If your idealism needs a reboot, read political historian Tom Coffman’s new book "I Respectfully Dissent," a biography of the late labor lawyer and Hawaii Supreme Court Justice Edward H. Nakamura.
Nakamura, one of many nisei veterans who returned from World War II to join the Democratic Party and ILWU in transforming island society, was a leading mind behind much of Hawaii’s landmark social legislation, some of our most lasting common law and pivotal uprisings over Sandy Beach development and the Bishop Estate.
Because he preferred working behind the scenes, Nakamura wasn’t as well-known as his contemporaries, and Coffman shines a welcome light on his contributions.
The book (University of Hawaii Press, $14.99) provides a history of the times as well as a biography of the man, following Nakamura through his service in the 442nd, his career as a top labor lawyer, his time as a University of Hawaii regent, his term on the Supreme Court and his "retirement" years as perhaps the most influential critic of the Democratic revolution that had given way to greed and malfeasance.
Nakamura was defined by personal modesty, an immense intellect, a true ethical compass and an unwavering belief in democracy in its broadest sense.
He fearlessly threw in with the ILWU in the middle of the Red Scare, wrote and enforced key contracts that enabled labor’s rise and crafted the union’s push in the Legislature for unemployment pay, workers’ compensation, compulsory health insurance and temporary disability insurance.
On the Supreme Court, Nakamura earned a reputation of being fair to all despite his labor background and writing clear opinions that cut to the heart of the matter — including a scathing dissent to a ruling that would have allowed development near Sandy Beach.
In retirement, Nakamura became what Coffman calls an "appalled citizen."
He served as a trustee of the state Employees Retirement System at the behest of Gov. John Waihee III, but quit after exposing insider deals that "really stunk."
That opened the door to a favoritism scandal in the Waihee administration, and Nakamura lent his name to efforts to defeat Waihee’s appointment of Sharon Himeno to the Supreme Court because of her developer ties.
Nakamura was a guiding light in forcing the Supreme Court out of the business of appointing Bishop Estate trustees, a battle that led to the ouster of corrupt trustees and their million-dollar salaries.
His door was always open to bright young minds eager to tap his intellect, which was grounded in a broad worldview; despite their modest means, Nakamura and his wife, Martha, traveled the globe, collected and often gave away fine art, and loved jazz.
More like him would be the perfect antidote to the poisonous ineptitude in today’s political environment.
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Reach David Shapiro at volcanicash@gmail.com or blog.volcanicash.net.
