WAILUKU >> He was a Republican, but publicly criticized a Reagan-appointed commission that recommended against native Hawaiian reparations in the early 1980s. H. RODGER BETTS / FORMER MAUI COUNSEL
Island man served
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on Reagan panelBy Gary T. Kubota
gkubota@starbulletin.comH. Rodger Betts, then-Maui County corporation counsel, joined two other native Hawaiian members on the commission in opposing a majority report published by the Native Hawaiian Study Commission.
"He was a tremendous help," said Kinau Boyd Kamalii, a former state House minority leader and a minority member of the commission.
Kamalii said with the assistance of Betts and others, the three Hawaiian members prepared a minority report whose arguments were a basis later for a congressional resolution apologizing for the 1893 overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy.
Betts, who had suffered a debilitating stroke a year ago, died surrounded by his family at Maui Memorial Medical Center on Saturday. He was 78.
Born in Waipahu and a 1942 graduate of Maui High School, Betts was a gunner in the Air Force from 1943 to 1945.
After graduating from the University of Detroit School of Law in 1952, he served in a variety of government positions, including general counsel for the Community Services Administration in Washington, D.C.
Betts is survived by a sister, Cleo Lee of Waiehu; daughters Alexa Basinger of Waiehu, Karen Quill of Haiku, Janis E. Betts of Hilo, and Lorna L. Betts of Wailuku; and a son, Graham Naess Betts of Haiku; and six grandchildren.
Visitation at the Church of the Good Shepherd will be from 8 to 11 a.m. Sept. 28, followed by a service from 11 a.m. to noon. Burial will be at the Makawao Veterans Cemetery.