Gov. Neil Abercrombie has appointed a familiar face to fill Blake Oshiro’s seat representing Aiea and Red Hill in the state House of Representatives. 

The governor said today Tom Okamura will succeed Oshiro who resigned last month to become Abercrombie’s deputy chief of staff.  

Okamura represented the same district for two decades from 1980. He didn’t run for re-election in 2000 after he was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome. Okamura was majority leader for nine of his 20 years in the House.

Oshiro become a state representative in 2000 after winning the race to succeed Okamura. 

Abercrombie says Okamura is a dedicated public servant with deep ties to his district and the state. 

The Aiea resident graduated from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and Hilo High School.