Romeo Munoz Cachola Romeo Munoz Cachola is a Hawaii legislator . Romeo Munoz Cachola , commonly known as Romy Cachola , is an American politician from the state of Hawaii . An emigrant from the Philippines , Cachola became one of the first Filipino Americans to be elected to the Honolulu City Council since statehood in 1959 . He also was a member of the Hawaii State Legislature and served in the Hawaii State House of Representatives from 1984 to 1992 . Education Born in the historic Spanish colonial town of Vigan in the Philippines province of Ilocos Sur , Cachola studied at Quezon University near Manila where he obtained his Bachelor of Laws and Master of Laws degrees . After having settled in Honolulu and obtained United States citizenship , Cachola became an entrepreneur and realtor . Politics With the urging of fellow Filipino Americans in his neighborhood , Cachola ran for the House District 39 seat comprising of Aliamanu , Foster Village and all the military housing districts on the southern coast of Oahu . He served the district until reapportionment in 1991 placed him in House District 30 . He successfully ran for the seat and continued his service as a legislator until his election to the Honolulu City Council in 2000 . In the Honolulu City Council , Cachola served as chairman of key positions with budget authority . As Chairman of the Zoning Committee , he was considered one of the most powerful politicians in the City & County of Honolulu following the mayor , managing director and council budget chairman . In 2003 , Cachola was elected by his fellow council members as floor leader . Popular within the communities he served as well as among principal military leaders of the United States Pacific Command , Cachola was reelected to the Honolulu City Council on September 18 , 2004 . Resources City Council District VII Categories : Filipino Americans | Hawaii politicians | Members of the Hawaii House of Representatives 