uthority. This was a big surprise for Cayetano since Governor Burns hardly knew him. When Governor Burns was asked by Benjamin Cayetano as to why he selected him, he replied: "There are many Filipinos in Hawaii, and how many of them are lawyers? You are the only one I know!" This statement by Governor Burns gave him enormous strength and confidence.In 1974, backed by his fellow Democrats, Benjamin Cayetano won the nomination for the Democratic Party to run for the State House. But instead of running for his district, the Kalihi District, where the majority of the voters are fellow Filipinos, he decided to run in the Pearl District, where a majority of 60% were Japanese Americans. Benjamin Cayetano thought that running in the Peal District would be a step up and a more challenging mission to accomplish. Cayetano won his endeavor of wanting to accomplish a more challenging mission by winning the election against a popular Japanese American incumbent. In his first year at the House, despite being a rookie, he became chairman of the powerful Ways and Means, Economic Development, and the Public Utilities and Transportation Committees. At the end of his term, he was selected the "Best Legislator" by both the Hawaii Observer and the Honolulu Star Bulletin, describing him as a "watchdog," and "key shaper" of the Legislature. Benjamin Cayetano was elected for a second term at the House in 1976, receiving the highest vote of any candidate. After his term at the House in 1978, Benjamin Cayetano ran for the fourth senatorial district and again was able to receive the largest vote of any candidate. This election made him the first senator of Filipino Ancestry in the Senate, where he once again was selected to chair the Ways and Means Committee. Benjamin Cayetano was elected three more times to the Senate where he was serving until 1985 for a total of eight years.Throughout his 12 years at the legislature, Benjamin Cayetano has built a re...
