by Audrey Suga-Nakagawa
State Representative Nadine Nakamura has become the first Asian female Speaker of the Hawaii House of Representatives in the United States. She is a third-generation Japanese American and the granddaughter of Reverend Yoshie Suga, the first head minister of Tenrikyo Lanai Church (Honjima).
As the new House Speaker, Nakamura leads the 51 elected representatives in shaping public policies that impact the state.
In her address on the opening day of the 2025 Hawaii State Legislature, she highlighted the influence of her 97-year-old mother, Mabel Maeda, and shared her mother's advice on humility, respect, and seeking the “good in others."
Before she spoke, Reverend Tad Iwata of Tenrikyo Honolulu-Ko Church (Hofu) delivered the invocation before the Hawaii State Legislature emphasizing Tenrikyo values of compassion and mutual help. Both speeches underscored the importance of helping one another and embracing God’s blessings.
