James (Jamie) Wataru

Moved to remove a lifetime limit of two covered abortions of non-viable pregnancies in the state public workers' Kaiser health plans. The health fund board passed it unanimously.

May 28, 2024Supports Healthcare Affordability

Source: eutf.hawaii.gov

Moved to raise the lifetime braces benefit to $1,500 in the state public workers' dental plans, and voted yes to drop a limit on dental implant coverage. Both motions failed on 5-5 votes, with all five employer trustees voting no.

December 19, 2023Supports Healthcare Affordability

Source: eutf.hawaii.gov

Moved a revised plan to cover hearing aids at 80% for each ear every three years, based on the lowest-priced model, in the state public workers' Kaiser health plans. The health fund board passed it unanimously.

October 24, 2023Supports Healthcare Affordability

Source: eutf.hawaii.gov

Moved to add hearing aid coverage at 80% for each ear every three years to the state public workers' Kaiser health plans. He said hearing loss is linked to dementia. The motion failed when two of three employer trustees present voted no.

August 29, 2023Supports Healthcare Affordability

Source: eutf.hawaii.gov

Moved and voted yes, as a trustee of the state public workers' health benefits fund, to set 2024 Kaiser retiree premiums with no yearly fee for the Silver and Fit exercise program. The motion failed because four of five employer trustees voted no.

July 25, 2023Supports Healthcare Affordability

Source: eutf.hawaii.gov

Moved to remove a lifetime limit of two covered abortions of non-viable pregnancies in the state public workers' Kaiser health plans. The health fund board passed it unanimously.

May 28, 2024Supports Women's Reproductive Rights

Source: eutf.hawaii.gov

Received the endorsement of the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, the faculty union, in its 2026 slate of endorsed candidates.

June 26, 2026

Source: uhpa.org

Was chosen by the trustees of the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund, which runs health plans for state and county workers and retirees, to chair the board starting July 1, 2025.

April 22, 2025

Source: eutf.hawaii.gov

Moved to create a working group of health fund trustees to compare what Hawaii public workers and retirees pay toward health coverage with other states and to study why Hawaii's employer share lags. The board passed it unanimously.

November 21, 2023

Source: eutf.hawaii.gov

As president of the United Public Workers union, refused to sign a $165,605 check for a union documentary film because he believed the union's board had not budgeted or approved it. A 2020 union trial decision also reprimanded him for following a political donation policy that broke the union's rules and for approving expense payments without the director's sign-off. It found none of those expenses benefited him personally.

October 26, 2020

Source: civilbeat.org

Was appointed by Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell to the city Zoning Board of Appeals on October 21, 2020, for a term ending June 30, 2025. The board hears appeals of city zoning and permit decisions.

October 21, 2020

Source: hnldoc.ehawaii.gov

Served as vice chair of the Honolulu Fire Commission, the mayor-appointed board that hires and yearly reviews the city fire chief. In April 2015 the commission gave Chief Manuel Neves a score of 4.4 out of 5.

April 23, 2015

Source: khon2.com