HONOLULU – George Okuda was officially sworn in Wednesday as a member of the Hawaii House of Representatives by Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald. Okuda was appointed by Governor Abercrombie to represent House District 48 (Kaneohe, Heeia, Ahuimanu, Kahaluu, Haiku Valley, Mokuoole) previously held by Representative Jessica Wooley who was appointed Director of the Department of Health’s Office of Environmental Quality Control.
Okuda will serve out Wooley’s term until a new member is elected in the November general election.
“I want to thank Governor Abercrombie and Speaker Souki for having the confidence in me to carry out the duties of the office. I look forward to working with them along with those in the community to fulfill the responsibilities of my position,” said Okuda. “During the next few months I will be focusing on addressing the concerns and issues of the residents in the 48th district.”
House Speaker Joseph M. Souki said, “George is familiar with the Legislature and the issues of the Windward area and will serve the community well as its representative in the months ahead. He has been involved in managing legislation and working with various constituents, community groups, and state officials including with school principals to attain much needed capital improvement funding at schools in the windward district.”
Okuda served as an aide to Representative Ken Ito (Kaneohe, Maunawili, Olomana) since 2000. Prior to that he worked for former State Senator Bob Nakata (Kaneohe , Kaaawa, Hauula, Laie, Kahuku, Waialua, Haleiwa, Wahiawa, Schofield Barracks, Kunia). He has been a resident of Kahaluu since 1973, and served on the Kahaluu Neighborhood Board for six years including two as its Chair.
Okuda earned a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and is a licensed civil and structural engineer who previously worked for Hawaiian Electric Company.