Richard Lee Fale, like most in Hawai’i, has a mixed and colorful heritage. Born in Provo, Utah while his mother was attending school, Richard and his family moved to the Kingdom of Tonga shortly thereafter. He excelled in academics and athletics, winning several amateur boxing tournaments and leading his Tonga High School’s rugby team as Team Captain to a national championship, the school’s first in almost 20 years. He also, like his brothers, captained Tonga High’s national quiz team and led them to two national championships.

After graduating from high school, Richard moved to Lai’e, Hawai’i. He attended Windward Community College and, after serving his mission in Japan, he returned to Hawai’i in 2005 to study at Brigham Young University- Hawaii.

Upon returning from Japan after September 11, 2001 Richard saw the great negative impact terrorism had on Hawai’i and other smaller Pacific Island nations. He initiated a project to assist developing countries expand their education abilities and in protecting their governments and growing their economies. This project was first initiated in the Kingdom of Tonga and now has been expanded to Mongolia, China, Samoa, Fiji, the Philippines and other countries. After the successful establishment of this project and seeing the situation deteriorate in the Global War on Terror in Iraq, he enlisted in the United States Army in the tradition of both his grandfathers who fought in WWII. He currently serves as a Combat Engineer, and a Paralegal in the 442nd/100th Infantry Battalion. This achievement he describes as one of the greatest in his life.

Richard became concerned with the effectiveness of government after returning to Hawai’i. He was not satisfied with the quality of education his younger brothers and sisters received and watched his family struggle through financial hardship trying to make ends meet in the Islands as job and economic opportunities were very scarce and government seemed more interested in collecting taxes than in taking care of its people. After working as Legislative Aide for Minority Leader Lynn Finnegan during the 2009 Hawai’i State Legislative Session, Richard believed the most valuable way to affect change was through public service. The people in his community needed representation that reflected their principles and would be able to stand up for their values.

Today, Richard continues to serve in the United States Army Reserve and was recently elected as Chairman for the Ko’olauloa Neighborhood Board. He is the Director of the “Polynesian Eyes Foundation,” a non-profit located in Hau’ula, Hawai’i and Mu’a, Tonga dedicated to the research and preservation of Polynesian culture. He is also co-owner and farmer of Waimana Farms in Hau’ula.