territory of Hawaii, served in the state House of Representatives for 12 consecutive terms until his retirement in 1984. Takamine, the longtime chairman of the House Labor Committee, oversaw the creation of the Hawaii Prepaid Health Care Act of 1974, which made Hawaii the first U.S. state to require minimum standards for the health care benefits offered to workers.[2][3]

Biography

Early life

Yoshito Takamine, the oldest son and third child of his family's 14 children, was born on June 24, 1924, in

Okinawa.[2][4] His father, Tozo Takamine, had immigrated in 1919 from his home in Shimajiri Gun, Okinawa, to the island of Hawaii, where he worked on the plantations.[4] Takamine's mother, Usa Takamine, who was also Okinawan, was a picture bride who married Tozo in a "shinpai" marriage three years later.[2][4] Tozo and Usa Takamine lived and worked in Hakalau at the time of Yoshito Takamine's birth.[4] Takamine's father worked on the plantations for 10 hours per day, six days a week. His mother grew vegetables and washed laundry for the "lunas," or supervisors, to bring in extra income.[4]

Labor

Takamine graduated from Honokaa High School in 1944 and then worked for the now defunct Honokaa Sugar Company.[2] He joined the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU). Takamine became an ILWU business agent in 1950. He rose to become of the ILWU's union division director, which he held until his retirement from the local ILWU leadership in 1986.[2]

Political career

A well known labor and union leader, Takamine was first elected to the

worker's compensation law, and the temporary disability insurance law.[2][3]

As chairman, Takamine was one of the principle architects and proponents of the

labor force under the landmark law.[2]

State Rep.

Hilo coast that speak of his ability to provide for his constituents."[2]

Takamine retired from the Hawaii House of Representatives in 1984 after 12 consecutive terms. He was succeeded in the Big Island's 1st District by his son, Dwight Takamine, who held the seat from 1984 to 2009.[2]

Yoshito Takamine died at his home in Honokaa, Hawaii, on October 27, 2015, at the age of 91.[2][3] He was survived by his wife, Kimiko; five children, Dwight Takamine, Delbert Takamine, Arlene Hashimoto, Melanie Fergerstrom, and Karleen Kaohimaunu; three sisters, three brothers and fifteen grandchildren.[3] His memorial service was held at Dodo Mortuary in Hilo on November 18, 2015.[3]

Hawaii Governor David Ige ordered that flags be flown at half staff on November 20, 2015, in Takamine's honor.[5]

References

  1. ^ https://hojishinbun.hoover.org/?a=d&d=tht19620101-01.1.25&e=-------en-10--1--img-------
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Burnett, John (2015-10-14). "Yoshito Takamine dies at 89". West Hawaii Today. Retrieved 2015-11-26.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Longtime state legislator who fought for workers' rights dies". Hawaii News Now. 2015-11-06. Retrieved 2015-11-26.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Yoshito Takamine - Part 1". Hamakua Times. Retrieved 2015-11-26.
  5. ^ "Governor's Office News Release: Flags to fly at half-staff in honor of former State Representative Yoshito Takamine". Office of the Governor of Hawaii. 2015-11-20. Retrieved 2015-11-26.
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