Posted on: Tuesday, January 14, 2003

Yukio Naito, former PUC chief, dead at 74

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

Yukio Naito, a retired attorney who was the chairman of the Public Utilities Commission during a period that saw tremendous growth in the telecommunications industry, died Jan. 2. He was 74.

Naito was appointed to the utilities commission in 1988 by then-Gov. John Waihee. The PUC is an influential body that regulates electric, gas and telephone companies, and accepts or rejects requests for rate increases.

During Naito's 10 years as chairman, the state saw an explosion in new telecommunication companies and services.

Labor-law attorney Charles Khim, who joined Naito's law firm in 1980, said Naito was a modest, humble man with "superior legal abilities and talent."

Khim said Naito was able to lead the commission through the expansion period because of his honesty and integrity.

"I can unequivocally say that he was one of the most intelligent and compassionate attorneys I've ever worked with," Khim said. "He applied his legal skills not only for the gain of his clients, but also for the public good."

Khim said very few people know that Naito drafted the documents that created Alu Like, the Native Hawaiian social service agency.

Former state Appeals Court judge Walter Heen and Naito began their law careers in the same office in 1956. Heen agreed with Khim that Naito was one of the most studious attorneys around.

"You could tell at that point that his knowledge of the law and legal ability was a cut above everybody else," Heen said.

Although he was superior intellectually, Naito always listened to both points of view and was a very gentle and caring person, Khim said. Naito often would ask advice of younger attorneys and performed countless hours to help various agencies and people.

"He was a straight-arrow guy, but yet not so rigid that he couldn't appreciate different points of view and even agree with them if he thought they were right," he said.

Naito was born in Hilo on March 22, 1928. He graduated from Hilo High School and the University of Hawai'i. In 1953 he earned his law degree from the University of Michigan.

In addition to his work on the PUC, Naito served as deputy legislative auditor, attorney for the Hawai'i Government Employees Association and United Public Workers, and chairman of the state Reapportionment Commission in 1983.

Naito is survived by his wife, Alice; son, Karl; daughter, Ann Yuuki; sisters, Tamako Yoshitake and Tsuyako "Mitzi" Moriyama; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Private services have been held.