Kim Coco Iwamoto

Kim Coco Iwamoto (born May 26, 1968) is a Japanese-American Hawaiian politician. She was one of the Democratic primary candidates for the position of Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii in the 2018 election.[2] Iwamoto previously served as a commissioner on the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission and was previously elected to serve two terms on the Hawaii Board of Education. She was recognized as a Champion of Change by President Barack Obama in 2013,[3] and in 2018 Newsweek listed her as one of fifty need-to-know pioneers for LGBTQ rights.[4]

Kim Coco Iwamoto
Commissioner, Hawaii Civil Rights Commission
In office
2012–2016
Board of Education Member, Hawaii Board of Education
In office
2006–2011
Personal details
Born (1968-05-26) May 26, 1968[1]
Kauai, Hawaii, U.S.
ResidenceHonolulu, Hawaii
Alma materUniversity of New Mexico School of Law
(JD, 2000)
San Francisco State University
(BA, 1990)
Fashion Institute of Technology
(AAS, 1988)

Early life and career

Iwamoto is Japanese-American and was born on the island of Kauai. Iwamoto's mother went into labor at a private party hosted by Grace Guslander to celebrate the expansion of her Coco Palms Resort, and Iwamoto was then born the next day. Guslander visited Iwamoto's mother in the hospital with a bouquet of flowers, a card, and a request to name Iwamoto “Coco” after her internationally award-winning hotel.

Education

Iwamoto attended Kaimukī Community Christian Pre-School on Oʻahu, Hōkūlani Elementary School, Aliʻiōlani Elementary School, and Hanahauʻoli Elementary School.

Iwamoto later attended and graduated from St. Louis High School. She received an Associate of Arts in Merchandising from the Fashion Institute of Technology, a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University, and her Juris Doctor from the University of New Mexico School of Law.

In 2011, Iwamoto completed Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government as a David Bohnett LGBTQ Victory Institute Leadership Fellow.

Family and personal life

Her paternal great-grandparents left Japan to work in the sugar cane plantations of Kauaʻi. Iwamoto's paternal grandmother met her paternal grandfather at Tip-Top Restaurant on Kauai, where she was working as a cashier. The two used their family cars to start a taxi company, which eventually expanded to a tour company and a rental-car company. Iwamoto's father began working for the family business in high school as a car washer, and their collective efforts became known as Roberts Hawaii.

Iwamoto's maternal grandparents left Japan to grow cantaloupe and other produce in Imperial Valley, California. During World War II, Iwamoto's mother and her family were forced into internment camps in Poston, Arizona. Iwamoto's uncles were released from the internment camp to enlist in the military to serve the United States of America. Eventually the entire family was released and they returned to their farm. When Iwamoto's mother was in high school, she contributed to the family business by taking care of all the bookkeeping.

A passion for advocacy

Shortly after finishing her undergraduate degree, Iwamoto moved back to New York City where she had attended FIT. It was here that she became more aware of social injustice. Using her own life experience as a transgender woman, Iwamoto spent time volunteering at a local community center, helping youth develop leadership skills. It was here that her passions for helping houseless youth and LGBTQ houseless youth were fostered. Helping youth like the ones she worked with in New York was part of her motivation for attending law school. When Iwamoto returned to Hawaii she became a licensed therapeutic foster parent.[5]

Public service and business experience

Iwamoto recently served as a commissioner on the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, appointed by Governor Neil Abercrombie to serve the four-year term from 2012 to 2016. She also previously served two terms with the Hawaii Board of Education, Oahu-at-Large from 2006 to 2011. Iwamoto's election as a trans woman in November 2006 made her, at that time, the highest ranking openly transgender elected official in the United States and the first openly transgender official to win statewide office.[6] She was reelected in 2010 with 25% more votes than in 2006.[7]

Iwamoto's other work experiences include serving as Managing Attorney at Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii and facilitating affordable housing through AQuA Rentals, LLC (Affordable Quality Apartment Rentals, LLC). Her volunteer work includes serving on the Board of Directors for both Kūlia Nā Mamo and Hawaiʻi People’s Fund.[8]

2018 Lieutenant Governor primary election
Main article: 2018 Hawaii gubernatorial election

Iwamoto announced her bid for Lieutenant Governor in November 2017.[9] Although she received more than 34,000 votes in the Democratic primary, she lost the party nomination to Sen. Josh Green.[10]

Endorsements for Lieutenant Governor

Robert Cazimero, musician and kumu hula

Daniel Foley, civil rights attorney and judge[11]

Gary Hooser, politician[12]

Mari Matsuda, activist and lawyer[13]

Walter Ritte, Native Hawaiian educator and activist

Maya Soetoro-Ng, teacher and advocate[13]

Maui Time Weekly[14]

Our Revolution Oʻahu Chapter[15]

Sierra Club of Hawaii[16]

Unite Here! Local 5, Hawaii's Hospitality and Healthcare Union[17]

Victory Fund[18]

Notable national advocacy and recognition

Iwamoto was recognized as a Champion of Change by President Barack Obama.[3]

Iwamoto publicly opposed passage of California's Proposition 8, outlawing same-sex marriages in California. She has stated that Proposition 8 reminds her of her mother's internment during World War II and believes the proposition is a violation of essential civil rights, stating, "The country has acknowledged that [internment] as a mistake, to just go with populous fear to oppress a specific group. I think we're going to look back at this kind of oppression as a mistake."[19]

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References
  1. "ABOUT KIM COCO". 2010. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  2. "Kim Coco Iwamoto for Lt. Governor".
  3. "The White House President Barack Obama, Champions of Change".
  4. "LGBT Pride Month 2018: 50 Gay Rights Movement Pioneers You Need to Know".
  5. "Meet Kim Coco".
  6. "Hawaiian Becomes Highest-Elected Transgender Official". Fox News. Associated Press. 16 November 2006. Retrieved October 12, 2009.
  7. "Hawaii Office of Elections: 2010 general election results" (PDF).
  8. "Experience - Kim Coco Iwamoto".
  9. "Kim Coco Iwamoto announces bid for Lieutenant Governor".
  10. "Hawaii Office of Elections Results".
  11. "Community Voice Campaign Corner: Kim Coco Iwamoto The Only True Progressive LG Candidate".
  12. "Why Gary Hooser is Supporting Kim Coco Iwawmoto".
  13. "Testimonials, Kim Coco".
  14. "Maui Time Endorses Kim Coco".
  15. "Our Revolution Oʻahu Chapter".
  16. "Home". Vote Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi. Retrieved 2018-07-06.
  17. "Game Changer in Race for Lieutenant Governor - Kim Coco Endorsed by Local 5".
  18. "Victory Fund Endorses 37 More LGBTQ Candidates for 2018".
  19. Park, Gene (16 November 2008), Islanders protest gay-marriage ban, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, retrieved September 28, 2006
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