Background
Dwight, the eldest of five children, was born January 29, 1953 and raised in the plantation community of Honokaʻa to Yoshito and Kimiko Takamine.
State Legislator state official
Dwight, the eldest of five children, was born January 29, 1953 and raised in the plantation community of Honokaʻa to Yoshito and Kimiko Takamine.
Bachelor in Psychology, University Hawaii, Manoa. Juris Doctor, University Hawaii Richardson School Law, 1978.
A Democrat, he represents the first district on the island of Hawai"i. Yoshito Takamine served in the Hawaii State House of Representatives from 1959 to 1984. In 1983, he opened his own law office in Hilo, Hawaii as his father Yoshito Takamine resigned after 26 years in the Hawaii House of Representatives.
The younger Takamine took his father"s seat in 1984.
He has continued to practice labor law focusing on workers" compensation cases. On behalf of the ILWU, whose ties to the Takamine"s go back decades, Takamine has pushed a lumber mill in Oʻokala, and a wood-burning power plant in Paʻauilo.
Local residents are against both proposals. Takamine and his father played a key role in the controversial 1980s Kamehameha Schools (formerly Bishop Estate) decision to buy the Hamakua Sugar Company lands and then plant them in eucalyptus.
The story is recounted in Hawaii book "Broken Trust".
His roles in the legislature as a Representative have included serving as Chair of several committees, notably the Finance Committee from 1998-2006. He was deposed from this position on the Finance Committee during pre-2007-session faction fighting in the Democratic caucus. During the 2006 campaign, Takamine had co-hosted an official Akaka campaign rally at the Honokaa ranch of Larry Mehau.
Takamine and numerous other Democrat elected officials and candidates were photographed there by Hawai"i Free Press photojournalists.
In this time, different factions were supporting their respective leaders for chair positions. When his faction failed to seat their leader, he was subsequently stripped of his committee chairmanship.
He then ran for the Senate seat being vacated by Senator Lorrane Inouye. Dwight Takamine was elected November 4, 2008 as a candidate for the State Senate District 1 which includes Hilo, Hamakua, and Kamuela.
Galen is a college student currently attending Azusa Pacific University, and Aaron and Trevor are in high school.
Member of Big Island Substance Abuse Council (director), Hamakua Development Council (advisory), Big Island Resource Conservation & Development Council, Rural South Hilo Community Association, North Hilo Community Association, Hawaii Bar Association, Honakoa Hongwanji Kyodan.
Married Sandy Tomikawa. 1 child Trevor Yoshito.