# Val Okimoto

Val Okimoto is an American politician and educator serving since November 29, 2022 as the member of the Honolulu City Council representing District VIII. She is a former member and Minority Leader of the Hawaii House of Representatives, serving in that body from 2018 to 2022.
Okimoto was elected to represent District VIII on the Honolulu City Council, which is the legislative body of the City and County of Honolulu, on November 8, 2022. She was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the November 8, 2022 resignation of the incumbent, who was elected to the Hawaii Senate, on November 29, 2022.
Okimoto previously served as the state Representative for District 36 and is a member of the Republican Party. Okimoto is a 2019 graduate of the Council of State Governments West - Western Legislative Academy, and is a recipient of a 2020 Elected Women of Excellence Award from the National Foundation for Women Legislators. She was elected to serve as Minority Leader on February 17, 2021.

## Background

Okimoto was born in Lihue, Hawaii. She is of Japanese and Filipino descent. She graduated from high school with honors from Kauai High School. Okimoto earned a bachelor's degree in Accounting with a minor in Business Management from Brigham Young University of Hawaii, and earned her Special Education Teacher Certification at Chaminade University of Honolulu. Okimoto has done mission work for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Cebu, Philippines. She is an active member of the community by serving as a Director and Treasurer of the Mililani Town Association (MTA), School Community Council (SCC) board member at Mililani ‘Ike Elementary School, member of the Board of Directors for Hoaloha ‘Ike, Parent and Coach for Mililani American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO), and served for 4 years as the President of her church's chapter of a woman's organization.

## Political career

Okimoto was elected to represent District 36 of the Hawaii House of Representatives, which includes Mililani Mauka, Mililani, and Waipiʻo Acres, on November 6, 2018. She was re-elected for a second term on November 3, 2020. On November 8, 2022, Okimoto was elected to represent District VIII on the Honolulu City Council.
A social and fiscal conservative, Okimoto opposed gay marriage legislation in 2013 and bills supporting adoption rights for same-sex couples.

### Electoral history

2022 General Election for Honolulu City Council District VIII :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Val Okimoto | 22,456 | 53.8% |
| | Nonpartisan | Ron Menor | 16,745 | 40.1% |
2020 General Election for Hawaii House of Representatives District 36 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Val Okimoto | 6,949 | 50.2% |
| | Democratic | Trish La Chica | 6,337 | 45.8% |
2018 General Election for Hawaii House of Representatives District 36 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Val Okimoto | 4,933 | 51.3% |
| | Democratic | Marilyn Lee | 4,081 | 42.4% |

### Committee assignments
#### 2022-Present (Honolulu City Council)

* Committee on Public Safety, Chair
* Committee on Parks, Enterprise Services and Culture and the Arts, Vice Chair
* Committee on Executive Matters and Legal Affairs
* Committee on Transportation
* Committee on Housing, Sustainability and Health
* Committee on Planning and the Economy

#### 2021-2022 (31st Legislature)

* Committee on Economic Development
* Committee on Education
* Committee on Higher Education & Technology
* Committee on Labor & Tourism
* Committee on Legislative Management (beginning February 17, 2021)

#### 2019-2020 (30th Legislature)

* Committee on Agriculture (2019)
* Committee on Lower & Higher Education
* Committee on Tourism & International Affairs
* Committee on Transportation (2020)