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Quick Facts
Personal Details

Education

  • BBA, Woodbury University, 1954

Professional Experience

  • BBA, Woodbury University, 1954
  • Realtor, Joseph M. Souki Realty, 1982-present
  • Former Director, Maui Soda and Ice Company
  • Executive Director, Maui Economic Opportunity Incorporated, 1966-1982
  • Sales, Maui Electric Company, 1960-1966
  • Editor, Biddle Trade Bureau, 1956-1960
  • Private, First Class, United States Army, 1954-1956

Political Experience

  • BBA, Woodbury University, 1954
  • Realtor, Joseph M. Souki Realty, 1982-present
  • Former Director, Maui Soda and Ice Company
  • Executive Director, Maui Economic Opportunity Incorporated, 1966-1982
  • Sales, Maui Electric Company, 1960-1966
  • Editor, Biddle Trade Bureau, 1956-1960
  • Private, First Class, United States Army, 1954-1956
  • Precinct Chair, Democratic Party
  • Speaker Emeritus, Hawaii State House of Representatives, 2000-2013, 2017-2018
  • Representative, Hawaii State House of Representatives, District 8, 1982-2018
  • Speaker, Hawaii State House of Representatives, 1993-1999, 2013-2016
  • Delegate, State Constitutional Convention, 1978

Former Committees/Caucuses

Officer, Democratic Party, 1966-present

Member, Policy Committee, Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization, present

Former Member, House Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, Hawaii State House of Representatives

Former Member, House Committee on Judiciary, Hawaii State House of Representatives

Former Member, House Committee on Labor and Public Employment, Hawaii State House of Representatives

Former Member, House Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs, Hawaii State House of Representatives

Former Chair, House Committee on Transportation, Hawaii State House of Representatives

Former Co-Chair, Joint Senate-House Investigative Committee on the Bureau of Conveyances, Hawaii State Legislature

Former Co-Chair, Joint Task Force to Conduct a Review of the State Highway Fund, Hawaii State Legislature

Former Director, Maui Economic Development Board

Chair, House Committee on Finance, Hawaii State House of Representatives, 1987-1992

Member, Maui County Charter Commission, 1976

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

  • BBA, Woodbury University, 1954
  • Realtor, Joseph M. Souki Realty, 1982-present
  • Former Director, Maui Soda and Ice Company
  • Executive Director, Maui Economic Opportunity Incorporated, 1966-1982
  • Sales, Maui Electric Company, 1960-1966
  • Editor, Biddle Trade Bureau, 1956-1960
  • Private, First Class, United States Army, 1954-1956
  • Precinct Chair, Democratic Party
  • Speaker Emeritus, Hawaii State House of Representatives, 2000-2013, 2017-2018
  • Representative, Hawaii State House of Representatives, District 8, 1982-2018
  • Speaker, Hawaii State House of Representatives, 1993-1999, 2013-2016
  • Delegate, State Constitutional Convention, 1978
  • Trustee, Hale Makua, 1997-present
  • Director, Federal Land Bank, 1990-present
  • Director Emeritus, Cameron Center, 1984-present
  • Chairperson, Child and Family Services, present
  • Senator, Junior Chamber International, present
  • Former Member, Jaycee International
  • Former Community Organizer, Low-income Groups
  • Former Director, Maui County Fair and Racing Association
  • Former Member, Portuguese Chamber of Commerce
  • Vice Chair, Young Democrats
  • President, Young Democrats, 1966-1970

Other Info

— Awards:

  • Jaycees Young Men of the Year; Jaycees Outstanding Old Rooster

Policy Positions

Hawaii State Legislative Election 2016 Political Courage Test

Abortion & Reproductive

1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-choice

2. Should abortions be illegal after the first trimester of pregnancy?
- No

3. Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
- Yes

4. Should abortion be legal when the life of the woman is endangered?
- Yes

5. Do you support requiring parental notification before an abortion is performed on a minor?
- No

6. Do you support requiring parental consent before an abortion is performed on a minor?
- Yes

7. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for abortion procedures?
- No

8. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
- No

9. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Budget, Spending, & Tax

Budget Stabilization:

Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing Hawaii's budget.

1. Tapping into Hawaii's "rainy day" fund
- Yes

2. Decreasing funding for public universities
- No

3. Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions
- No

4. Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees
- No

5. Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients
- No

6. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

State Spending:

Indicate what state funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.

1. Education (higher)
- Slightly Increase

2. Education (K-12)
- Greatly Increase

3. Environment
- Slightly Increase

4. Health care
- Greatly Increase

5. Law enforcement/corrections
- Slightly Increase

6. Transportation/infrastructure
- Slightly Increase

7. Welfare
- Slightly Increase

8. Other or expanded categories
- No Answer

State Taxes:

Indicate what state tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.

1. Alcohol taxes
- Slightly Increase

2. Cigarette taxes
- Slightly Increase

3. Corporate taxes
- Slightly Decrease

4. Small business taxes
- Slightly Decrease

5. Gas/Oil taxes
- Maintain Status

6. Property taxes
- Maintain Status

7. Sales taxes
- Slightly Increase

8. Income taxes (low-income families)
- Greatly Decrease

9. Income taxes (mid-income families)
- Slightly Decrease

10. Income taxes (high-income families)
- Greatly Increase

11. Do you support applying sales taxes to all online purchases?
- No Answer

12. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Campaign Finance & Government Reform

Do you support limits on the following types of contributions for state candidates?

1. Individual
- No Answer

2. Political Action Committee
- No Answer

3. Corporate
- No Answer

4. Political Party
- No Answer

5. Should candidates for state office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits?
- No Answer

6. Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
- No Answer

7. Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
- No Answer

8. Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
- No Answer

9. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Crime & Public Safety

1. Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
- No Answer

2. Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders, such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment?
- No Answer

3. Do you support legalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana?
- No Answer

4. Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
- No Answer

5. Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
- No Answer

6. Do you support delaying the seizure of assets by law enforcement officials until after a conviction?
- No Answer

7. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Economic

1. Do you support government spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- No Answer

2. Do you support lowering taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- No Answer

3. Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector?
- No Answer

4. Do you support increased state funding for job-training programs that re-train displaced workers?
- No Answer

5. Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
- No Answer

6. Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits?
- No Answer

7. Do you support providing financial incentives to the private sector for the purpose of job creation?
- No Answer

8. Do you support providing direct financial assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure?
- No Answer

9. Do you support an increase of the minimum wage?
- No Answer

10. Should employers be able to ask about applicants' criminal history before interviewing them?
- No Answer

11. Do you support continuing to build the Honolulu Rail Transit system?
- No Answer

12. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Education

1. Do you support the national Common Core State Standards initiative?
- No Answer

2. Do you support a merit pay system for teachers?
- No Answer

3. Is the tenure process for public school teachers producing effective teachers?
- No Answer

4. Should parents be allowed to use vouchers to send their children to any school?
- No Answer

5. Do you support state funding for charter schools?
- No Answer

6. Do you support the state government providing college students with financial aid?
- No Answer

7. Should illegal immigrants who graduate from Hawaii high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
- No Answer

8. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Environment & Energy

1. Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- No Answer

2. Do you support state funding for the development of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil)?
- No Answer

3. Do you support state funding for improvements to Hawaii's energy infrastructure?
- No Answer

4. Do you support state funding for open space preservation?
- No Answer

5. Do you support government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
- No Answer

6. Do you support increased regulations of the hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") industry?
- No Answer

7. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Gun

1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- No Answer

2. Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
- No Answer

3. Should citizens be allowed to carry concealed guns?
- No Answer

4. Should a license be required for gun possession?
- No Answer

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Health

1. Do you support a universally-accessible, publicly-administered health insurance option?
- No Answer

2. Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform?
- No Answer

3. Do you support interstate health insurance compacts?
- No Answer

4. Do you support Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
- No Answer

5. Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
- No Answer

6. Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits?
- No Answer

7. Do you support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes?
- No Answer

8. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Social

1. Do you support same-sex marriage?
- No Answer

2. Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Hawaii's anti-discrimination laws?
- No Answer

3. Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Hawaii's anti-discrimination laws?
- No Answer

4. Do you support an increase in state funding for programs designed to reduce homelessness in Hawaii?
- No Answer

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Legislative Priorities

In the following area, please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.
- No Answer