Attorney General Chin to Speak at Waimea Town Meeting

Attorney General Douglas Chin. State of Hawai’i photo.

Hawai’i State Attorney General Doug Chin will speak at Waimea Community Association’s Town Meeting, which will be held from 5:15 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 6, 2017, in Waimea School Cafeteria.

AG Chin just secured the first-in-the-country temporary restraining order from a federal judge to block the President Donald Trump’s second immigration travel ban Executive Order from taking effect nationwide, and the TRO was recently converted by the same judge into a preliminary injunction.

As the state’s chief legal counsel, AG Chin will discuss what his office is doing in reaction to and anticipation of possible changes in federal programs, funding or other services and support related to Hawai‘i residents.

AG Chin, the son of Chinese immigrants, graduated from Stanford University and received his law degree from UH-Mānoa. He joined the Honolulu prosecutor’s office in 1996, where he tried approximately 50 jury cases to verdict.

His most notable cases resulting in convictions as charged included a brutal rape-murder committed by the victim’s neighbor and a serial rapist of Honolulu prostitutes.

He was recognized with a “Top Gun” award for winning the most trials in a calendar year out of 100 Honolulu prosecutors.

In 2006, he was appointed first deputy prosecutor and later acting city prosecutor.

From 2010 to 2013, he served as managing director for the City and County of Honolulu, where he was directly responsible for 23 municipal government and public safety agencies and approximately 10,000 employees with an annual operating budget of $2 billion.

In 2011, Chin oversaw city operations when Honolulu became the first U.S. city to host the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit since 1992, an event attended by the leaders from 22 economies, including the United States, China, Russia and Japan.

Chin also negotiated tough matters ranging from public employee contracts to energy sustainability initiatives.

Hawaiʻi Gov. David Y. Ige appointed Chin as the state’s Attorney General in January 2015.

Outside of work, Chin has served on the board of the local YMCA and American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO). He was awarded Honolulu AYSO’s “Volunteer of the Year” Award for two consecutive years.

Also on the WCA agenda will be brief updates on Hawai‘i County Council business by Council Chair Val Poindexter (District 1) and Waimea Council Member Dr. Tim Richards, introduction of the newly appointed South Kohala Police Capt. Randall Ishii, and a public safety report by Waimea Community Policing Officer May Lee. The spotlighted community not-for-profit for April will be Family Support Services of West Hawai‘i.

Everyone is welcome to WCA Town Meetings and there is no charge, though WCA membership is encouraged. Complimentary Starbucks coffee and Tropical Dreams ice cream and cookies will be offered to attendees.

For more information, call Patti Cook (937-2833) or go online.