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 December 2, 1974 – December 1, 1986 Acting: October 17, 1973 – December 2, 1974 |
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| Lieutenant | Nelson Doi Jean King John Waiheʻe |
| Preceded by | John A. Burns |
| Succeeded by | John Waiheʻe |
| 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, Territory of Hawaii, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Jean Hayashi
(m. 1955) |
| 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 (born March 12, 1926) is an American lawyer and politician. He served as the third governor of Hawaii from 1974 to 1986. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
George Ariyoshi holds the record as Hawaii's longest-serving governor. He was also the first person of Asian descent to become a governor of a U.S. state. He became acting governor in October 1973 when Governor John A. Burns became ill. He was then elected governor in 1974. Since December 2024, he is the oldest living former governor of any U.S. state.
Contents
Early Life and Education
George Ariyoshi was born in Honolulu, which was then part of the Territory of Hawaiʻi. His parents were immigrants from Japan. He graduated from McKinley High School in 1944.
Serving in World War II
As World War II was ending, Ariyoshi joined the U.S. Army. He worked as an interpreter in Japan for the Military Intelligence Service. This role helped him use his language skills to support the war effort.
College and Law School
After the war, he returned to the United States. He first studied at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Later, he transferred to Michigan State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1949. He then went on to get his law degree (J.D.) from the University of Michigan Law School in 1952.
Political Career in Hawaii
George Ariyoshi's journey in politics began in 1954. He was elected to the Hawaii Territorial House of Representatives. This was his first step into public service.
Moving Up in the Legislature
In 1958, he was elected to the Hawaii Territorial Senate. When Hawaii became a state in 1959, he continued to serve in the Hawaii State Senate. He remained a state senator until 1970.
Becoming Lieutenant Governor
In 1970, Ariyoshi successfully ran for lieutenant governor of Hawaii. He served alongside Governor John A. Burns. When Governor Burns became ill in October 1973, Ariyoshi took on the role of acting governor. This meant he was in charge of the state's daily operations.
Serving as Governor
In the 1974 election, George Ariyoshi was elected governor. He served three terms, making him Hawaii's longest-serving governor.
Key Focus as Governor
During his time as governor, Ariyoshi focused on careful spending. This was important because Hawaii's economy was slowing down after a period of growth. He helped guide the state through its first economic recession. This meant making smart financial decisions to keep the state stable.
Leaving Office
Rules about how many terms a governor can serve (called term limits) meant Ariyoshi could not run again in 1986. He was succeeded by John D. Waihee III, who had been his lieutenant governor.
Life After Public Office
After leaving the governor's office, George Ariyoshi continued to be active. He worked with various companies and non-profit groups.
Community Involvement
He served as president of the Hawaii Bar Association. He also joined the boards of directors for several important organizations, including First Hawaiian Bank. He was also on the board of governors for the East-West Center in Honolulu. This organization focuses on education and research, connecting people from Asia, the Pacific, and the United States. Ariyoshi is known for helping to make the East-West Center strong again.
Personal Life
George Ariyoshi married Jean Miya Hayashi in 1955 in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. They have three children: a daughter named Lynn (born in 1957), and two sons, Ryozo (born in 1959) and Donn (born in 1961).
See also
