Betty Akizuki

**Betty Akizuki** (born 23 November 1954) is a Hawaiian politician and lawyer who has served as minister of justice in the first and second Kanazawa ministries since 2021, and had previously served as minister of innovation and technology in the Kanazawa ministry from 2018 until 2021. Additionally, Akizuki has represented Oahu in the House of Representatives since 2006, and is a member of the Hawaii National Party.

Born to a Japanese-Hawaiian family in Honolulu, Akizuki graduated from Punahou School in 1972. After graduating, she moved to Los Angeles to enroll in the University of California, Los Angeles, graduating with a degree in political science in 1976. Akizuki subsequently returned to Hawaii, and received her law degree from the University of Hawaii School of Law in 1979. She became licensed to practice law in Hawaii, and afterwards began a law career. Akizuki began her career in law as a corporate attorney, working at a private law firm and specializing in contract law. In 1981, she left her career in corporate law, and joined the Honolulu District Attorney office as a prosecutor. She worked as a prosecutor for a number of years, until becoming general counsel for the Honolulu District Attorney in 1998. She left her law career in order to enter politics in 2006.

Akizuki entered politics in 2006, when she was included as a Hawaii National Party candidate in Oahu for the 2006 general election, and was elected to the House of Representatives. Upon taking her seat in parliament, Akizuki focused her legislating on economic issues. Following the 2018 general election, she was nominated by Kenzie Kanazawa to serve as minister of innovation and technology in her cabinet, and was appointed by Queen Keʻalohilani. She was later promoted to minister of justice in 2021, replacing ʻAukai Freitas. Following the appointment of the second Kanazawa ministry, Akizuki was selected to remain in the position.

## Early life and education

Akizuki was born on 23 November 1954 in Honolulu to parents John Akizuki (1927–2015) and Delia "DeeDee" Gotoda (1928–2019). Both of her parents were Japanese-Hawaiian, being descended from immigrants from Osaka and Kanagawa who came to Hawaii in the 1890s. John was a lawyer, while DeeDee was a homemaker. Akizuki was raised in the affluent Kahala neighborhood of Honolulu, and is the eldest of three children; her younger siblings include John Jr. (born 1956) and Denise (born 1958).

Akizuki began her education in 1959, enrolling in Punahou School, a coeducational, independent preparatory school. While at Punahou School, Akizuki was a gifted and popular student. She began high school in 1968, where she was elected prom queen. She graduated from the school in 1972, and moved to Los Angeles to enroll in the University of California, Los Angeles. While at UCLA, Akizuki joined the Kappa Delta (ΚΔ) sorority and majored in political science, graduating in 1976. She subsequently returned to Hawaii and enrolled in the University of Hawaii School of Law, graduating with her law degree in 1979.

## Law career

After graduating with her law degree in 1979, Akizuki became licensed to practice law within Hawaii. She joined the law firm Namakura, Paulson, and Associates as a junior associate. At the law firm, Akizuki specialized in contract law. She has recalled being subjected to numerous sexist remarks at the firm, which led to a waning interest in corporate law.

In 1981, Akizuki left her law firm, and joined the Honolulu District Attorney office as a prosecutor. She was hired as an assistant district attorney, and primarily prosecuted cases relating to theft, shoplifting, and domestic abuse, before eventually beginning to prosecute primarily white collar crimes such as fraud and tax evasion in 1987. In 1998, she left her career as a prosecutor, and instead became general counsel to the Honolulu District Attorney. She left her law career in 2006, in order to enter politics.

## Political career

### Early politics

Akizuki entered politics in 2006, after she was selected by the Hawaii National Party to be a candidate on their party list in Oahu for the 2006 general election. She was ultimately elected to the House of Representatives, and took her seat on 10 July 2006. Upon taking her seat in parliament, Akizuki focused her legislating on economic issues. She was later reelected in the 2010 election. Upon beginning her political career, Akizuki positioned herself in the centrist bloc of HNP politicians. She endorsed Judy Carpenter in the 2006 Hawaii National Party leadership election, and Cristine Hyodo Larson in the 2010 leadership election.

Following the 2014 election, Akizuki was interviewed by David Chang regarding a possible ministerial nomination. The Hawaiian media reported that she was under consideration for minister of justice and minister of the interior, but was not selected for either position.

### Innovation and technology minister

In the aftermath of the 2018 election, the Hawaii National Party lost their parliamentary majority. Due to the loss, David Chang resigned as party leader and a leadership election was called. Akizuki did not run in the election, but endorsed the candidacy of Kenzie Kanazawa, who went on to win the election.

Following the conclusion of the leadership election, Kanazawa negotiated a coalition agreement with the Hui Pū ʻAna political party. The Hawaiian media reported that Akizuki was under consideration for minister of justice. Kanazawa later nominated her as minister of innovation and technology in the Kanazawa ministry instead. She was appointed by Queen Keʻalohilani on 18 September 2018. As innovation and technology minister, Akizuki is responsible for overseeing the overseeing the economic development and corporate affairs of Hawaii.

Akizuki resigned from the position on 5 January 2021, in order to take office as minister of justice. She was replaced by Benjamin Qiu.

### Justice minister

Following an incident where a Honolulu police officer killed two innocent teenagers with his vehicle, ʻAukai Freitas resigned from his position as minister of justice, taking responsibility for the incident. He was later replaced by Akizuki, taking office on 5 January 2021. As justice minister, Akizuki is responsible for overseeing the Hawaiian legal system, police departments, administration of justice, court system, public prosecutors and defenders, and prison system.

Following the 2021 general election and appointment of the second Kanazawa ministry, Akizuki was selected to remain in the position.

## Personal life

Akizuki began a relationship Hawaiian lawyer Kenny Fujiwara in 1984. They became engaged in 1985, and married the following year. Akizuki and Fujiwara have three children together: Chester (born 1988), Danielle (born 1991), and Henry (born 1993). The family resides in the Kahala neighborhood of Honolulu.

Akizuki is fluent in both English and Japanese. She was raised irreligiously, but still remains a "close connection" with Shintoism.