Peter Apo
Peter Apo is a Native Hawaiian leader with a credentialed history of service to thepeople of Hawai’i. He has been blessed with leadership roles spanning both the public and private sectors in a long history of service with state and city government, the corporate business sector, and community-based initiatives.
Peter has served as a Hawai’i State Legislator, State and County Government Administrator, previously elected Trustee of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, a founder of the Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association, a certified mediator, and Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army for Hawai’i. He continues to dedicate much of his time serving on numerous boards and commissions as a community service. Peter is also a singer-songwriter and leader of the Peter Apo Band.
His distinguished career in public service includes serving on the first Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs in 1980 followed by 12 years of service as a state legislator in the Hawai'i State House of Representatives. In 1994 he became Director of Culture & Arts for the City & County of Honolulu. In 1996 he assumed the position of Special Assistant on Hawaiian Affairs to the Governor. He subsequently returned to the City & County of Honolulu as Director of Waikiki Development.
He was a Regent of Chaminade University, chaired the board of directors for the Historic Hawai'i Foundation and The Pacific Islanders in Communications. He further served on the board of the Hawai'i Visitors & Convention Bureau. He is a founding member of the Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association and served as its past chairman of the board. He was honored with a Department of Defense appointment to serve as Civilian Aide to the U.S. Secretary of the Army for Hawai’i.
Peter is also a prolific author of Op-Ed articles and manuscripts on Hawaiian politics and culture as well as a public speaker on a range of topics relating to Hawaiian culture, Hawai’i political systems, and sustainable growth issues. He continues serving the community on numerous boards and commissions. He is also an accomplished performing musician, singer-songwriter, recording artist and a winner of the prestigious Na Hoku Hanohano Hawai’i music award.
Peter continues to champion a Hawai’i future based on sustainable growth policies and Hawaiian values-driven corporate leadership. He is outspoken about a 21st century island-friendly future that insures quality of life opportunities to all socio-economic-ethnic sectors of Hawaii’s people as expressed in a song title – “Hawai’i-Loa Ku Like Kakou” translated “All Hawai’i Stand Together”.