Your feedback ensures we stay focused on the facts that matter to you most—take our survey.
Hermina Morita
Hermina Morita is the former chair of the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission. She was appointed to the position by Gov. Neil Abercrombie in February 2011 and served until her replacement by Randall Iwase in January 2015.[1] In a March 2014 statement, Abercrombie announced that Morita would remain PUC chair on a "holdover basis" while she resolved business with the State Board of Land and Natural Resources, among other unspecified matters. “We are at a very critical juncture in developing our clean energy future and the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) needs stability to continue to address many of the important regulatory issues before it," the statement read.[2]
Morita previously served as a Democratic member of the Hawaii House of Representatives, representing the 14th District from 1997-2011.
Biography
Morita previously worked as a business manager for the Kilauea Point Natural History Association, Kong Long Company and Makawae Partners dba Kong Long Company.
She is a member of the Environment Hawaii Board, Hanalei Community Association, Kauai Children's Discovery Museum Advisory Board and a volunteer interpreter with the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge.[3]
Political career
Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (2011-2015)
Morita was appointed to the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission by Gov. Neil Abercrombie in February 2011. She served until her replacement by Randall Iwase in January 2015.[4]
Hawaii House of Representatives (1997-2011)
Morita previously served as a Democratic member of the Hawaii House of Representatives, representing the 14th District from 1997-2011.
Committee assignments
While in the House, Morita served on the following committees:
- Consumer Protection & Commerce Committee
- Energy & Environmental Protection Committee (Chair)
- Housing Committee
- Judiciary Committee
- Water, Land & Ocean Resources Committee
Elections
2011
Morita was appointed to the statewide post of Public Utilities Commissioner by Gov. Neil Abercrombie in February 2011.
2010
Morita won re-election to the 14th District seat in 2010. She had no primary opposition on September 18, 2010. The general election took place on November 2, 2010. Harry Williams ran on the Republican ticket for this seat.[5]
| Hawaii House of Representatives, District 14 (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
 Hermina Morita (D)
|
5,062 | 69.0% | ||
| Harry Williams (R) | 1,600 | 21.8% | ||
2008
In 2008, Morita won re-election to the Hawaii House of Representatives from Hawaii's 14th District. Morita ran unopposed in the general election. She raised $6,850 for her campaign.[6]
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
Hawaii Grassroot Institute
The Grassroot Institute issued its 2010 Legislative Score Card that tallied the votes of Hawaii legislators and graded their votes based on the Institute's values of individual liberty, free markets, and limited government.[7] The Institute observed state legislators' votes on issues involving taxes, spending, scope of government, business climate and raids on special funds. Morita received a total score of 2%. Here are the scores Morita received based on specific categories.
| 2010 Hawaii House Legislative Scorecard | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taxes | Business climate | Spending | Individual liberty | Raids | Scope of government | |||
| 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 14% | 0% | |||
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Morita and her husband, Lance Laney, have two children named Mindy and Misha.[8]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Hermina + Morita + Hawaii "
See also
- Hawaii Public Utilities Commission
- Governor of Hawaii
- Neil Abercrombie
- Hawaii House of Representatives
External links
- Public Utilities Commission
- Morita's Blog
- Hawaii House of Representatives - Rep. Hermina Morita
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign Contributions: 2008, 2002
Footnotes
- ↑ Big Island Video News, "Rep. Morita Appointed As Public Utilities Commission Chair," February 3, 2011
- ↑ Governor of the State of Hawai'i Neil Abercrombie, "Governor’s Statement on the Public Utilities Commission," March 27, 2014
- ↑ Project Vote Smart - Rep. Morita
- ↑ Big Island Video News, "Rep. Morita Appointed As Public Utilities Commission Chair," February 3, 2011
- ↑ Hawaii Secretary of State, "Official 2010 General election results," accessed December 13, 2013
- ↑ District 14 Hawaii House candidate funds, 2008
- ↑ Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, "2010 Legislative Score Card," accessed May 7, 2021
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Hermina Morita's Biography," accessed March 10, 2013
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Carlito P. Caliboso |
Chair of Hawaii Public Utilities Commission 2011-2015 |
Succeeded by Randall Iwase |
| Preceded by ' |
Hawaii House District 14 1997–2011 |
Succeeded by Derek Kawakami |
| |||||||||||||||||
