Remebering Rev. Bob Nakata, community organizer & Local 5 ally
We share the sad news today of the passing of Rev. Bob Nakata. He was one of the founding clergy of Faith Action and has been a passionate ally of Local 5 for nearly two decades. His work with us includes getting arrested in our 2010 civil disobedience action with Hyatt Regency Waikiki workers; keeping the country country and defending good union jobs at Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore; standing up against worker sexual harassment at Hale Koa in 2006; and so much more.
Rev. Bob Nakata also organized around land use and development, affordable housing, and the homeless. One memorable action he organized was camping outside of Honolulu Hale when the city began to kick the homeless out of the parks.
His role in the fight for jobs, housing, and development began with the Waiāhole-Waikāne struggle to defend homes and farms from urbanization development (read about it in his own words here).
He was also a State Senator and one of the founders of the KEY (Kualoa-Heeia Ecumenical Youth) project.
Rest in Power, Rev. Bob Nakata