Hiram Kamaka, state budget director, dead at 76
By Vicki Viotti
Advertiser Staff Writer
Hiram K. Kamaka, whose political career took him through a wide range of elected and appointed posts, died Dec. 18 in Honolulu. He was 76.
Former Gov. George Ariyoshi first met Kamaka in 1954 when the young attorney, just out of Creighton University law school, volunteered to work on Ariyoshi's first campaign for the territorial House of Representatives. Kamaka won his own House seat in 1958.
Hiram Kamaka unsuccessfully ran for Honolulu mayor in 1980, and was appointed budget director four years later.
He retired as a lawmaker in 1968, but that was only the first of several "retirements." Almost immediately he was called back by Gov. John Burns as budget director, Ariyoshi said.
"I don't think he played much," Ariyoshi said with a laugh. "He was a really hard worker.
"In addition to being very competent, he was a very nice, very decent person. He was very low-key, and everybody liked him."
Kamaka sought the mayor's seat in a three-way Democratic primary race in 1980 with Frank Fasi and Eileen Anderson. Anderson went on to win the general election.
But when Fasi unseated Anderson four years later, the mayor appointed Kamaka to serve as budget director, even though the cost of the campaign had driven Kamaka to file for bankruptcy.
Kamaka's debts didn't worry Fasi, who at the time called his appointee "the best budget director available anyplace in this state."
Kamaka held various posts under Fasi, including a 1986 appointment as parks director. The administration refused demands from the citizens' group Common Cause Hawaii that Kamaka's résumé be made public; Kamaka later released it.
Kamaka continued his law practice between political jobs. In 2000, he represented Dream Cruises Inc. in the company's 2000 tangle with the city Liquor Commission over its sale of liquor to minors.
His other activities included service with Little League and rodeo associations, as well as boards of the Queen Lili'uokalani Trust, the Central YMCA and the Oahu Bowling Association.
Kamaka is survived by a sister, Alana Kamaka, and a brother, Terence Kamaka.
A memorial service is set for Saturday at Star of the Sea Catholic Church, with visitation starting at 9:30 a.m. and Mass at 11 a.m. No flowers. Aloha attire is requested.
Funeral arrangements are handled by Ultimate Cremation Services of Hawai'i.
Reach Vicki Viotti at vviotti@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8053.
