George Ariyoshi

George Ryoichi Ariyoshi (有吉良一; born March 12, 1926) is an American politician. He served as the third Governor of Hawaii from 1974 to 1986. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He became governor when John A. Burns was stepped down.[1]

George R. Ariyoshi
George Ariyoshi Portrait (cropped).jpg
3rd Governor of Hawaii
In office
December 2, 19741 – December 2, 1986
LieutenantNelson Doi
Jean King
John D. Waihee
Preceded byJohn A. Burns
Succeeded byJohn D. Waihee
4th Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii
In office
December 2, 1970 – December 2, 1974
GovernorJohn A. Burns
Preceded byThomas Gill
Succeeded byNelson Doi
Personal details
Born (1926-03-12) March 12, 1926 (age 98)
Honolulu, Hawaii
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Jean Hayashi
Children3
Alma materUniversity of Michigan
ProfessionLawyer

Early life

Ariyoshi was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. His parents were Japanese immigrants. He studied at the University of Michigan. He served in the United States Army during World War II.

Governor of Hawaii (1974-1986)

When he was elected, Ariyoshi became the first American of Asian descent to be elected governor of a state of the United States.

Ariyoshi's administration was marked by fiscal conservatism as the post-statehood economic boom came to an end. He guided the state through its first economic recession. He has gathered some criticism for having only people with Japanese surnames on his staff, many were relatives.

He also holds the record as the longest-serving state governor in Hawaiʻi, a record likely to remain unbroken because of term limits enacted after his tenure. Ariyoshi is now considered an elder statesman of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi.

Personal life

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

George Ariyoshi Media

References

  1. Boylan, Dan; Holmes, T. Michael (2000). John A. Burns: the man and his times - Dan Boylan, T. Michael Holmes - Google Boeken. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 978-0-8248-2282-8. Retrieved 2011-12-17.

Other websites

  Media related to George Ariyoshi at Wikimedia Commons