Lynn DeCoite

Lynn DeCoitte (born May 9, 1964) is a member of the Hawaii House of Representatives for District 13 appointed by Governor David Ige to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of the late Representative Mele Carroll after the 2015 legislative session began. A former member of the Hawaii State Board of Agriculture, she resigned her position when appointed.^[1] District 13 is a rural district encompassing parts of Maui on three inhabited islands:

• Parts of Maui island: Haiku, Hāna, Kaupo, Kīpahulu, Nahiku, Pāʻia
• All of Lānaʻi, and
• All of Molokaʻi

The district also represents the uninhabited islands of Kahoʻolawe and Molokini.

DeCoite is a resident of Hoolehua, Molokai and owns L&R Farm Enterprises and RJ Snacks.^[2][3]

DeCoitte has been appointed to five House committees:

• Agriculture
• Economic Development & Business
• Finance
• Tourism
• Veterans, Military, & International Affairs, & Culture and the Arts

^[4]

Controversy

Representative DeCoite has been an advocate for cockfighting, which is illegal in Hawaii, and has supported the recognition of cockfighting as a cultural activity.^[5] In testimony to the state house prior to her appointment, she testified that ending cockfighting could cause global warming and have other impacts: "These animals will fight with out humans that is there common nature. Humans have altered some many things in the world that we have become our worst enemies. That has been linked to climate change. If we keep making to many changes we will destroy ourselves, and the life forms that exist around us." ^[6]

References