Mitsuo “;Mits”; Shito, a strong public housing advocate at the state Legislature, died of natural causes last month. He was 79.

Shito was a member of the House of Representatives from 1974 to 1988. As chairman of the Housing Committee, he guided the development of affordable housing.

“;His legacy was public housing,”; said House Speaker Calvin Say (D, St. Louis Heights-Palolo Valley), who worked with Shito in the House for about 10 years.

“;He worked for the people of the state of Hawaii in providing as many housing units as possible,”; Say said.

Dennis Arakaki, executive director of the group Hawaii Family Forum and a member of the House from 1985 to 2006, said: “;He was one of the veteran legislators when I first came in, so we kind of looked to him for leadership and mentorship.”;

At the time of Shito's leadership in the Housing Committee, there was a big push for affordable housing in Kapolei and the Ewa area, he said.

“;He was sort of the person that guided it through the Legislature,”; he said.

After leaving the state Capitol, Shito became executive director of the Hawaii Housing Authority.

Born in Kaunakakai, Shito graduated from Molokai High School and enlisted in the military. Forty-two years later, he retired as a command sergeant major in the Hawaii Army National Guard.

His daughter, Eugenie Shito-Leong, said he co-founded Waipahu Cultural Garden Park, now known as Hawaii's Plantation Village, to preserve the cultural heritage in Waipahu.

Shito moved to Waikele in 1993 and served until his death as board president of the Waikele Community Association.

His wife of 56 years, Genevieve, died in January. He is survived by his daughter, two grandchildren, sister Stella Iaea and brother Paul Shito.

Visitation is 5:30 p.m. Sunday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, mauka chapel, with a wake service at 6:30 p.m. Burial is 11 a.m. Monday at Mililani Memorial Park. Casual Attire.