Roland M. Kotani (June 15, 1954 – July 28, 1989) was an American politician and Democratic member of the Hawaii State House of Representatives. Kotani served as assistant majority floor leader and represented the Pearl City Pacific Palisades area.[1][2]
He was killed by his estranged wife Grace Kotani on July 28, 1989, at the age of 35.[3]
Biographyedit
A Japanese American, Kotani graduated from Yale University and in 1984 he was the editor of Ka Huliau (The Turning Point), a self-described "Hawaiian Grassroots Journal." The journal was launched in early 1983 and published every six weeks, with an estimated circulation of 3,000. Kotani's particular focus was on the resurgence of the local people's movement.[4] He worked as an editorial assistant for The Hawaii Herald.[5] Kotani authored the book The Japanese in Hawaii: A Century of Struggle in 1985, writing extensively on the 100th Infantry Battalion.[3][6] During this time, he worked as an assistant to the Governor of Hawaii and Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii. He was nominated to the Hawaii State House of Representatives in 1987 by the State Governor John Waihee to replace representative Eloise Tungpalan who was appointed to the Hawaii State Senate. Kotani was later elected to the House unopposed in 1988.[1]
He married Grace Sadako Imura in 1979 and they had a daughter together. The couple separated in February 1989 and became estranged. On July 28, 1989, as a result of a domestic dispute, Grace attacked Kotani with a hammer and beat him to death.[1] The killing took place in a rented duplex in Honolulu. The medical examination report stated Kotani sustained blunt force trauma to the head. Grace later presented herself to the Honolulu Police Department and confessed to the murder, before excusing herself to the restroom where she fatally shot herself.[1]
Legacyedit
The University of Hawaii at Manoa launched the Roland Kotani Scholarship in his memory at the University's Department of Ethnic Studies.[7] Kotani was also acknowledged in several state resolutions passed by the Hawaii State Legislature.[8][9] Kotani's murder is studied in detail as a case study in Hawaii crime scene investigation books.[3][10]
Referencesedit
^ abcdStaton, Ron (August 2, 1989). "Wife of Slain Lawmaker Confesses Then Commits Suicide". AP NEWS. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
^"A Kibei in the Burma Jungle". www.100thbattalion.org. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
^"Sons and Daughters of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team 442nd – Go for Broke. Page 8". Retrieved January 29, 2020.
^"University of Hawaii at Manoa Catalog". www.catalog.hawaii.edu. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
^"SR66.DOC". www.capitol.hawaii.gov. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
^"SCR145 SD1.DOC". www.capitol.hawaii.gov. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
^Dias, Gary A.; Dingeman, Robbie (2004). Honolulu CSI: An Introduction to Forensic Science and Criminal Investigation. Bess Press. ISBN978-1-57306-228-2. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
February 15, 2024
roland, kotani, roland, kotani, june, 1954, july, 1989, american, politician, democratic, member, hawaii, state, house, representatives, kotani, served, assistant, majority, floor, leader, represented, pearl, city, pacific, palisades, area, circa, 1980s, born,. Roland M Kotani June 15 1954 July 28 1989 was an American politician and Democratic member of the Hawaii State House of Representatives Kotani served as assistant majority floor leader and represented the Pearl City Pacific Palisades area 1 2 Roland KotaniRoland Kotani circa 1980s Born 1954 06 15 June 15 1954DiedJuly 28 1989 1989 07 28 aged 35 Honolulu HawaiiNationalityAmericanOccupationPoliticianYears active3Known forMember of the Hawaii State House of RepresentativesHe was killed by his estranged wife Grace Kotani on July 28 1989 at the age of 35 3 Biography editA Japanese American Kotani graduated from Yale University and in 1984 he was the editor of Ka Huliau The Turning Point a self described Hawaiian Grassroots Journal The journal was launched in early 1983 and published every six weeks with an estimated circulation of 3 000 Kotani s particular focus was on the resurgence of the local people s movement 4 He worked as an editorial assistant for The Hawaii Herald 5 Kotani authored the book The Japanese in Hawaii A Century of Struggle in 1985 writing extensively on the 100th Infantry Battalion 3 6 During this time he worked as an assistant to the Governor of Hawaii and Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii He was nominated to the Hawaii State House of Representatives in 1987 by the State Governor John Waihee to replace representative Eloise Tungpalan who was appointed to the Hawaii State Senate Kotani was later elected to the House unopposed in 1988 1 He married Grace Sadako Imura in 1979 and they had a daughter together The couple separated in February 1989 and became estranged On July 28 1989 as a result of a domestic dispute Grace attacked Kotani with a hammer and beat him to death 1 The killing took place in a rented duplex in Honolulu The medical examination report stated Kotani sustained blunt force trauma to the head Grace later presented herself to the Honolulu Police Department and confessed to the murder before excusing herself to the restroom where she fatally shot herself 1 Legacy edit The University of Hawaii at Manoa launched the Roland Kotani Scholarship in his memory at the University s Department of Ethnic Studies 7 Kotani was also acknowledged in several state resolutions passed by the Hawaii State Legislature 8 9 Kotani s murder is studied in detail as a case study in Hawaii crime scene investigation books 3 10 References edit a b c d Staton Ron August 2 1989 Wife of Slain Lawmaker Confesses Then Commits Suicide AP NEWS Retrieved January 29 2020 Our Campaigns com Roland M Kotani a b c Dias Gary A Dingeman Robbie 2003 Honolulu Homicide Murder and Mayhem in Paradise Bess Press ISBN 978 1 57306 156 8 Vol 55 No 1 Jan 1 1984 nla gov au Pacific Islands Monthly Retrieved January 29 2020 A Kibei in the Burma Jungle www 100thbattalion org Retrieved January 29 2020 Sons and Daughters of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team 442nd Go for Broke Page 8 Retrieved January 29 2020 University of Hawaii at Manoa Catalog www catalog hawaii edu Retrieved January 29 2020 SR66 DOC www capitol hawaii gov Retrieved January 29 2020 SCR145 SD1 DOC www capitol hawaii gov Retrieved January 29 2020 Dias Gary A Dingeman Robbie 2004 Honolulu CSI An Introduction to Forensic Science and Criminal Investigation Bess Press ISBN 978 1 57306 228 2 Retrieved January 29 2020 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Roland Kotani amp oldid 1197354231, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
