Robert N. Herkes is the State Representative for District 5 on the island of Hawai`i.  He currently chairs the House Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce and is an Assistant Majority Whip.

Representative Herkes was born in Iloilo City in the Philippines.  He was raised in Hilo and is a third generation resident of Hawai'i Island.  He lives in the community of Volcano with his wife, Jo-Anna, and their two dogs: Aikane and Kolohe.  He is the proud dad of three grown sons: Bobby, Kenny, and Doug.<br>

A retired hotel executive, Representative Herkes graduated with honors from Cornell Hotel School and worked in the hospitality industry for 40 years.<br>

His political career began in 1982 when he served on the Hawai'i County Police Commission.  Then in 1994, he was elected to the Hawai'i County Council.  In 1988, he was appointed to the State Senate to fill the seat vacated by former Hawai`i Island Senator Richard Henderson.  He was elected to the State House in 1992, ran for Hawai'i County Mayor in 2000, and was re-elected to the State House in 2002.<br>