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It was with sorrow that we read that Hawaii State Senate Majority Leader J. Kalani English was retiring due to lingering effects of COVID-19.
The 55-year-old lifelong Hana resident spent 25 years in public office before stepping away from his post on May 1. Hopefuls are lining up to fill the vacancy for the District 7 seat that represents East and Upcountry Maui, Molokai and Lanai. Democratic Party officers in the district will narrow the nominees to a list of three for Gov. David Ige to choose from. Ige has 60 days to name a successor.
Whoever gets the nod will have some very big shoes to fill. English leaves behind a legacy of caring deeply for the communities he represented. Eschewing partisanship and self-promotion, he quietly found ways to provide for the people and infrastructure he was entrusted to represent.
"Kalani brought a calm and more of a civil tone to all the processes he was involved in whether he was running a committee or the caucus as majority leader," said Maui State Sen. Gilbert Keith-Agaran. "He was informed on the issues, or if he wasn't, he was open to learning more about it. I don't think there was anybody who cared more about his district."
Keith-Agaran says he thinks English will be most remembered for the work he did addressing climate change and sustainability. He also credits the impact English made during his two terms on the Maui County Council, including spearheading legislation that brought nonpartisan elections to council and mayoral races, and curtailing abuses in subdividing "gentlemen estate" agriculture lots.
Former Maui County Mayor Charmaine Tavares served with English on the council.
"He treated everybody with respect, even if you didn't agree with him," Tavares said. "We worked really well together. His knowledge of the community, especially the East Maui community, was comprehensive. He is such a talent. He has such a world view and he sees Hawaii as the center of that world."
Leona Bak Nomura, who describes herself as English's unpaid campaign manager, says he is a product of his culture and his environment.
"He cares, he actually cares," Nomura said. "Being raised in Hana, he has that Hawaiian in him that people don't realize. When he talks he does so with such grace. He's so smart. With politics you've got to see the good of the people, and he did, he really did."
English contracted COVID-19 in November during a trip out of state. While his initial symptoms were not severe, he says he has been diagnosed as a "long-hauler" with challenges that include "pervasive lethargy, memory challenges and a fogginess in my thought process." Feeling he was no longer able to serve at the top of his game, he elected to retire.
Thank you, J. Kalani English, for all you have done for Maui County and the state. We wish you a happy retirement and a quick and complete recovery.