ABOUT ME
Nadine K. Nakamura
District 15 - Hanalei | Princeville | Kīlauea | Anahola | Kapa‘a | Wailua
Meet Nadine
Rep. Nakamura was first elected in 2016 to the State of Hawaiʻi, House of Representatives, District 15. She currently serves as the Speaker of the House. She previously served as the Majority Leader, Chair of the House Committee of Legislative Management (LMG), Chair of the Housing Committee (HSG), and Vice Chair of the Human Services and Homelessness Committee (HSH).
Prior to her election, Nadine served as Managing Director of the County of Kauaʻi. She was elected in 2010 and 2012 to serve on the Kauaʻi County Council. Prior to serving in elected office, Ms. Nakamura, owned and operated NKN Project Planning for over twenty years. Her planning experience spans public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Ms. Nakamura’s professional experience includes land use and policy analysis, affordable housing development, transportation planning, neighborhood planning, economic development planning, community participation, organizational development, and strategic planning.
Nadine was born and raised in Hawaiʻi. She lives in Kapaʻa, Kauaʻi and has two children, Casey and Reis.
“There are still so many causes worth sacrificing for, so much history yet to be made.”
ACHIEVEMENTS
Background:
Resident of Kapaʻa, Hawai'i
Married to Galen Nakamura, attorney-at-law for 29 years (deceased)
Mother to Casey, 4th year law student and Reis, Americorp Paralegal intake, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii
Member of All Saints' Episcopal Church, Kauaʻi and Tenrikyo Church, O’ahu
Education:
University of Southern California, Bachelors of Science, Public Affairs and Urban Planning, 1983
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Masters in Urban and Regional Planning, 1987
Neighborhood Reinvestment Corp. Training Institutes
International City/County Managers Association Training
Awards:
2021 Certificate of Merit, Department of Land and Natural Resources for “Outstanding Service as a Team Member of the Ha’ena State Park Remediation & Master Plan Implementation Team”
2021 Preservation Honor Award, Historic Hawai’i Foundation, “Haena State Park Master Plan”
2019 Pathfinder Midwifery Champion Award, Midwives Alliance of Hawaiʻi
2014 Na Wahine Alaka`i O Kauaʻi Women Leaders of Kauaʻi Ha`upu Award, YWCA of Kauaʻi
2011 American Planning Assoc, Hawaiʻi Chapter, Environment/Preservation Award for "Lawai Kai Special Subzone Master Plan & Management Plan," written for National Tropical Botanical Garden
2008 Recipient of "Outstanding Urban and Regional Planning Alumni Award," Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa
2007-2009 Recipient of "Outstanding Service to the Keiki of Kapaʻa Elementary School"
Experience:
House Speaker, 2025 - Present
State House Majority Leader, 2023 - 2024
State House of Representatives, District 15, 2017-Present
Managing Director, County of Kauaʻi, 2013-2016
County Council Member, 2010-2013
Planning Consultant and Owner of NKN Project Planning, 1992-2012
Project Coordinator, Pacific Housing Assistance Corp.,1991-1992
Planner VI, Department of Land Utilization, City & County of Honolulu, 1989-1991
Planner V, Department of Transportation, City & County of Honolulu, 1987-1989
Development Coordinator, Neighborhood Reinvestment Corp, 1985-1987
Planner, Staff Researcher, Hawaiʻi Community Development Authority, 1984-1985
Community:
Strengthening Community:
Facilitated group meetings and wrote first County of Kauaʻi Community Drug Response Plan, 2004
Worked with numerous nonprofit organizations including the Kauaʻi Public Land Trust, Boys and Girls Clubs of Hawaiʻi, Leadership Kauaʻi, Rotary Club of Kapaʻa, and various church groups
Co-developed the Hawaiʻi Ownership Center, a statewide nonprofit that educates and counsels first-time home buyers
Co-developed the Kauaʻi Planning & Action Alliance, a Kauaʻi-based nonprofit that brings people together to create a better future for Kauaʻi
GIVING BACK TO KAUAʻI & THE STATE OF HAWAIʻI
Raised over $100,000 in grant funds, and managed Kapaʻa Elementary After-School program, "Dolphin Clubs," with 25 classes and serving over 400 students per year, 2006-2010
Kapaʻa Elementary and Middle School Community Council, Chair 2006-2010
Served as Vice Chair of the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority
Served as Vice Chair of the State Housing Development Corporation of Hawaiʻi
Served as Board member of the Hawaiʻi Community Reinvestment Corporation, a statewide nonprofit organization that provides low-interest loans for affordable rental housing throughout the State of Hawaiʻi
