[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 155 (Friday, December 15, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2229]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCTION OF H.R. 5655 TO DESIGNATE THE LANAI POST OFFICE, THE GORO 
                           HOKAMA POST OFFICE

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                           HON. PATSY T. MINK

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 15, 2000

  Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. Mr. Speaker, on December 13, 2000, I introduced 
H.R. 5655, to designate the Post Office on Lanai as the Goro Hokama 
Post Office.
  Mr. Hokama has dedicated his life to the communities of Lanai and 
Maui and to the State of Hawaii. Mr. Hokama's leadership abilities and 
sense of public duty were apparent even in high school, where he was 
Student Body President. After serving two years in the Army, he 
returned to Lanai, and in 1954 he began his public service career which 
continues till this day. He worked for the Dole Pineapple Company from 
1946 to 1991 and was a Member of the ILWU. He was elected by his union 
to serve on the International Executive Board, Division Executive Board 
and as a division representative steward, and served on the Membership 
Service Committee as well as actively participating on many negotiating 
teams.
  Mr. Hokama has been involved in nearly every aspect of community 
life, everything from political offices to volunteering at Little 
League games. He served a total of 41 years on the Maui County Council 
and its predecessor, the Maui Board of Supervisors. He was Chairman of 
the Maui County Council for 16 years. He served as Chairman or Vice-
Chairman of the Committee on the Whole, Finance Committee, Legislative 
Committee, Planning and Land Use Committee, and Federal, State and 
County Relations Committee.
  He was a member of the Hawaii State Association of Counties (HSAC), 
serving as President 11 times and Vice President 4 times. In 1999 he 
was appointed to the State Public Employees Appeals Board.
  Mr. Hokama was a Board Member of the Western Interstate Region from 
1985 to 1994.
  Mr. Hokama has been President of the Lanai School PTA, a Lanai 
Volunteer Fireman, Past Chairman of the Lanai Advisory to the Planning 
Commission, and was a past President of the Lanai Little League. In 
1987, he won the Hawaii State Little League Baseball Outstanding 
Volunteer Award.
  Mr. Hokama is currently the Chairman of the Maui County Hospital 
Management Advisory Committee and since 1998 has been Vice Chairman of 
the Maui Civil Service Commission. He also remains on the Board of 
Directors of the Maui Economic Opportunities, Inc., the Board of 
Trustees on both the Lanai Community Hospital and Maui Memorial 
Hospital, and has been President of the HAPCO. Lanai Federal Credit 
Union for over 30 years.
  Goro Hokama has given himself, his time, and his life to our 
community and to our State. He is married and has two children, Riki 
and Joy. The naming of the Lanai Post Office as the Goro Hokama Post 
Office would be a way to honor and pay tribute to a great public 
servant.

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