He served in the state House and Senate and as Hawaii insurance commissioner.
Wayne Metcalf, who devoted his life to public service, died April 6 in Bend, Oregon, after a brief illness.
He was a former Hawaii State Insurance Commissioner during the Cayetano administration who also served as Hilo’s state representative from 1984-1992 and as senator from 1997-1998.

“As a legislator, he advocated for fairness and equity in policies and laws,” according to a press release Friday from the Hawaii House or Representatives. “He was thoughtful and dedicated to serving his constituents and the state.”
After leaving office, Metcalf continued his public service as a per diem district and family court judge in Hawaii. He also worked for the United Nations and the International Monetary Fund.
He later moved to Washington State where he served as Special Deputy Insurance Commissioner from 2003-2008.
Metcalf was a graduate of Campbell High School, the University of Hawaii Hilo and the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaii. And he attended the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University.
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About the Author
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Chad Blair is the politics editor for Civil Beat. You can reach him by email at cblair@civilbeat.org or follow him on X at @chadblairCB.