Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 37, Number 1, 1 January 2020 — Representative DeCoite Receives Women of Excellence Award [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Representative DeCoite Receives Women of Excellence Award

Moloka'i Representative Lynn DeCoite received the Women of

Excellence Award at the National Foundation of Women Legislators ( N F W L ) annual eonvention in $an Antonio,

Texas in November. This award identifies women in public office

who have worked to break down barriers and overcome obstacles to serve their respective communities. DeCoite is the first awardee to be selected from Hawai'i. $he serves House District 13 (East Maui, Lāna'i and Moloka'i) and was nominated by Senator Donna Mercado Kim. A third-generation homestead farmer, DeCoite and husband, Russell, own and operate their family farm (L&R Farm) known for Moloka'i purple sweet potatoes. DeCoite serves on the Agriculture, Lower & Higher Education, and Tourism & International Affairs committees. She is also the Agriculture Committee Chair for the Council of State Governments - West. Also attending the convention were Senator Mercado Kim, Senator Sharon Moriwaki, Representative Val Okimoto, Councilmember Kym Pine, and OHA Trustee Kalei Akaka.

Lynn Decoite ^