Cravalho began his political career in 1955 as a member of Hawaii 's territorial House of Representatives . He served as the first House Speaker ( 1959 – 1967 ) following statehood , a delegate to the 1960 Democratic National Convention , Maui mayor and chairman of the Maui Board of Water Supply . Much of Maui 's development can be traced to Cravalho 's term as mayor . In the 1970s , he was responsible for developing the waterline from Wailuku to Wailea , which enabled the development of Kihei . Cravalho had a part in the formation of Maui Economic Opportunity Inc. , a private , nonprofit organization chartered in 1965 to help low-income elderly , children and youth , persons with disabilities , immigrants , other disadvantaged people and the general public to help themselves
1960 Democratic National Convention
1960 Democratic National Convention
Elmer Cravalho