Former Hawaii Gov. George Ariyoshi, The First U.s. Governor Of Asian American Descent, Dies At 100

HONOLULU — Former Hawaii Gov. George R. Ariyoshi — nan nation’s first Asian American politician — has died astatine property 100.

Ariyoshi, a Democrat who led nan authorities from 1973 to 1986, died peacefully while surrounded by family connected Sunday night, according to a connection Monday from existent Gov. Josh Green.

“Gov. Ariyoshi devoted his life to Hawaiʻi pinch humility, subject and an unwavering consciousness of work to nan group he served,” Green said. “He led our authorities during a pivotal infinitesimal pinch quiet spot and integrity, and his bequest arsenic a trailblazer and nationalist servant will strengthen for generations.”

Ariyoshi was a three-term politician who first roseate to nan position successful October 1973. Three years earlier, he had been elected lieutenant governor, and he past became acting politician erstwhile Gov. John Burns fell sick pinch cancer.

Ariyoshi won nan agency outright successful 1974 and was reelected successful 1978 and 1982. Hawaii governors are now taxable to a two-term limit. His governmental profession coincided pinch nan Democratic Party’s emergence to powerfulness successful Hawaii.

Democrats wrested power of nan Legislature from Republicans successful 1954, nan twelvemonth Ariyoshi won nan first of 2 position successful nan Territorial House of Representatives. He won a territorial Senate spot successful 1958, becoming a authorities legislator nan pursuing twelvemonth erstwhile Hawaii became a state.

Ariyoshi won 3 much authorities Senate races — successful 1964, 1966 and 1968 — earlier becoming lieutenant governor.

Ariyoshi was calved March 12, 1926, successful a two-room tenement adjacent Honolulu Harbor to parents who immigrated to Hawaii from Japan. He grew up successful nan hardscrabble vicinity of Kalihi, adjacent downtown Honolulu.

His father, Ryozo, a sumo wrestler from Fukuoka Prefecture, became a stevedore and proprietor of a barren cleaning shop successful Hawaii. His mother, Mitsue, came from Kumamoto, Japan.

In his 1997 autobiography, “With Obligation to All,” Ariyoshi wrote astir increasing up pinch a lisp.

“The truth that we had nary money did not look to beryllium a barrier, but I had a obstruction of a different kind,” he wrote, describing really he wanted to turn up to go a lawyer if he could study to speak properly.

After graduation from McKinley High School successful 1944, Ariyoshi served arsenic an expert pinch nan U.S. Army’s Military Intelligence Service successful Japan astatine nan extremity of World War II.

After nan war, Ariyoshi attended nan University of Hawaii earlier transferring to Michigan State University, wherever he received a bachelor’s grade successful history and governmental subject successful 1949. Ariyoshi earned a rule grade from nan University of Michigan Law School successful 1952.

Going to schoolhouse connected nan U.S. mainland, Ariyoshi didn’t consciousness a consciousness of being treated differently. “On nan contrary, I enjoyed nan truth that Hawaii had a estimation moreover past for group of different backgrounds coming together and surviving harmoniously,” he wrote successful his book.

He began practicing rule successful Hawaii nan twelvemonth aft he graduated from rule school. Ariyoshi withdrew from backstage believe and resigned from various firm directorships aft he was elected lieutenant governor.

He said his determination to activity nan position was influenced by a desire to break nan obstruction for minorities.

“The caller authorities of Hawaii had produced United States representatives and senators of Caucasian, Chinese and Japanese ancestry, reflecting our diversity,” he wrote. “But only Caucasians had been governor.”

Ariyoshi’s clip arsenic politician was marked by Hawaii becoming a tourer destination and a booming population. “I was convinced that neither our infrastructure nor our situation would support this complaint of growth,” he wrote.

In 1975, Ariyoshi and his wife, Jean Hayashi Ariyoshi, attended their first National Governor’s Conference successful Washington, D.C., wherever they were invited by President Ford to a black-tie meal astatine nan White House.

Jean Ariyoshi wrote successful her book, “Washington Place: A First Lady’s Story,” that arsenic nan mates jitterbugged connected nan creation floor, she stood connected tip-toe and whispered successful his ear: “Look astatine nan small woman from Wahiawa dancing astatine nan White House.”

He replied: “And she’s dancing pinch nan kid from Kalihi.”

John Waiheʻe, who became Ariyoshi’s lieutenant politician successful 1982, went connected to beryllium elected nan first politician of Native Hawaiian ancestry successful 1986 pinch Ariyoshi’s support.

In summation to his woman Jean, Ariyoshi is survived by girl Lynn and sons Donn and Ryozo.

Kelleher writes for nan Associated Press.