Farewell Helene Hale (Hawaii County Board of Supervisors, Hawaii County Mayor, Hawaii State Representative)

Celebrating Representative Helene Hale’s 88th birthday in 2006 at a Japanese restaurant in Waikiki, Hawaii.

I was saddened by the passing of Helene Hale who dedicated a good portion of her life to public service. She passed away on Friday, February 1, 2013 at the age of 94. She was elected to the Hawaii County Board of Supervisors in 1954, and in 1962, was elected Hawaii County Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, the equivalent of Mayor. She lost her seat to Shunichi Kimura in 1964, and served in the 1978 Hawaii State Constitutional Convention on the Hawaii County Council from 1980-84 and 1988-94.

I was fortunate to have served with Helene Hale when she made her return to politics at the age of 82 from 2000 to 2006 in the Hawaii State House of Representatives.