Public Service Runs In The Family

Scott is the only child in a very tight knit family. His father Melvin was raised in Kaka’ako and Kapahulu; his mother Patricia Kobayashi was born and raised in Waialua on Oʻahu’s north shore.

Melvin taught social studies at Waiʻanae High School while Patricia taught 4th grade at Mānoa Elementary. Later, while Melvin attended law school at the University of Arizona, Patricia taught at a public school in Tucson, Arizona.

Upon returning to Hawaiʻi, Melvin started his career as a State Deputy Attorney General and, after earning her Ph.D. in higher education from the University of Hawaiʻi, Patricia worked as a Career Counselor at UH Manoa Career Services Center. Following decades of public service careers, Melvin and Patricia are both retired.

Scott’s longtime girlfriend Debbie Cheeseman is a Student Services Coordinator at Jefferson Elementary School. She and Scott met during his first campaign for State Representative in 2002 when he knocked on her door while campaigning.

Rooted in Kakaako and Pawaa

Scott’s maternal great grandparents Minakichi and Kan Kakimoto moved from Kauaʻi to Kakaʻako, Oʻahu, in the early 1900’s. There they raised 7 children, including Scott’s grandmother Norma. Scott’s great grandparents owned and operated a small grocery store and barbershop near Cooke and Pohukaina.

Scott’s paternal great grandparents, Ataka and Sue Nishimoto, settled on Oba Lane in Pāwa’a and raised ten children, including Scott’s grandfather Eugene Nishimoto.

When Eugene married Scott’s grandmother Norma, they moved into a duplex home on Marmion Lane. Marmion Lane no longer exists but was located where the current Keola La’i Condominium stands in Kakaʻako. Scott’s father Melvin and two of his siblings were born in Kakaʻako.

Raised in Manoa

Scott has many fond memories of growing up in Mānoa Valley.

He attended:

  • Preschool at KCAA Preschools - Mother Rice on South King Street,

  • Mānoa Elementary from Kindergarten to 6th grade,

  • St. Louis School for 7th through 9th grade,

  • Mid-Pacific Institute for 10th through 12th grade.

Scott received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, where he was elected Student Body President in 1996.

Throughout his childhood Scott could be found at Manoa Valley District Park, Makiki District Park, and Ala Wai Community Park.  An avid athlete, Scott played Little League baseball, AYSO soccer, and youth basketball in Manoa Leagues. Later he played baseball in Kaimuki, football and baseball at St. Louis, and Varsity football, basketball, and track at Mid-Pacific/Pac-5.

A Capable Professional

Since graduating from the University of Hawaiʻi law school, Scott has worked for several federal defense contracting companies. He served as President for a 15-employee veteran owned small business, and as lead for government services contracting with a Native Hawaiian-owned defense contracting company.

Scott also worked for the late United States Senator Daniel K. Inouye in Washington, D.C. This experience shaped Scott’s view of the importance of public service.

During law school, Scott worked at the law firm of Cronin Fried Sekiya Kekina & Fairbanks.

Community Legislator

Throughout Scott’s career as a State Representative, being accessible and responsive to his constituents has been his highest priority. He listens to the concerns community members have about our neighborhood and actively works to address issues head-on. Scott prides himself on being a "community legislator" and believes that the only way to represent his constituents well is by getting out into the community as much as possible.

His hands-on style is evident in his leading neighborhood improvement projects such as community clean-ups, recycling projects, and no cost tax preparation clinics.

Starting in 2003, Scott has encouraged and supported our keiki in schools by annually providing awards and scholarships. He has also supported teachers each year by providing curriculum grants.

Dedicated to Public Service

In 2002, Scott began his career as a strong and effective voice in the State Legislature. He has served in this capacity for the past 22 years and focused on delivering needed improvements to our community’s aging infrastructure. Scott will do the same as your City Councilperson.

In the last 10 years alone, Scott has helped to secure more than $260 million for a variety of projects and community groups. As Chair of the State House of Representative’s Capitol Improvements subcommittee, he has helped provide infrastructure funding to every public school in our community.

Scott listens to our community’s concerns and works tirelessly to pass legislation that improves the quality of life for our community. He has accomplished this while also always voting AGAINST increases to the General Excise Tax and any legislation to tax retirees’ pensions. Scott understands that these tax increases would hurt working families and kūpuna on fixed incomes.