George Ariyoshi

George Ariyoshi
Ariyoshi in 1974
3rd Governor of Hawaii
In office
October 17, 1973 – December 1, 1986
Acting: October 17, 1973 – December 2, 1974
LieutenantNelson Doi
Jean King
John Waihee
Preceded byJohn A. Burns
Succeeded byJohn Waihee
5th Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii
In office
December 2, 1970 – December 2, 1974
GovernorJohn A. Burns
Preceded byThomas Gill
Succeeded byNelson Doi
Personal details
BornGeorge Ryoichi Ariyoshi
(1926-03-12)March 12, 1926
Honolulu, Hawaii Territory, U.S.
DiedApril 19, 2026(2026-04-19) (aged 100)
Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
Spouse
Jean Hayashi
​
(m. 1955)​
Children3
EducationUniversity of Hawaii, Manoa (attended)
Michigan State University (BA)
University of Michigan (JD)
Civilian awardsOrder of the Sacred Treasure (Grand Cordon, Japan)
Military service
Branch United States Army
UnitMilitary Intelligence Service
ConflictWorld War II
Military awardsNisei Soldiers of World War II Congressional Gold Medal

George Ryoichi Ariyoshi (Japanese: 有吉 良一, romanized: Ariyoshi Ryōichi, March 12, 1926 – April 19, 2026) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the third governor of Hawaii from 1974 to 1986.[1] A Democrat, he was Hawaii's longest-serving governor and the first American of Asian descent to serve as governor of a U.S. state. He assumed gubernatorial powers and duties when Governor John A. Burns was declared incapacitated in October 1973 and was elected in 1974 (assuming governorship December 1974), becoming the first Asian-American to be elected governor of a U.S. state or territory. His lengthy tenure was a record likely to remain unbroken due to term limits enacted after he left office.

Early life

Ariyoshi was born on March 12, 1926,[2] in Honolulu, then in the Territory of Hawaii, to Japanese immigrant parents, who named him after George Washington.[3] Ariyoshi graduated in 1944 from McKinley High School. As World War II drew to a close, he served as an interpreter with the U.S. Army Military Intelligence Service in Japan. Upon returning stateside, he first attended the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, then transferred to Michigan State University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1949. He then went on to receive his J.D. degree from the University of Michigan Law School in 1952.[4]

Political career

Ariyoshi's political career began in 1954 when he was elected to the Hawaii Territorial House of Representatives.[5] He was later elected to the Hawaii Territorial Senate in 1958, then to the Hawaii State Senate in 1959.[5] He served in the senate until 1970 when he ran for and was elected lieutenant governor of Hawaii in 1970 with Governor John A. Burns. When Governor Burns fell ill in October 1973, Ariyoshi assumed his constitutional role as acting governor.[5]

Governor

1974 Gubernatorial Term

In the election of 1974, Ariyoshi was elected governor in his own right, with Nelson Doi as his lieutenant governor.[5]

He guided the state through its first economic recession.[5]

Ariyoshi helped to develop the Kakaako Waterfront during his term amid the development of Downtown Honolulu. In 1976, Ariyoshi created the Hawaii Community Development Authority which established long-term planning for the Kakaako District. The HCDA would identify districts that were underdeveloped and deteriorating while coordinating the future development of these districts.[6]

Kukui Plaza Corruption Case

Amid the upcoming 1978 Hawaii Democratic Primary, Ariyoshi was involved in a political feud with Honolulu Mayor and Democratic challenger for the nomination, Frank Fasi, who was involved in a corruption investigation. Around late 1976, Fasi was indicted under suspicions of collecting $500,000 from real-estate developer, Hal J. Hansen, during the development of Kukui Plaza. Hawaii Attorney General, Ron Amemiya, who was appointed by Ariyoshi, was unable to push the case further as Hansen refused to testify as a witness for the prosecution.[7]

Fasi claimed that the investigation was an attempt by Ariyoshi to discredit his campaign and remove him as a strong challenger for the Democratic nomination; Ariyoshi denied any role in directing the investigation.[7] Ariyoshi would go on to be the nominee for the 1978 Hawaii gubernatorial election, winning 50.30% against Fasi's 48.91% of the vote. He was re-elected in 1978 with Jean King as lieutenant governor.[5]

1978 Gubernatorial Term

Overpopulation Concerns

Ariyoshi was involved in combatting the over-development and overpopulation of the state. In January 1977, Ariyoshi commented on overpopulation concerns during his State of the State address[8] amid reports from the Temporary Commission on Population Stabilization which stated an inverse relationship between population growth and environmental stewardship.[9] With support from the state legislature, a measure to address overpopulation was to combat in-migration from the mainland. Legislation enacted in 1977 instituted a one year residency requirement for public sector employment, although the law was struck down by a federal judge.[10][11]

In the 1982 Hawaii Gubernatorial Election, he was re-elected with 45.2% of the vote against a split vote between Independent Democrat Frank Fasi with 28.6% and Republican Dominis Garrida Anderson with 26.1%. Ariyoshi was re-elected with John D. Waihee III as lieutenant governor.[5]

1982 Gubernatorial Term

International Diplomacy

Ariyoshi was involved in improving relations with multiple countries with significant presence in Hawaii’s population or history. Around 1982, Ariyoshi visited the Azores in Portugal and established a formal relationship that recognized Hawaii and the Azores as sister-states based on the historic Portugese immigration from the islands to Hawaii during the plantation-era.[12] Ariyoshi went on to visit multiple countries in similar efforts in 1985 to recognize the relationship between Hawaii and other countries. He set into motion a sister-state relationship between Hawaii and Okinawa, Japan.[13][14]

Ariyoshi's administration was marked by fiscal conservatism as the post-statehood economic boom came to an end. Barred by term limits from seeking another term in 1986, Ariyoshi was succeeded by Waihee.[5] After leaving public office, he served in a variety of corporate and non-profit capacities.

Personal life and death

Ariyoshi with Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi and former first lady Jean Ariyoshi in 2011

Ariyoshi married Jean Miya Hayashi in 1955 in Honolulu, Hawaii. They have a daughter, Lynn, born in 1957; and two sons, Ryozo, born in 1959, and Donn, 1961.

In her book Washington Place: A First Lady's Story, Jean Ariyoshi credits former police officer Larry Mehau as becoming responsible for her family's safety. Mehau was also named "Neighbor Islands Coordinator" for her husband's campaign for governor. In the book she states that Mehau, although having a reputation as being honest and tough, was nicknamed in the press as "the Godfather". She does not mention why he was given this nickname, but the press did so because he was accused of having ties to the criminal underworld, with many claiming that he was the top boss of organized crime in Hawaii. According to Jean Ariyoshi, Mehau offered his help but told her husband: "I know I'm controversial, so don't put me up in front." Her husband responded: "I've known you for a long time and I've known you to be a good and honest person. What kind of friend would I be if I said 'I want your help but I don't want anyone to know you're helping me?' I'm not afraid to have people know of our friendship." In his own autobiography, With Obligation to All, George Ariyoshi does not mention Larry Mehau at all.

Ariyoshi also served as president of the Hawaii Bar Association and served on the board of directors for First Hawaiian Bank, the Honolulu Gas Company, and Hawaiian Insurance Guaranty Company. He also served on the board of governors at the East-West Center, based in Honolulu, an internationally known education and research organization that was established by Congress. As governor, he is credited with having revitalized the organization, and joined the board when his term as governor ended. He served five terms as chairman, until he was not reappointed by Republican governor Linda Lingle in 2003.

Ariyoshi died at his Honolulu home on April 19, 2026, at the age of 100.[5][15]

See also

  • List of minority governors and lieutenant governors in the United States

References

  1. ^ "George Ryoichi Ariyoshi". National Governors Association. December 2, 2018. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
  2. ^ "Former Hawaii Gov. George Ariyoshi turns 100". Hawaii News Now. March 12, 2026. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  3. ^ "George R. Ariyoshi: An Oral History of the First Asian American Governor" (PDF). University of Hawaii at Manoa. December 2016. p. 45. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 5, 2020. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  4. ^ Boylan, Dan; Michael Holmes, T. (January 2000). John A. Burns: the man and his times − Dan Boylan, T. Michael Holmes − Google Boeken. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 9780824822828. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i McFadden, Robert D. (April 20, 2026). "George Ariyoshi, 100, America's First Governor of Asian Descent, Dies". The New York Times. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  6. ^ "About HCDA". dbedt.hawaii.gov. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  7. ^ a b Turner, Wallace (July 5, 1978). "Grudges and Corruption Inquiry Color Governorship Race in Hawaii". The New York Times. p. A15. Retrieved April 20, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ "The Ninth Legislature, State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 1977, Journal of the House" (PDF). Hawai'i State Legislature. 1977. pp. 27–28. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  9. ^ "Report of the Temporary Commission on Population Stabilization, State of Hawaii" (PDF). Hawaii Legislative Reference Bureau Library. January 1972. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  10. ^ Arrasmith, Perry (October 2, 2025). "Hawai'i's bizarre legacy of population control (and why it's still here)". Aloha State Daily. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  11. ^ Kahle, Richard F. Jr., ed. (April 1978). "Hawaii constitutional convention studies 1978: introduction and article summaries" (PDF). State of Hawaii Legislative Reference Bureau. p. 46. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  12. ^ "Portugal: Given past emigration, Azores available to support Hawaii - governor". Macau Business. Lusa. August 15, 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  13. ^ Masaki, Jonathan (October 29, 2025). "Hawaii, Okinawa celebrate 40-year connection as sister states". Hawaii News Now. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  14. ^ "State of Hawaii's Sister-States" (PDF). Hawaii.gov. Business Development & Support Division. Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism. December 2021. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
  15. ^ Spangler, Sam (April 20, 2026). "Former Governor Ariyoshi dies at age 100". KHON-TV. Retrieved April 20, 2026.

Sources

Wikimedia Commons logo
Wikimedia Commons has media related to George Ariyoshi.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.