Incoming legislator doesn’t like P-word
Mina Morita wants to turn her activism into civic leadership

Pol-i-ti-cian: n. a person holding or seeking office; frequently used in a derogatory sense, with implications of seeking personal or partisan gain, scheming, etc.

HANALEI, Kauai - When Mina Morita looked up the word "politician" in the dictionary, she was dismayed by the negative definition of her new occupation.

"I don't want to be a politician," said Morita, a Democrat whose bid for the 12th House District seat was settled in the primary election when she edged out incumbent Billy Swain by just 75 votes. "What I really wanted to
be was a civic leader. Then I felt more comfortable about it."

Morita is equally at ease being pegged as an activist. She knows the label often carries its own negative connotations, but she sees activism as a way for people to show they care and help their communities.

She and others sued the county for failing to regulate the burgeoning Na Pali tour boat industry, which was overwhelming a popular beach park. Morita also sat on the county Planning Commission that created a hotly contested plan for managing the boats.

Her actions subjected her to lawsuits, character attacks, "stink eye" and rumors, but Morita has no regrets over what has become a decade-long effort. "I was trying to put things in perspective and identify what needs were
important to the community," she said. "And that could only be done by going through a process that everybody avoided."

Morita, who made open government a cornerstone of her campaign, is a stickler for process. "If you don't follow a process, you have all these special little deal-makings and government loses its integrity. There are
rules, there are laws."

That doesn't mean she is naive about how business is conducted at the Capitol. "That's the biggest problem with the Legislature," she said. "Everybody is playing this game. Hopefully enough understand that we can get
things done through collaboration instead of politicking."

Although Morita sees protecting Hawaii's natural world as key to attracting new industry and visitors, she knows that some fear she is opposed to development and tourism. Morita dismissed those concerns, pointing to her voting record on the police and planning commissions and a history of running small businesses tied to construction and the retail trade.

"I know how important tourism is to Hawaii's economy. The question now is how we can support diversification. And for the Legislature, it's how to change a mind-set away from depending on tourism, or seeing it as our savior."

Morita said she is ready to tackle other tough issues in the Legislature, such as reforming auto, workers comp and homeowners insurance and the lawmakers' "high-three" pension plan. She also plans to pursue the Hanalei
boating controversy in a statewide context by focusing on state marine enforcement and the use of public resources for private gain.

Morita said it will be difficult to represent voters on two islands who have seen their lawmaker change in the last three elections. Her so-called "canoe district" stretches from Kapaa, Kauai, to Hana, Maui, a tough circuit
worsened by her propensity to get carsick on the Hana Highway. Morita, who was raised on Lanai, credits family ties with helping her win on Maui.

"People have so much faith and confidence in me," she said. "Now I have to live up to those expectations, and that scares me."

District 14, East & North Kauai

OTHER WORKS IN ARCHIVES SECTION

SPEECHES AND STATEMENTS
CA Hydrogen Business Council
Hanalei Rotary
Women In Business
Hydrogen Partnering Meeting

EDITORIALS
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Bottle Bill
Hawaiani Electric Company

NEWS AND MAGAZINE ARTICLES
Legislator Doesn't Like P-Word
Surrounded by Aloha
Sierra Club Environmental Ranking
One Island District
Fueling Hawaii's Future