Community Born & Raised

The Wong ‘ohana have been a part of the Diamond Head and Kaimukī communities for more than 70 years starting when Kevan's grandparents, Harry and Ethel, opened a small television repair shop 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.

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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 Hawai‘i 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 Hawai‘i’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.

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Education & Community Ties

Kevan forged many longtime friendships at:

• Merry-Go-Round Preschool,

• Kaimukī Christian School,

• Kahala Elementary,

• Our Redeemer Lutheran School, and

• Lutheran High School of Hawai‘i.

 

He holds a degree in Business Administration with a minor in Communications from the University of Concordia at Irvine and was proud to follow in his father’s footsteps when he earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa William S. Richardson School of Law.

 

In his free time, Kevan volunteers with a number of organizations focused on improving Hawaii’s communities. He served as the Governor’s appointee for O‘ahu on the Hawai‘i Health Systems Corporation Corporate Board from 2020 until he resigned to run for office. While he was on the board, Kevan chaired the Hawai‘i Health System's Policy Committee bringing his expertise in government to shape HHSC’s work at the Legislature. He is also the current O‘ahu County Democrats Vice Chair and  past Assistant Treasurer, Region 1 Chair, District 21 Chair, and Co-chair of the Legislation Committee. During law school, he was President of the Delta Theta Phi International Law Fraternity and currently serves as the national organization’s Master Inspector, with responsibilities overseeing audits and budgetary requests.

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A Career in Public Service

In 2011, Kevan returned home from college and began his career in government in the Hawai‘i 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 Lē‘ahi 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 Hawai‘i Bar Exam. ​

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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.

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With 12 years 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.

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Kevan is excited for the opportunity to support his community as the next state representative of House District 20.

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State House of Representatives: 2012 - 2019 Rep. Scott Nishimoto

 

Committee Clerk & Office Manager with House Committees on Higher Education, Judiciary, and Finance City and

 

County of Honolulu: 2019 - Present Mayor and Managing Director Legislative Liaison to the State of Hawai‘i

 

Hawai‘i Health Systems Corporation: 2020 - 2024 Board of Directors