Lawrence "Larry" Nakatsuka, who covered the Pearl Harbor attack as a young reporter and later conferred with governors and senators who shaped the history of Hawai'i, died Sunday. He was 85.

Nakatsuka was the first Japanese-American journalist for an English-language newspaper in Hawai'i, press secretary for territorial Gov. Samuel Wilder King and for Gov. William F. Quinn. He joined the staff of U.S. Sen. Hiram Fong in Washington in 1963 as legislative assistant and rose to executive assistant. He held that position until Fong retired in 1977. Upon his return to Honolulu, Nakatsuka served with the Hawai'i Chamber of Commerce until he retired in 1983.

In 2002 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Asian American Journalists Association for courage and commitment to the principles of journalism.

Born Kaoru Nakatsuka in Hanalei, Kaua'i, Naka-tsuka began his career at the Honolulu Star-Bulletin in 1939 right after graduating from St. Louis College in Honolulu, where the Marianist brothers called him Lawrence, a name he used for the rest of his life.

He covered Japanese community events and earned 9 cents per column inch if his copy made it into print. When Japan's military attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, he was dispatched to the Japanese Consulate. He was told by the officials there that the attack was a surprise for them as well and got a "no comment" for his effort.

"It was an event that defined his future career," said his son, Roy Nakatsuka. "He was so proud to be associated with those events and to be reporting on them or transmitting them to the press."

He later covered labor issues and served as an editor. As assistant city editor in 1946, he interviewed Minnie Yamauchi, who had just earned a master's degree in labor relations from Columbia University. They were married two years later.

In 1951 he studied at Harvard University for a year through a Nieman Fellowship, given to outstanding journalists.

He was appointed press secretary to King in 1953 and held the same position under Quinn.

Under King he visited Asia to speak of and promote American government and values, said Roy Nakatsuka.

King, a Republican, appreciated Nakatsuka's links to organized labor, which was solidly Democrats, said the governor's son, federal Judge Samuel P. King. Nakatsuka, Samuel King said, was a good newspaper man and good friend.

"He was a very ethical and knowledgeable reporter, and he was a big help to my father," King said. "He was not a propagandist. He was a real reporter. You got nothing but the truth from him."

Nakatsuka was intelligent, intuitive and gracious, said Nancy Quinn, wife of former Gov. Quinn. "He was a very important part of our life," she said. "He was the most valuable employee Bill Quinn ever had. He was not only the most valuable, he was the most loyal."

Nakatsuka is survived by sons, Paul, of California, and Roy, of Texas; and daughter, Laura, of Massachusetts. Services are at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Honpa Hongwanji, 1727 Pali Highway. The family requests casual attire.

Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com.