Former Hawaii Lawmaker Bob Nakata Dies At 80 - Honolulu Civil Beat The Oahu pastor was also a community organizer well known for his advocacy of affordable housing. Reading time: 4 minutes. The Rev. Bob Nakata, a former state legislator and activist, died Monday at a care home in Honolulu. Nakata, 80, served in the Hawaii House of Representatives from 1983 to 1986 and in the state Senate from 1999 to 2002. He also served as the pastor at Kahaluu United Methodist Church from 1980 to 1989. “Bob was a community organizer and he stood for social, economic and environmental justice in a strong and gentle way,” said Mike McCartney, who served with Nakata in the Legislature. “And when the community needed a friend, he was there for the people who could not help themselves.”