George Ariyoshi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Ariyoshi
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Ariyoshi in 1974
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| 3rd Governor of Hawaii | |
| In office October 17, 1973 – December 1, 1986 Acting: October 17, 1973 – December 2, 1974 |
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| Lieutenant | Nelson Doi Jean King John Waihee |
| Preceded by | John A. Burns |
| Succeeded by | John Waihee |
| 5th Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii | |
| In office December 2, 1970 – December 2, 1974 |
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| Governor | John A. Burns |
| Preceded by | Thomas Gill |
| Succeeded by | Nelson Doi |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
George Ryoichi Ariyoshi
March 12, 1926 Honolulu, Hawaii Territory, U.S. |
| Died | April 19, 2026 (aged 100) Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Jean Hayashi
(m. 1955) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of Hawaii, Manoa (attended) Michigan State University (BA) University of Michigan (JD) |
| Civilian awards | Order of the Sacred Treasure (Grand Cordon, Japan) |
| Military service | |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| Unit | Military Intelligence Service |
| Conflict | World War II |
| Military awards | Nisei Soldiers of World War II Congressional Gold Medal |
George Ryoichi Ariyoshi (born March 12, 1926, died April 19, 2026) was an important American lawyer and politician. He served as the third Governor of Hawaii from 1974 to 1986. As a member of the Democratic Party, he was Hawaii's longest-serving governor. He was also the first person of Asian descent to become a governor in any U.S. state. He took over as governor in October 1973 when Governor John A. Burns became ill. Ariyoshi was then elected governor in 1974. His time as governor was very long, a record that is likely to stand because of new rules about how long governors can serve.
Early Life and Education
George Ariyoshi was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on March 12, 1926. At that time, Hawaii was a U.S. territory. His parents were immigrants from Japan. They named him after George Washington, a famous American leader.
He finished high school at McKinley High School in 1944. Near the end of World War II, he helped the U.S. Army in Japan. He worked as an interpreter, which means he translated languages.
After the war, he went to college. He studied at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and then at Michigan State University. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1949. Later, he earned a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School in 1952.
Starting a Political Career
George Ariyoshi began his political journey in 1954. He was elected to the Hawaii Territorial House of Representatives. This was a group of lawmakers for Hawaii when it was still a territory.
Later, he was elected to the Hawaii Territorial Senate in 1958. After Hawaii became a state, he served in the Hawaii State Senate starting in 1959. He stayed in the Senate until 1970.
In 1970, he was elected Lieutenant Governor alongside Governor John A. Burns. When Governor Burns became sick in October 1973, Ariyoshi stepped in. He became the acting governor, taking on the governor's duties.
Serving as Governor
First Term as Governor (1974-1978)
In 1974, George Ariyoshi was elected governor by the people of Hawaii. Nelson Doi served as his lieutenant governor.
During this time, he helped Hawaii manage its first economic recession. This is a period when the economy slows down. He also worked on improving areas like the Kakaako Waterfront in Honolulu.
In 1976, Governor Ariyoshi created the Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA). This group planned for the long-term growth of areas like the Kakaako District. The HCDA helped find areas that needed improvement and guided their future development.
Political Challenges and Re-election
Before the 1978 election, Governor Ariyoshi faced a political challenge. He had a strong rivalry with Honolulu Mayor Frank Fasi, who wanted to become governor too. There was a disagreement about a development project called Kukui Plaza. Mayor Fasi believed that the investigation into this project was meant to hurt his campaign. Governor Ariyoshi said he had no part in directing the investigation.
Despite this challenge, Ariyoshi won the Democratic nomination. He was then re-elected as governor in 1978. Jean King became his lieutenant governor.
Second Term as Governor (1978-1982)
Addressing Growth in Hawaii
During his second term, Governor Ariyoshi focused on managing Hawaii's growth. He was concerned about too much development and the number of people moving to the state. He spoke about balancing population growth with protecting Hawaii's beautiful environment.
Ideas were discussed to help manage the number of people moving to Hawaii from the mainland. One idea was to require people to live in Hawaii for a year before working for the state government. However, this idea was not approved.
In the 1982 election, Ariyoshi was re-elected for a third term. He won with John D. Waihee III as his lieutenant governor.
Third Term as Governor (1982-1986)
Building International Friendships
In his third term, Governor Ariyoshi worked to build stronger relationships with other countries. He focused on places that had historical ties or many people living in Hawaii.
For example, in 1982, he created a "sister-state" relationship between Hawaii and the Azores. This honored the history of Portuguese people moving from the Azores to Hawaii. In 1985, he visited other countries to strengthen these bonds. He also started a sister-state relationship between Hawaii and Okinawa, Japan.
Governor Ariyoshi's time in office was known for careful money management. This was important as Hawaii's economy changed after becoming a state. He could not run for governor again in 1986 because of term limits. John D. Waihee III became the next governor. After leaving office, Ariyoshi continued to work with businesses and non-profit groups.
Personal Life and Later Years
George Ariyoshi married Jean Miya Hayashi in 1955 in Honolulu, Hawaii. They had three children: a daughter named Lynn (born in 1957) and two sons, Ryozo (born in 1959) and Donn (born in 1961).
After his time as governor, Ariyoshi remained active. He served as president of the Hawaii Bar Association, which is a group for lawyers. He also joined the boards of several companies, like First Hawaiian Bank.
He was also involved with the East-West Center in Honolulu. This is an important organization for education and research that connects people from Asia, the Pacific, and the United States. He helped strengthen the center during his time as governor and continued to serve on its board. He was chairman for five terms.
George Ariyoshi passed away at his home in Honolulu on April 19, 2026. He was 100 years old.
