Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

THE first man of Filipino descent who holds the distinction of being the first Filipino American mayor of any United States municipality is Eduardo Enabore Malapit. Born April 6, 1933 in Kauai, Mala was an American Democratic politician who served as Mayor of Kauai, Hawaii. He was elected for four consecutive two-year terms as mayor of Kauai beginning in 1974. Affectionately called "Mala" by friends, he was widely respected in Kauai and throughout Hawaii for his belief in community service.

Raised in the town of Hanapepe, Mala was said to earn a living in his teen-years, shining shoes in front of the Hanapepe Pool Hall, a business owned by his parents, Eusebio and Leonila Malapit.

Malapit attended Waimea High School in Kauai and obtained a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Hawaii. He went on to receive a jurisprudence degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School in 1962 and then worked as a public prosecutor after graduation.

Always having the heart of a public servant, Eduardo Malapit’s first public office was as a councilman on the Kauai County Council where he served for eight years. In 1974, he

was elected as Mayor of Kauai, serving as mayor for four consecutive two-year terms (total of 8 years) from 1974 until 1982.

During his terms as mayor, Malapit oversaw a development boom and is often credited with improving and updating Kauai’s infrastructure, with the renovation of Kauai’s public parks, and the building of new community centers, police stations, fire stations, sewage treatment plants, and garbage transfer stations.

In 1982, Malapit’s tenure as mayor ended. He became chairman of the Hawaii state Board of Labor and Industrial Relations from 1983 to 1987. He then served as the governor’s representative for the County of Kauai from 1987 to 1990.

Known in Kauai for his leadership in community service, Malapit’s other positions were president and legal adviser for the Kauai Pop Warner football league, president of the West Kauai Jaycees, president of the Koloa school PTA and the Koloa Lions Club, director of the Hawaii Visitors Bureau. He was also active on the Kauai Filipino Community Council.

Last year, on Aug 27, 2007 Malapit died at the age of 74. His wife of 45 years, Elizabeth, survived him with their four sons, Kevin, Lon, Kent and Lyle.

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( Published on December 8, 2008 in Asian Journal Los Angeles p. B2 )