About

ABOUT NADINE

From her personal to professional background, get to know Representative Nakamura!

BACKGROUND

TRAINING

COMMUNITY

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

TEACHING

GIVING BACK

EDUCATION

AWARDS

AFFILIATIONS

Resident of Kapa'a, Hawai'i
Married to Galen Nakamura, attorney-at-law (deceased)
Mother of Casey (25), after serving in the military for 3-1/2 years, she will be attending law school; and Reis (22), senior at University of Hawai'i at Manoa, majoring in Business
Member of All Saints' Episcopal Church, Kaua'i
Daughter of Hiroyoshi Maeda (deceased) and Mabel Maeda
In-laws: Henry "Hank" Nakamura and Doris Nakamura (both deceased)

2016-Present: State House of Representatives, District 15 (was renamed from District 14 in 2022), currently:
- Chair, Housing Committee
- Member, Judiciary Committee
- Member, Transportation Committee
2013-2016: Managing Director, County of Kaua'i (1,200 employees, 72,000 residents)
2010-2013: County Council Member & Vice Chair
- Chair, Planning Committee
- Vice Chair, Finance & Economic Development
1992-2012: Principal, NKN Project Planning
1991-1992: Project Coordinator, Pacific Housing Assistance Corp.
1989-1991: Planner VI, Department of Land Utilization, City & County of Honolulu
1987-1989: Planner V, Department of Transportation, City & County of Honolulu
1985-1987: Development Coordinator, Neighborhood Reinvestment Corp
1984-1985: Planning, Staff Researcher, Hawaii Community Development Authority

Masters in Urban and Regional Planning, 1987, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, Honolulu, HI
Bachelors of Science, Public Affairs and Urban Planning, cum laude, 1983, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Neighborhood Reinvestment Corp. Training Institutes
International City/County Managers Association Training
Council of State Government, Western Legislative Academy

Council of State Governments, Western Region Leadership Academy, 2018
National Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center, 2016
Pacific Regional Disaster Preparedness Center, 2015
International City/Cunty Management Association, 2013, 2014
Neighborhood Reinvestment Training Institutes, 1995, 1997, 2001
Graudate, Institute of Nonprofit Consultants, 2000
Hawai'i Community Foundation training, 2001
National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Organization, Advanced Commissioner Training, 2001

2005-2009, Leadership Kaua'i - Presentations on "Kaua'i General Plan" and "Community Planning and Facilitation
Spring 2005, Fall 2006, University of Hawai'i, Department of Urban & Regional Planning - Guest speaker "Participation: Involving the Community"

Peacemaker Award, The Mediation Center of the Pacific, November 1, 2021
"For bringing diverse stakeholders together to create Act 57, eviction mediation program, to successfully help hundreds of landlords and tenants throughout the State."
Certificate of Merit, Department of Land and Natural Resources, May 10, 2021
"Outstanding service as a Team Member of the Ha'ena State Park Flood Remediation & Master Plan Implementation Team"
2021 Preservation Honor Award, Historic Hawai'i Foundation, June 4, 2020
"Ha'ena State Park Master Plan"
Pathfinder Midwifery Champion Award, Midwives Alliance of Hawai'i, May 12, 2019
Na Wahine Alakaʻi O Kauaʻi Women Leaders of Kauaʻi Haʻupu Award, YWCA of Kauaʻi< amy 2014
Environment/Preservation Award, American Planning Association, Hawai'i Chapter, 2011
"Lāwa`i Kai Special Subzone Master Plan & Management Plan" written for National Tropical Botanical Garden
The Dinell Award, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, Urban and Regional Planning, November 2008
Recipient of "Outstanding Urban and Regional Planning Alumni Award"
Kapa'a Elementary School, 2007-2009
Recipient of "Outstanding Service to the Keiki of Kapaʻa Elementary School"

Facilitated group meetings and wrote first County of Kaua'i Community Drug Response Plan, 2004
Worked with numerous nonprofit organizations including the Kaua'i Public Land Trust, Boys and Girls Clubs of Hawai'i, Leadership Kaua'i, Rotary Club of Kapa'a, and various church groups
Co-developed the Hawai'i Home Ownership Center, a statewide nonprofit that educates and counsels first-time home buyers
Co-developed the Kaua'i Planning & Action Alliance, a Kaua'i-based nonprofit that brings people together to create a better future for Kaua'i

Raised over $100,000 in grant funds, and managed Kapa'a Elementary After-School program, "Dolphin Clubs," with 25 classes and serving over 400 students per year, 2006-2010
Kapa'a Elementary and Middle School Community Council, Chair 2006-2010
Served as Vice Chair of the Hawai`i Tourism Authority
Served as Vice Chair of the State Housing Development Corporation of Hawai`i
Served as Board member of the Hawai`i Community Reinvestment Corporation, a statewide nonprofit organization that provides low-interest loans for affordable rental housing throughout the State of Hawai`i
Serves as a volunteer board member of Pacific Housing Assistance Corporation, a developer of affordable rental housing

CURRENT:
Board Member, Pacific Housing Assistance Corp., 2019 – present

PAST:

Board Member, Hawai`i Community Reinvestment Corporation, Affiliations July 2005 – August 2013
Member, American Planning Association
Chair, Kapa`a Middle School Community Council, August, 2008 - 2010
Board Member, Kaua`i Island Utility Cooperative Foundation, August 2007 – 2010
Member, County of Kaua`i, Cost Control Commission, 2008 - 2010
Vice Chair, Board Member, Hawaii Tourism Authority, July 2002– June 2006
Chair, Kapa`a Elementary School Community Council, August, 2003 - 2008
Member, Kaua`i Planning & Action Alliance, 2003-2010
Member, Kaua`i Chamber of Commerce, 2005-2010
Member, Kapa`a Elementary School PTSA, 2000 – 2010
Member, Kapa`a Middle School PTSA, 2006 – 2010
Parent Member, Kapa`a Elementary School, School Community Based Management Council, 2001- 2005
Member, Kapa`a Business Association, 2005 - 2006
Vice Chair, State Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii, July, 1999 – June, 2002
Advisory Council, Kaua`i Workforce Investment Act Youth Council, 2001- 2002
Director, State Housing Finance and Development Corporation, July, 1995 – July, 1998