As the child of a Filipina mother and an English-German father, Becky learned the value of diversity and honoring culture early on.  Her parents instilled in her the values of hard work and discipline. In high school, Becky volunteered at hospitals, long-term care, and mental health facilities while earning grades that would get her into an Ivy League college. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in social work from Cornell University and set out to help those in need.

 

Becky began her professional life in New York City, where she gained valuable work experience in the nonprofit world and in the publishing industry. However, inspired by her undergraduate internship at a municipal office investigating discrimination complaints, Becky found herself most drawn to the law. She took a job at a prominent law firm to further explore the practice of law—work she found both challenging and exciting.

 

After teaching English in Japan for a few years, Becky returned to school to attend the University of Hawaiʻi’s Richardson School of Law (her first choice law school), where she earned her J.D. with a certificate in Pacific Asian Legal Studies. She passed the bar and is licensed to practice law in both Hawaiʻi and New York. Her education and experience has served her well in her current role at the State of Hawaiʻi’s Office of Language Access.

 

Before becoming a civil servant, Becky worked as a law clerk with the Hawaiʻi State Judiciary at the Intermediate Court of Appeals and the First Circuit Court of the City and County of Honolulu. She also spent several years as an attorney for the House of Representatives’ Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce. Becky is an active member of the Hawaiʻi State Bar Association (HSBA) and is an alumnus of the 2010 HSBA Leadership Institute. She has also served on the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Filipino Lawyers Association since 2008.

 

Becky is also a small business owner, having operated the Honolulu branch of Fit4Mom, an organization dedicated to improving the fitness, health and well-being of new mothers during a highly vulnerable time in their lives. As the mother of two beautiful girls, health and wellness is a personal passion of hers.

 

Becky’s focus is on serving her community, now in her second term as a member of the Kaimuki Neighborhood Board. Becky is a founding board member of Envision Kaimuki, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting Kaimuki residents and businesses to ensure Kaimuki’s growth evolves with a sense of community while preserving its unique charm and character. Becky also serves as a district representative on the State Central Committee of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, and as vice chair of the district for the Oʻahu County Democrats.

 

Becky is running for State House because she wants to share with the community her vision for a just, equitable and sustainable future. She is inspired by the Hawaiian values eloquently expressed by Kalani Souza during opening remarks at the 2018 Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi State Convention, which focused on four important goals for a just, equitable and healthy society. We must work to ensure that: (1) our keiki are fed; (2) our kupuna are comfortable; (3) women do not live in fear; (4) and we exist in harmony with our environment.

 

Becky chose the ʻulu print as the central motif in her logo because the ʻulu represents prosperity and abundance. It is a superfood that can save communities from starvation during times of famine. It symbolizes our ability to live sustainably in these islands into perpetuity.