Roots in the Community
The Wong ohana have been a part of the Diamond Head and Kaimuki communities for more than 70 years. Kevan's grandparents, Harry and Ethel began a family business operating a small television repair shop located in the Peerless Building on 13th Avenue. They later converted the business into the Harry Wong Tax Office, operating out of the same space to provide accounting services to the Hawaii families for decades. Their perseverance and success allowed them to purchase a family home in Diamond Head where they still reside today.
Kevan’s parents, Leighton and Nancy, raised their family on 12th Avenue and taught their two sons the importance of loyalty, hard work, and responsibility. His father’s experience as an estate planning and tax attorney and President of the Hawaii State Bar Association Probate Section fueled Kevan’s desire to pursue a degree in law. Kevan also learned the importance of compassion toward others and community building watching his mother work with the Aloha United Way and as a local school librarian. His parents believe in investing in Hawaii’s local youth so Leighton coached Kevan, his brother, and others in youth and high school basketball for over 20 years and co-founded the University Lab School Alumni Association to support his alma mater.
Kevan attended Merry-Go-Round Preschool, Kaimuki Christian School, Kahala Elementary, Our Redeemer Lutheran School, and the Lutheran High School of Hawaii. He earned a degree in Business Administration with a minor in Communications from the University of Concordia at Irvine and holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Hawaii at Manoa William S. Richardson School of Law.
A Career in Public Service
In 2012, Kevan returned home from college and began his career in government in the Hawaii State House of Representatives with Representative Scott Nishimoto. Working to serve the needs of the Kapahulu community reminded Kevan of the fulfillment he first felt volunteering with long-term care residents at Leahi Hospital growing up and ignited his passion for public service. He spent seven years alongside Rep. Nishimoto learning to navigate the different levels of government and the legislative process as committee clerk and office manager until he left to prepare for the Hawaii Bar Exam.
After passing the Bar in 2019, Kevan joined the City and County of Honolulu, working for the Mayor and Managing Director and serving as the City's Legislative Liaison to the State. With the onset of the unexpected COVID-19 pandemic, he was quickly given additional responsibilities standing up policy and procedures for the sudden influx of federal money distributed to the County. Kevan assisted launching the new City and County Office of Economic Revitalization Office and played a critical role in creating the Back on the Wave Business Education Program, which provided resources to local businesses to navigate operations around changing pandemic rules and protocols. He also was appointed to the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund Committee, overseeing spending and reporting requirements for Honolulu’s federal relief monies. After the confirmation of Resolution 19-329 on the 2020 ballot, voters established the Honolulu Youth Commission. Kevan organized rules and protocol for the inaugural class of commissioners, and currently serves as its Committee Administrator.
In his free time, Kevan volunteers with a number of organizations, including: Governor’s appointee for Oahu on the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation Corporate Board, Chair of the Hawaii Health System's Policy Committee, Vice-Chair of the Oahu County Democrats, Co-Chair of the Oahu County Democrats Legislation Committee, and Master Inspector of the Delta Theta Phi International Law Fraternity.
With more than a decade of government experience, Kevan has a deep understanding of the concerns and priorities of the neighborhood and the knowledge to collaborate with federal, state, and county agencies to make impactful changes to improve our community.
Kevan is excited for the opportunity to support his community as the next state representative of House District 20.