KAHULUI, Maui — State Rep. Robert "Bob" Nakasone, 68, who died Sunday at home of lung cancer, was praised by colleagues yesterday as a trustworthy, hard-working legislator who shied away from the spotlight.

The Kahului Democrat instead worked tirelessly behind the scenes for needed capital improvement projects and other programs to benefit the 9th District (Kahului-Pa'ia) and the state.

"Bob had the best characteristics of an old-style politician — a person who did not showboat, was nonpartisan when it came to achieving things for the people he represented, and a person whose word you could always trust," said Gov. Linda Lingle, a Republican who worked closely with Nakasone during the time she served on the Maui County Council, as Maui mayor and later as governor.

"While he bravely battled lung cancer, Bob remained fully committed to serving the people of Maui and helping to make Hawai'i a better place to live and work. He was a tireless public servant," she said.

A funeral has not been announced. Lingle ordered that the state flag be flown at half-staff on the day of Nakasone's burial.

Under state law, when a vacancy in the state House of Representatives occurs, the prior officeholder's political party has 30 days to send a list of three possible replacements to the governor, who must appoint a replacement within 60 days of the vacancy.

The appointee must have been a party member six months before appointment and must live in the district at the time of appointment.

Health problems forced Nakasone to miss most of the 2008 session, and it had been uncertain whether he would seek re-election. Former Mayor James "Kimo" Apana, a Democrat, filed to run for his House seat but withdrew when Nakasone submitted his candidacy papers just before the July filing deadline.

Nakasone handily beat his Republican opponent by capturing 76 percent of the vote.

Sen. Roz Baker, D-5th (W. Maui-S. Maui), said yesterday it was Nakasone's wish that his daughter, Joni McGinnis, succeed him. McGinnis worked with her father at the company he founded, Ameritone-Maui, a paint and wall-covering distributorship with two retail outlets in Kahului and Lahaina.

Nakasone was born March 8, 1940, in Pa'ia, Maui. He graduated from Baldwin High School and attended Iowa State University, Oregon State Teachers College and Merritt Davis Business College in Oregon.

Nakasone served on the Maui County Council from 1977 to 1982, leaving to mount an unsuccessful run for mayor against Hannibal Tavares. Nakasone returned to the council in 1985, serving two more terms. A member of the Maui County Charter Commission from 1991 to 1992, Nakasone began his career in the state House in 1993. He held the position of vice chairman of the Labor & Public Employment Committee since 2003.

Throughout his time in the Legislature, Nakasone served on the influential Finance Committee, where he effectively fought for capital improvement projects, said Baker, who for many years headed the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

"I remember it was always a competition between the House and Senate. He was a no-nonsense, tough negotiator, but he was always very fair and tried to take care of projects that really needed to be done," she said.

"If Bob told you he was going to do something, you could take that to the bank."

Securing $25 million for a new science building at Maui Community College was one of his final successes, Baker said.

"In the '08 session, we didn't have a lot of CIP funds. Bob used a lot of his considerable skill to make sure that one went forward," she said.

Although Nakasone avoided fundraisers and other public events where he was likely to be acknowledged, often sending his wife, Ruth, as his surrogate, his fourth-floor office in the state Capitol was a meeting place for lawmakers of all stripes, according to Baker.

Rep. Joe Souki, D-8th (Wailuku), said that by the time Nakasone came to the House, "he already was kind of a legend."

"Everybody loved Bob. He kept his doors open, and his office was a kind of meeting place. Members would go there, and he was always ready to give advice and listen," Souki said.

Nakasone rarely made speeches in public or on the House floor, but was passionate nonetheless about healthcare, Maui Community College, education, and long-term care insurance and other issues affecting the elderly, Souki said.

"That's the way Bob was. He was always known as someone who did his homework, and he was a walking encyclopedia of legislation. He didn't believe in going out and making speeches. He didn't do fundraisers. He stayed in his office and worked," he said.

House Speaker Calvin Say called Nakasone "a very private and quiet man" who was held in great respect in the Legislature.

"You could always count on Bob Nakasone as a leader and an asset to the House, especially in tough times. Even though he was very reserved, people knew he had a big heart, and that making Hawai'i a better place for our families was the essence behind his public service," he said.

In addition to his wife and daughter, Nakasone is survived by his mother, Doris; sons Byon and Vance; a brother, Jay Nakasone; a sister, Karen Lederer; five grandchildren and a great-grandchild.