WAILUKU, Maui — As he sits at his desk overlooking Central Maui's cane fields and encroaching subdivisions, Maui County Council Chairman Riki Hokama is backed by five certificates of election.

To his right, he is flanked by a television tuned to MSNBC business news. And all around the cluttered office are photos of his late father, the celebrated Maui politician and labor organizer, Goro Hokama.

Each of the certificates represents a two-year council term the junior Hokama has won; and since those terms are consecutive, he must vacate his office in December after a decade on the job.

However, Hokama said in his familiar deliberate tone in an interview with The Maui News last week that he will be back.

He plans to run again for his Lana'i residency seat in 2010, he said, and told the current crop of candidates about his future intentions. Hokama also said he intends to endorse one of those possible future competitors.

In the meantime, Hokama said he would like to create a public affairs foundation geared toward county issues, business and polling. He also said he hasn't ruled out running for state office or taking a county administrative position, if the right opportunity arises.

"My understanding is that Riki is just taking a sabbatical; no question in my mind he will come back in two years," said International Longshore and Warehouse Union Maui Division Director William "Willie" Kennison. "He has done an outstanding job, but I think he's crazy to want it because of how difficult it is.

"Riki can be a real hard egg, but he stays close to the community, like the father," Kennison said. "I might not always agree with him, but his heart is in the right place. You can never question that."

Kennison has known the 54-year-old Hokama since he was young, more vocal and wily. The labor leader worked closely with Hokama's father, who was a County Council member for 40 years. Goro Hokama died of cancer in 2004, and eschewed promotions to management at Dole Pineapple Co. in order to remain an ILWU organizer.

Although a Democrat, the junior Hokama is known for being fiscally conservative. And while he is considered to be a friend of labor and development, over his tenure, Hokama has grown into a leader who will not shy away from opposing projects in which he doesn't believe, political observers said.

Before ascending to the chairmanship in 2005 (a process his detractors said was unfairly held behind-the-scenes), Hokama headed the County Council's powerful Budget and Finance Committee.

He said he considers the county's AA bond rating last year one of the finest achievements under his watch.

A bond rating is a municipality's credit worthiness as determined by the big three credit rating agencies, Moody's, Standard & Poor's and Fitch's. The county's S&P AA rating was up from AA- and makes it much easier for the county to sell bonds to finance construction projects and attract low interest rates.

Hokama is single and lives in Wailuku, but maintains his family home on Lana'i. He has a bachelor's degree in sociology and Hawaiian studies from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa. He was paint department manager for Maui Home Supply before winning public office.

However, Hokama grew up surrounded by politics and entered public life with an apparent inherent understanding of the issues facing Maui. From the start, his central focus was stabilizing the economy.

"My father influenced me a lot," Hokama said. "I can remember a lot of kitchen-table discussions. I learned the importance of labor, while still trying to be as inclusive as possible."

He said he is a political centrist who believes in treating all people with dignity and respect while making an effort to assist the less fortunate. He also considers himself a visionary.

Hokama said the visitor industry will continue to be Maui's leading employer, but the county should take a larger role in economic and job development.

"Someday, I want the visitor industry to be an option, but no longer the 800-pound gorilla on our backs," Hokama said. "The industry should be tailored to what the community wants and not what the visitor industry wants."

He has an idea for a county-owned, privately-run, multi-use convention center and hotel with maybe a 5,000 seat auditorium. Perhaps, located in South Maui, Hokama said.

He said he wants continued emphasis on agriculture, especially on Moloka'i and Lana'i, and more concentration on further developing the high-tech, sustainable energy and education sectors on Maui in order to mitigate the negative impacts of an unpredictable global economy.

Maui should also attract four-year degree programs in astronomy, oceanography and health care fields, he said. The Valley Isle deserves a world-class hospital as well, he said.

Wesley Lo, chief executive officer of Maui Memorial Medical Center, was the county finance director under former Mayor James "Kimo" Apana, and started working for the county around the time Hokama took office in 1999. Hokama credited his relationships with Lo and current Finance Director Kalbert Young for placing the county in a better position to weather financial storms by not overspending or borrowing too much.

Lo recalled how the two "neophytes" would often huddle together to try to grasp the complexities of county government finances.

What they came up with was a pocketbook-approach to county budgeting, he said. He said it bothered them both for the county to borrow, wanting to clearly determine the need before approving a bond float and being sure all needs are covered before considering wants.

For example, early on, Lo said he and Hokama tried to convince the county to devote more than what other counties and the state were recommending toward the Employee Retirement System.

"We asked to pay extra so we don't have to pay more later," Lo said. "Although we couldn't do exactly what we wanted, we were able to salt away money. And since then, he and the county have continued to look toward the future."

Council members are still facing a hefty rise in unfunded retiree health care benefits as medical costs continue to skyrocket. By the latest estimate, Maui County's unfunded liability for the retirement system was estimated to be up to $350 million over the next 30 years. But the county is considered to be in a better position than most.

He also wasn't afraid to raise taxes in the wake of 9/11 to ensure the county's solvency, although they had reserves, Lo said.

Lo said he always found it comforting to have someone to bounce off ideas and Hokama was honest with his opinions. Hokama usually trusts the experts for information, asks a lot of questions privately and then takes the time to sort through all the information to get a full understanding of a subject and form an opinion, Lo said.

He is also smart enough to be silent and listen if he doesn't know everything, a characteristic he developed over the years, Lo said.

Hokama's colleagues have said they appreciate his cleanly run meetings and seniority. When he took the gavel held by his father for 16 years, Hokama said he would focus on the familiar themes of housing, property tax reform and water. He also has called on his fellow council members to set the agenda and said he would "empower and support" them in their endeavors.

Although he often asks pointed questions - especially about taxation issues - of developers and others who come in front of the committees and council, Hokama also tends to take a quiet approach to chairmanship. During meetings, he rarely makes long speeches or filibusters. He also returns few calls from the press seeking comment on council decisions, and his home phone number isn't listed in the book.

Maui Republican Party Chairwoman Kay Ghean said she's been impressed with what she's seen of the under-the-radar Hokama.

"I remember watching someone come to the council and they wanted tax relief," Ghean said. "And he took a stand on tax issues that I think is very practical. If these groups don't pay it, then someone else has to pay it. ... I think he's a very thoughtful fellow, but I don't know him that well.

"I don't have anything negative to say about him."

Six-year Council Member Jo Anne Johnson, who holds the West Maui residency seat and advocates slow growth and sustainability, has had her share of disagreements with Hokama. The two have contrasting styles and once sparred over the chairmanship.

Hokama tends to be more stern in his approach to governing and is "not a warm and fuzzy individual," Johnson said.

Kennison said Hokama shares his father's political persona. Neither man was one to go out and shake everyone's hand, he said.

Johnson said she and Hokama now share a mutual respect and have learned from each other over the years. Hokama has taught her a lot about the budgeting process, she said. And she believes she has helped him understand that development is overtaking the island while not always paying its fair share for public services, Johnson said.

"I've seen Riki change," she said.

But Johnson also noted that she believes that the council has not made a great deal of progress on major issues in the last decade. They are still talking about a lot of the same things, she said.

Hokama said he's pleased that the council has been at least willing to try new approaches, such as requiring 40 percent to 50 percent of new housing projects to be be priced as affordable housing and having developers assure their own long-term water sources. In two or three years, he said the County Council will revisit those ordinances and make adjustments.

John Ornellas is among four candidates vying for Hokama's spot on the County Council. He said he was disappointed to learn that Hokama wants to return.

Hokama should be congratulated for his service to the community, but Ornellas said ultimately he thinks that Hokama's performance as a leader was average.

"I think we can lump the whole council together," Ornellas said. "Most people feel they could have done more with TVRs (transient vacation rentals), water and housing. I think he was consistent with the previous chairs and more could have been done."

When it comes to development, Hokama usually supports it, but will take stands as well.

"I believe the people have a lot more say about population growth than what we've exercised in the past," Hokama said.

He voted in favor of the luxury home development, Kapalua Mauka in West Maui, but against the Wailea 670/Honua'ula mixed-use residential project two years later. After a vote on the latter in March, Hokama even warned his colleagues that this could mean an end to some of their political careers.

"We were on opposite sides of the fence on that one (Honua'ula)," Kennison said.

Ron McOmber, president of Lanaians for Sensible Growth, seems to sit on about every county commission and committee related to the privately-owned island. McOmber said he considers Hokama a friend and confidant.

"Riki has his faults just like any politician who's been in that world a long time, but Riki is old school and takes the lead from the council member from the district they represent," McOmber said.

"The rural districts need help. They don't contribute as much (financially). They need someone who will put a thumb in someone's eye. And although it's a tough job, I think he's done right by Lana'i."

McOmber is among those who said Hokama is stubborn, like his father. But McOmber said he doesn't believe that's necessarily a bad trait to possess.

Hokama admits there is not a lot of gray area for him on issues.

"I think we're losing a friend," McOmber said. "Thank God, it's only for two years."

Hokama said he's not done being an advocate for Lana'i and the greater community.

"I just wish to continue," he said. "I feel as though I have a lot more years left. People will see that I am looking down the road at the near and distant future of what we can be and what we want to be."

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