[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 56 (Monday, April 30, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4039-S4040]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            JUDGE WALTER M. HEEN--A LIFETIME OF ACHIEVEMENT

 Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I rise today to share with my 
colleagues the contributions of a fine jurist, tireless community 
leader, and native son of Hawaii. Nearly 50 years of public service 
excellence have made Walter Meheula Heen an acknowledged leading 
citizen, a ``special treasure'' of the State of Hawaii.
  Judge Heen's dedicated drive to build a better Hawaii was awakened as 
a law student at Georgetown University in the mid-1950s. The seeds of 
his commitment and service were planted in childhood by his father and 
his uncle, Ernest and William Heen, respectively, two patriarchs of 
social reform in plantation-era Hawaii. It was the Heens, along with 
Johnny Wilson and David Trask, Sr. Who formed the core of the early 
Democratic Party in Hawaii.
  Walter Heen's career as an elected official, state judge and U.S. 
district court judge includes remarkable accomplishments and 
historically significant achievements. Elected to the Territorial House 
of Representatives in 1958, the year before Statehood, Judge Heen 
served in the Hawaii legislature as a Representative until 1964 and was 
elected to the State Senate in 1966.
  The ``Democratic Revolution of 1954'' was more than a headline or a 
slogan, is accurately conveyed the significant legislative agenda the 
new majority was committed to enact to affect fundamental changes to 
improve the social and economic character of the islands. Land reform, 
anti-trust, ``Green Belt'' land use, collective bargaining, and 
workers' compensation were to become the battle zones that would change 
the face of politics, legislation and the administration of justice 
across Hawaii. Walter Heen was on the front lines of those struggles. 
His cause, together with those whom he served, was to level the playing 
field of social and economic opportunities for all, regardless of race, 
class or religion.
  Walter Heen served as a member of the Honolulu City Council from 1969 
to 1972, including his selection as Council Chair in 1969-70. He left 
elective office in 1972 accepting an appointment to the State District 
Court, and then State Circuit Court in 1974-78.
  Judge Heen's star continued to rise with his appointment as U.S. 
Attorney, District of Hawaii for 1978-80, and as U.S. District Court 
Judge, District of Hawaii in 1981. He retired from a distinguished 
judicial career in 1994 after 12 years as Associate Judge of the State 
Intermediate Court of Appeals. During that period, Heen authored 
several opinions on important Hawaiian issues and had occasion to sit 
and add his voice to the deliberation of the State Supreme Court.
  Always an active contributor to community affairs, Walter Heen was a 
founding member of the renaissance Democratic Party revolution 
beginning in 1950. It was a significant political movement that focused 
on changing the traditional unequal and unfair distribution of 
opportunities available to Hawaii's minority communities. Judge Heen 
carried this passion for leveling the playing field throughout his 
career of public service. More recently, Heen added his hand to 
exposing improper management and unethical practices at the Bishop 
Estate, a charitable trust charged with the responsibility of providing 
children of Hawaiian ancestry with educational opportunities and 
achievement. While controversial, his joint authorship of the milestone 
piece entitled ``Broken Trust'', successfully led to court ordered 
reviews of trust operations, and the ultimate improvement and 
accountability of the charitable trust.
  Judge Heen's volunteer activities are broad and diverse, spreading 
across Hawaii's community concerns. As early as 1962, Walter was 
singled out as the Honolulu Junior Chamber of Commerce ``Outstanding 
Young Man of the Year.'' Virtually at the same time, he was Chair of 
the State Bar Association Ethics Committee 1961-63, President of the 
University of Hawaii Alumni Association, and President of the Honolulu 
Hawaiian Civic Club. As a member of its Founding Board of Directors, 
Heen launched the Big Brothers of Hawaii program that has made an 
enormous contribution to supporting and mentoring thousands of youth in 
Hawaii.
  Upon his retirement from the bench, Walter Heen has continued his 
public service. He served as a Director of the Native Hawaiian Bar 
Association, Advisor to the Native Hawaiian Advisory Council, co-
counsel for Hawaiian water rights in the Waiahole Ditch dispute, member 
of the Public Access Shoreline Study Group, 1997-1998, and member of 
the Governor's Economic Revitalization Task Force. Currently, Heen is 
the acting Executive Director of the Office of Mauna Kea Management, 
lending a ``community voice'' and oversight to the maintenance and 
development of the University of Hawaii's astronomical facilities at 
Mauna Kea's summit.
  In 1996, Walter Heen was tapped to serve as the Chairman of the 
Hawaii Democratic Party. It was a turbulent time for a political party 
that has dominated Hawaii's political scene for more than 50 years. 
Heen led us forward in a hotly contested gubernatorial election in 1998 
and then a

[[Page S4040]]

host of targeted races in our State Legislature's lower house in 2000. 
Resources were scarce, and some would say that so were our passions and 
drive. Walter Heen has done a fine job under trying circumstances. He 
was a team player and a leader. He was the point, and the man in the 
background.
  I believe the greatest legacy Walter Heen leaves Hawaii's Democratic 
Party is a growing, committed group of young Democrats, impatient and 
anxious to make improvements and changes, to make Hawaii the best place 
to raise a family, excel in a career, and enjoy the most beautiful 
environment and lifestyle in the world. He has worked diligently to 
establish and empower a new army of passionate young people to carry 
the Democratic torch forward.
  Judge Walter Heen, and his family leaders before him, have played a 
pivotal role in helping to shape the Hawaii of today. It is leaders 
like Heen who have helped to chart a collective course for Hawaii's 
future, one that has allowed our island to take full advantage of high 
technology, while not forsaking our spirit of aloha.
  I rise today to commend my dear friend, Walter Meheula Heen, for his 
lifetime of service.

                          ____________________