Memorial service to honor late Big Island state lawmaker planned at state Capitol

Friends, colleagues, family members and the entire state will have the opportunity later this week to honor and remember a man who was once described as a someone who “speaks softly yet moves mountains” and called a real-life hero and a strong advocate for the Big Island.

A memorial service for late Big Island state Rep. Mark Nakashima is planned from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday in the rotunda at the state Capitol, located at 415 S. Beretania St., in Honolulu.

Visitation is from 10 to 11 a.m., with the service to follow from 11 to 11:45 a.m. An extended visitation will be from 11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The ceremony will also be livestreamed on ʻŌlelo Channel 53 and the Hawaiʻi House of Representatives — Majority Facebook page for those who cannot attend in person.

Replays of the service will also be aired at the following times and dates on ʻŌlelo Channel 49:

• 6 p.m. Nov. 6.
• 8 a.m. Nov. 10.
• 1:30 p.m. Nov. 12.
• 10 p.m. Nov. 13.

The longtime Big Island lawmaker died July 11. He was 61 years old and suffered from health complications from a two-decade battle with diabetes.

In fact, Nakashima a little more than 5 months prior to his death celebrated 1 year with a new kidney. He had developed kidney disease because of his diabetes and needed regular dialysis. A transplant was the solution.

He grew up in Honokaʻa — a Dragon for life — and was first elected to his District 1 Hous seat in 2008, representing Hāmākua, a portion of Hilo and Kaʻūmana. He served in the seat until his death and planned to seek re-election.

During his time in the state House, he held several leadership roles, most recently as chairman of the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.

He also previously served as chairman of the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, chairman of the Committee on Economic Development, chairman of the Committee on Labor and Public Employment and vice chairman of the Higher Education Committee.

Nakashima also served as vice speaker of the House from 2018 to 2021.

Just within his last 2 years at the Capitol in Honolulu, the late Big Island state lawmaker introduced and co-introduced hundreds of bills and resolutions, dealing with issues ranging from education and agriculture to media literacy, tax haven abuse, renewable energy and more.

Big Island state Sen. Dru Kanuha, who has been the majority leader of the Hawaiʻi Senate since 2021, said in a Facebook post the day Nakashima died that his friend and colleague’s dedication to public service and commitment to the people of Hawai‘i were truly inspiring.

“His legacy of leadership and community advocacy will be remembered and cherished by all who had the privilege of working with him,” wrote Kanuha.

Before his service in the state Legislature, Nakashima was an educator. He taught history and economics at Honokaʻa High School and was a staff member with the Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association in West Hawaiʻi and Hilo.

He was a former legislative aide, including for former state Rep. Dwight Takamine, whose seat he was elected to in 2008. The Honokaʻa man also previously served as staff assistant to Hawaiʻi U.S. Sen. Spark Matsunaga.

Nakashima received a bachelor’s degree in education and a professional diploma in education with an emphasis in political science from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.

The late legislator was also involved in several community organizations during his lifetime.

He was a member of the Hāmākua Lions Club, a past president of the Hawaiʻi State Jaycees, a vice president of the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce, a member of the U.S.-Japan Council and a part of the Junior Chamber International, or JCI, Senate and alumni.

He was also a past member of the Honolulu Chinese Jaycees.

Hawaiʻi Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald called Nakashima a highly skilled and effective legislator who always treated people with respect and aloha — he cared passionately about the people of Hawaiʻi.

“His courage in the face of his difficult health challenges was truly inspiring, and his passing is a great loss to our state,” said the chief justice.