About Norman Sakamoto
Legislative Roles and Membership
Norman Sakamoto, elected State Senator in 1996, is Chairman of the Senate Education and Housing Committee and is a current member of the following committees:
Born May 22, 1947 in Honolulu, Norman attended Palolo Elementary and University Lab School. He was awarded his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Hawaii in 1969 and then his Master of Science degree from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana in 1970.
Norman's first job was for California Packing Corp. as a pineapple cannery tray boy, but with his aspirations, that didn't last for long. As a registered civil engineer in Hawaii and California and a licensed general contractor, Norman worked for the City of Los Angeles and the United States Army Corps of Engineers. After returning to Hawaii in 1973, he joined the family corporation, S & M Sakamoto. In 1985 Norman branched out and formed SC Pacific Corp.
On a personal note, Norman is happily married and he and his wife, Penny, have three children, David, Greg, and Katherine.
As a member of the Democratic party, Norman serves Hawaii Senatorial District 15, covering Salt Lake, Foster Village, Halawa, Kalihi, Moanalua, Mapunapuna, Hickam, Aliamanu, Lower Aiea, and Pearlridge. He is an active community member, and involved with many professional and service organizations. Norman is a member of and participated in the following:
EDUCATION (Current)
- Education Commission of the States, Commissioner
- National Forum Planning Committee, Chair
- Executive Committee
- National Center for Learning and Citizenship
- Hawaii 3R's (Repair, Remodel, Restore our schools), Board of Directors & Board of Advisors
- Hawaii Workforce Development Council
- Joint Venture Education Forum (JVEF)
- P-20 Council
- The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii Education Committee
- Partnership With Youth- Moanalua Middle School
- Military Youth Advisory Council – Radford High School
- Achieving the Dream State Policy Team
- Act 188 (SLH 2008) Task Force - University Funding Formula
EDUCATION (Former)
- Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCOR)
- Graduation Requirements Task Force
- Middle Level Education Committee
- High School Design Advisory Council
- Department of Education Advisory Council
- Hawaii Education Policy Center Advisory Panel
- Hawaii Family Literary Consortium
- Hawaii Jobs Initiative, Advisory Committee Member
- Education Commission of the States Professional Judgment Group
- Senate-House Task Force on Felix Consent Decree
- Education Reform Task Force
- School Readiness Council
- Honolulu Community College Chancellor's Executive Advisory Council
- SB 1931 (SLH 2007) Educational Workforce Working Group
- Hawaii Alliance for Future Teachers/Teacher Cadet Program
- HiTech Quest
- School Impact Fees Task Force/ Working Group
- Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) Legislative Advisory Committee
COMMUNITY GROUPS & PROFESSIONAL BOARDS & ASSOCIATIONS (Current)
- Boy Scouts of America
- Building Industry Association of Hawaii
- Center for Tomorrow Leaders, A Division of Youth For Christ Hawaii
- Network Committee
- Project Ho'omohala Governing Council
- Moanalua Gardens Community Association
- Moanalua Gardens Missionary Church
- Moanalua Lions Club
- Friends of Hickam
- Filipino Chamber of Commerce
- Moanalua Gardens Foundation
- Aiea Pearl City Community Association
- Sons and Daughters of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team
- National Federation of Independent Business
- Kalihi Business Association
COMMUNITY GROUPS & PROFESSIONAL BOARDS & ASSOCIATIONS (Former)
- American Judicature Society, Hawaii Chapter
- Special Committee on Public Knowledge, Understanding and Confidence in our Courts
- City & County Visioning Teams
- Foster Village/Aliamanu/Salt Lake
- Kalihi/Palama
- Aiea/Pearl City
- Honolulu Sunset Rotary Club
- Construction Industry Legislative Organization
LEGISLATIVE MEMBERSHIP (Current)
- Aiea/Pearl City Legislators (sponsors Aiea/Pearl City Town Hall Meetings)
- Bi-Partisan Small Business Caucus
- Hawaiian Caucus