Gov. Neil Abercrombie on Tuesday appointed Tom Okamura, a veteran lawmaker, to fill a vacant state House seat in Aiea.

Okamura, 63, served two decades in the House, including nine years as majority leader, before opting not to seek re-election in 2000 because of illness. He replaces Blake Oshiro, who resigned from state House District 33 in December to become Abercrombie’s deputy chief of staff. Oshiro was the majority leader.

"I think that we’ve got a lot of challenges ahead of us, foremost — from what I hear from the grass roots — is concerns about future generations," Okamura said. "What kind of future are they going to have? When you talk to young people, they seem very discouraged, so we need to begin to address that. What kind of Hawaii do we want for the future? Can the young generation afford to live here, for one thing?"

Okamura, an Aiea Democrat, said he is interested in economic diversification, particularly the development of the high-tech industry, to attract higher-paying jobs and reduce dependence on a tourism-based economy. He also said he wants educators to consider broadening the mission of public education beyond academics and into vocational disciplines.

"There are grave concerns, I think, that we’re not cutting the mustard with education," he said.

Okamura represented the Aiea district from 1980 to 2000, including nine years as majority leader. He was active on alternative energy and Native Hawaiian issues and had sought broader public participation in setting priorities at the Legislature. He chose not to run for re-election in 2000 because he had chronic fatigue syndrome. He was replaced by Oshiro.

Okamura said he has served as a volunteer for seniors and as an adult education teacher in the decade since he left office. His teaching work was with high school dropouts and immigrants.

"My passion has always been in politics," he said, adding that his illness and volunteer and teaching experiences have given him a fresh perspective.

"Tom is a dedicated public servant with deep, active ties to his district and state of Hawaii; in him the community is getting a passionate, knowledgeable and well-tested representative," Abercrombie said in a statement. "I am confident that he will bring openness, accountability and innovation to the state Legislature, as he has demonstrated in the past in support of renewable energy and the empowerment of the Native Hawaiian community and other members of our island ohana."

Okamura will serve the remaining months of Oshiro’s term. He will be up for election this year.