Ron Menor

Ron Menor
Menor in 2017
Member of the Honolulu City Council, District IX
In office
2013–2021
Preceded byNestor Garcia
Succeeded byAugie Tulba
Member of the Hawaii Senate
from the 18th district
In office
May 2000 – 2008
Appointed byBen Cayetano
Preceded byRandy Iwase
Succeeded byMichelle Kidani
Member of the Hawaii House of Representatives
In office
39th district (1982-1984)
12th district (1984–1986)
39th district (1992-2000)
Succeeded byCharlotte Nekota
Personal details
Born(1955-09-29)September 29, 1955
Hilo, Hawaii, U.S.
DiedJanuary 17, 2023(2023-01-17) (aged 67)
PartyDemocratic
EducationUniversity of California, Los Angeles (BA)
Georgetown University Law Center (JD)

Ronnie Christopher "Ron" Menor (September 29, 1955 – January 17, 2023) was a prominent Filipino-American politician and attorney in Hawaiʻi. He is one of the few individuals in the state's history to have served in the Hawaiʻi House of Representatives, the Hawaiʻi State Senate, and the Honolulu City Council. Throughout his four-decade career, he was known for his advocacy for consumer protection, public education, and the Filipino community.

Early life and education

Menor was born in Hilo, Hawaiʻi, and was the son of Benjamin Menor, the first Filipino-American to serve as a justice on the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court. He was also the nephew of former Representative Barney B. Menor. He attended Iolani School in Honolulu.

Menor graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in Political Science before earning his Juris Doctor from the Georgetown University Law Center. After law school, he returned to Hawaiʻi to serve as a law clerk for Chief Justice William S. Richardson.

Political career

Hawaiʻi State Legislature

Menor was first elected to the Hawaiʻi House of Representatives in 1982 at the age of 27. Over the next 26 years, he served multiple non-consecutive terms in both the House and Senate, representing Mililani and Central Oʻahu. During his time in the State Senate, he chaired the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Housing, as well as the Committee on Energy and Environment. He was a primary architect of the state's landmark "Gas Cap" law and was a staunch defender of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act.

In the 2008 primary election, several months after he pleaded no contest to driving drunk with his 11-year-old son in the car, Menor lost the Democratic renomination to Michelle Kidani.

Honolulu City Council

In 2012, Menor was elected to the Honolulu City Council, representing District 9 (Waipahu, Village Park, Mililani Mauka). He served as Council Chair and oversaw major infrastructure developments, including the Honolulu Rail Transit project, which he championed as a vital transportation link for working families. He left the Council in 2021 due to term limits.

In 2022, Menor ran for the Honolulu City Council District 8 seat but narrowly lost in the general election to Val Okimoto.

Death and legacy

Menor died unexpectedly on January 17, 2023, at the age of 67, following a medical emergency. Governor Josh Green ordered flags across the state to be flown at half-staff in his honor, praising Menor as a "fearless" and "dedicated public servant."

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Ron Menor". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  2. 1 2 KHON2 News (January 18, 2023). Longtime Hawaii politician Ron Menor dies at 67. Retrieved April 14, 2026 – via YouTube.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. 1 2 3 Marchi-Young, Alyson (January 19, 2021). "Former Lawmaker Ron Menor Joins Strategies 360's Hawaii Practice". Strategies 360. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Ron Menor's Biography". Vote Smart.
  5. ↑ None (July 23, 2016). "District 09 - Ron Menor". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  6. ↑ Hawaii News Now (January 18, 2023). Ron Menor, longtime Hawaii politician who brought 'passionate service' to elected office, dies at... Retrieved April 14, 2026 – via YouTube.
  7. ↑ "Ron Menor, Councilman?". Honolulu Civil Beat. December 10, 2011. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  8. ↑ Pang, Gordon Y. K. (January 31, 2020). "Councilman Ron Menor opts out of mayoral race". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Office of the Governor – News Release – Governor Green issues flag order in honor of late State and City lawmaker Ron Menor". governor.hawaii.gov. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Flag order issued in honor of late lawmaker Ron Menor | Maui Now". | Flag order issued in honor of late lawmaker Ron Menor. January 19, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2026.