David Ige facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Ige
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| 8th Governor of Hawaii | |
| In office December 1, 2014 – December 5, 2022 |
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| Lieutenant | Shan Tsutsui Doug Chin Josh Green |
| Preceded by | Neil Abercrombie |
| Succeeded by | Josh Green |
| Member of the Hawaii Senate from the 16th district |
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| In office November 1994 – November 2014 |
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| Preceded by | Eloise Tungpalan |
| Succeeded by | Breene Harimoto |
| Member of the Hawaii House of Representatives from the 34th district 43rd (1985–1992) |
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| In office December 2, 1985 – November 1994 |
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| Appointed by | George Ariyoshi |
| Preceded by | Arnold Morgado |
| Succeeded by | Mark Takai |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
David Yutaka Ige
January 15, 1957 Pearl City, Territory of Hawaii |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Dawn Amano
(m. 1982) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of Hawaii, Manoa (BS, MBA) |
| Signature |  |
David Yutaka Ige (born January 15, 1957) is an American politician and engineer. He served as the eighth governor of Hawaii from 2014 to 2022. As a member of the Democratic Party, he also served in the Hawaii State Senate from 1994 to 2014. Before that, he was in the Hawaii House of Representatives from 1985 to 1994.
In the 2014 election for governor, he won against the current governor, Neil Abercrombie. He then won the main election against Republican candidate Duke Aiona. Ige was reelected in 2018. He won against Republican candidate Andria Tupola.
Contents
Early Life and Education
David Ige grew up in Pearl City, Hawaii. He was the fifth of six sons. His parents, Tokio and Tsurue Ige, were of Okinawan descent. During World War II, his father, Tokio, was a brave soldier. He served in the 100th Battalion/442nd Infantry Regimental Combat Team. He received special awards for his service. After the war, Tokio worked in construction. Tsurue, David's mother, worked as a nurse and dental hygienist.
David went to public schools in Pearl City. He played in the Pearl City Little League for eight years. At Pearl City High School, David was a great student and leader. He was student body vice president and then senior class president. He also led his tennis team to a championship. He was named "Scholar-Athlete of the Year." He graduated in 1975, ranking fifth in his class.
Ige went to the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He earned a degree in electrical engineering. While there, he was student body secretary. He was also an officer in several honor societies. He met his wife, Dawn, at the university. They have three children: Lauren, Amy, and Matthew.
Engineering Career
After college, David Ige worked for GTE Hawaiian Tel. He continued his studies at the University of Hawaii. He earned a master's degree in business. In 1986, Hawaii Business Magazine recognized him as one of the top MBA students.
Before becoming governor, Ige worked in engineering. He was a project manager at Robert A. Ige and Associates, Inc. He was also Vice President of engineering at NetEnterprise. He was a senior principal engineer at Pihana Pacific. This company created the first major data center in Hawaii. Before these roles, he worked as an engineer for GTE Hawaiian Tel for over 18 years.
Serving in the Hawaii Legislature
David Ige first joined the Hawaii House of Representatives in 1985. Governor George Ariyoshi appointed him to the role. He then served in the Hawaii State Senate from 1995 to 2015. During his time as a lawmaker, Ige led nine different committees.
He focused on technology and communication policies. He helped write a law that created the state information network. This law also set up the Hawaii Information Network Corporation. Ige also worked to help Hawaii's economy grow in new ways. He helped start programs for new businesses and technology.
Becoming Governor of Hawaii
2014 Election Campaign
Ige decided to run for governor in 2014. He ran against the current governor, Neil Abercrombie, in the Democratic primary election. Even though he spent less money on his campaign, Ige won. He defeated Abercrombie with 66% of the votes. This was the first time a sitting governor of Hawaii lost in a primary election.
After winning the primary, Ige faced Republican Duke Aiona and Independent Mufi Hannemann. Ige won the general election by a good margin.
Taking Office
David Ige became the eighth governor of Hawaii on December 1, 2014. He was sworn in with Lieutenant Governor Shan Tsutsui. The ceremony took place at the Hawaii State Capitol. Ige is the first person of Okinawan descent to be elected governor of a U.S. state.
His inauguration celebrated his father's service in World War II. It also looked forward to Hawaii's future.
Governor's Time in Office
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In 2015, Governor Ige declared a state of emergency. This was because of the growing problem of homelessness in Hawaii. At that time, Hawaii had the highest rate of homeless people per person in the U.S.
In 2017, after the U.S. decided to leave the Paris Agreement on climate change, Ige signed two bills. These bills committed Hawaii to continue working on its climate goals. They also created a task force to reduce greenhouse gases.
On January 13, 2018, a false missile alert was sent to phones across Hawaii. It caused a lot of panic. Governor Ige apologized for the mistake. He said it was human error. He promised to improve the state's emergency procedures.
In 2019, President Trump appointed Ige to the Council of Governors. Ige served as a co-chair of this group. In June 2022, Ige signed a bill into law that expanded healthcare for transgender residents in Hawaii. Ige also allowed the Thirty Meter Telescope to be built on Mauna Kea.
See also
In Spanish: David Ige para niños
