Kim Coco Iwamoto
Kim Coco Iwamoto | |
|---|---|
Iwamoto in 2009 | |
| Member of the Hawaii House of Representatives from the 25 district | |
| Assumed office November 5, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Scott Saiki |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 26, 1968 Kauai, Hawaii, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Fashion Institute of Technology (AA) San Francisco State University (BA) University of New Mexico (JD) |
Kim Coco Iwamoto (born May 26, 1968) is an American politician from Hawaii and member of the Hawaii House of Representatives. Iwamoto is the first transgender state legislator in Hawaii history. She was also one of the Democratic primary candidates for the position of Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii in the 2018 election. She previously served as a commissioner on the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission and was elected to serve two terms on the Hawaii Board of Education before winning her state house seat in 2024, unseating then-House Speaker Scott Saiki in the Democratic primary. Iwamoto had previously run against Saiki in 2020 and 2022, losing by a slim margin both times.
Iwamoto was recognized as a Champion of Change by President Barack Obama in 2013 and in 2018, Newsweek listed her as one of fifty need-to-know pioneers for LGBTQ rights.
In September 2024, Iwamoto and nine others were arrested and cited for alleged obstruction at a protest at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children during a management lockout of unionized nurses. The charges were later dismissed.