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George Ariyoshi | |
|---|---|
 Ariyoshi in 1974 | |
| 3rdGovernor of Hawaii | |
| In office December 2, 1974 – December 1, 1986 | |
| Lieutenant | Nelson Doi Jean King John Waiheʻe |
| Preceded by | John A. Burns |
| Succeeded by | John Waiheʻe |
| 5thLieutenant Governor of Hawaii | |
| In office December 2, 1970 – December 2, 1974 | |
| Governor | John A. Burns |
| Preceded by | Thomas Gill |
| Succeeded by | Nelson Doi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | George Ryoichi Ariyoshi (1926-03-12)March 12, 1926 (age 99) Honolulu,Territory of Hawaii, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Michigan State University(BA) University of Michigan(JD) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| Unit | Military intelligence |
| Conflict | World War II |
George Ryoichi Ariyoshi (Japanese:有吉 良一,romanized: Ariyoshi Ryōichi, born March 12, 1926) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the thirdgovernor of Hawaii from 1974 to 1986.[1] ADemocrat, he is Hawaii's longest-serving governor and the firstAmerican of Asian descent to serve as governor of a U.S. state. He assumed gubernatorial powers and duties when GovernorJohn 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 aU.S. state or territory. His lengthy tenure is a record likely to remain unbroken due toterm limits enacted after he left office. Since the death of former U.S. presidentJimmy Carter fromGeorgia in December 2024, he is the oldest living former governor of any U.S. state.
Ariyoshi was born inHonolulu, then in theTerritory of Hawaiʻi, toJapanese immigrant parents, who named him afterGeorge Washington.[2] Ariyoshi graduated in 1944 fromMcKinley High School. AsWorld War II drew to a close, he served as an interpreter with theU.S. ArmyMilitary Intelligence Service in Japan. Upon returning stateside, he first attended theUniversity of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, then transferred toMichigan State University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1949. He then went on to receive hisJ.D. degree from theUniversity of Michigan Law School in 1952.[3]
Ariyoshi's political career began in 1954 when he was elected to the Hawaii Territorial House of Representatives. He was later elected to the Hawaii Territorial Senate in 1958, then to theHawaii State Senate in 1959. He served in the senate until 1970 when he ran for and was electedlieutenant governor of Hawaii in 1970 with GovernorJohn A. Burns. When Governor Burns fell ill in October 1973, Ariyoshi assumed his constitutional role asacting governor.
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In the election of 1974, Ariyoshi was elected governor in his own right, withNelson Doi as his lieutenant governor. He was re-elected in 1978 withJean King as lieutenant governor and in 1982 withJohn D. Waihee III as lieutenant governor. Ariyoshi's administration was marked by fiscal conservatism as the post-statehood economic boom came to an end. He guided the state through its firsteconomic recession. Barred by term limits from seeking another term in 1986, Ariyoshi was succeeded by Waihee. After leaving public office, he served in a variety of corporate and non-profit capacities.
Ariyoshi marriedJean Miya Hayashi in 1955 inHonolulu,Hawaiʻi. They have a daughter, Lynn, born in 1957; and two sons, Ryozo, born in 1959, and Donn, 1961.
In her bookWashington 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, many claiming that he was the top boss of organized crime in Hawai'i. 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 has also served as president of the HawaiiBar Association and served on the board of directors forFirst Hawaiian Bank, the Honolulu Gas Company and Hawaiian Insurance Guaranty Company. He also served on the board of governors at theEast-West Center, based inHonolulu, an internationally known education and research organization that was established by U.S. Congress. As governor, he is credited with revitalizing the organization, and joined the board when his term as governor ended. He served five terms as chairman, until he was not reappointed byRepublican governorLinda Lingle in 2003.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii 1970–1974 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Governor of Hawaii 1974–1986 Acting: 1973–1974 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forLieutenant Governor of Hawaii 1970 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forGovernor of Hawaii 1974,1978,1982 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded byas Former US Senator | Order of precedence of the United States Within Hawaii | Succeeded byas Former Governor |
| Preceded byas Former Governor | Order of precedence of the United States Outside Hawaii | |
| Honorary titles | ||
| Preceded by | Oldest living American governor 2024–present | Current holder |
| Territorial Governor of Hawaiʻi(1898–1941) |   | |
|---|---|---|
| Military Governor of Hawaii(1941–1944) | ||
| Territorial Governor of Hawaiʻi(1944–1959) | ||
| Governor of Hawaiʻi(1959–present) | ||
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| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Academics | |
| Other | |
