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Governor of Hawaii
Flag of the Governor of Hawaii.svg
Gubernatorial standard
Josh Green Official Photo 2022 (cropped) (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Josh Green

since December 5, 2022
Residence Washington Place
Term length Four years, renewable once
Precursor Governor of Hawaii Territory
Inaugural holder William F. Quinn
Formation August 21, 1959
(65 years ago)
 (1959-08-21)
Succession Line of succession
Deputy Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii
Flag of the Governor of Hawaii
Flag of the governor
Flag of the Governor of Hawaii pre-1959
Flag of the governor before statehood in 1959

The Governor of Hawaii is like the chief executive officer for the state of Hawaii. This person is the leader of the state government. They are also in charge of Hawaii's military forces, like the Hawaii National Guard.

The governor has several important jobs. They make sure state laws are followed. They can approve or reject (this is called a veto) new laws passed by the Hawaii State Legislature. The governor can also call the legislature together for special meetings. They can even grant pardons, which means forgiving someone for a crime, except in very serious cases like treason or impeachment.

Hawaii has had eight governors since it became a state. Two governors served three terms, and four served two terms. No governor has ever resigned or died while in office. George Ariyoshi was the first Asian American to become a governor in any U.S. state. The current governor is Josh Green. He is a Democrat and started his term on December 5, 2022.

The governors who served the longest were John A. Burns (1962–1974) and George Ariyoshi (1974–1986). Both served for 12 years.

Governors of Hawaii: A Historical Look

Hawaii became part of the United States in 1898. Before that, it was a republic. In 1900, it became the Hawaii Territory. Then, in 1959, it officially became a U.S. state. The Republic of Hawaii had only one president, Sanford B. Dole. He later became the first governor of the Hawaii Territory.

Governors of Hawaii Territory

The Hawaii Territory was officially set up on June 14, 1900. It remained a territory for 59 years. During this time, 12 different people served as territorial governors. They were chosen by the president of the United States.

Governors of the Territory of Hawaii
No. Governor Term in office Appointed by
1 Presidentsanforddole.jpg Sanford B. Dole
(1844–1926)
June 14, 1900

November 23, 1903
McKinley, WilliamWilliam McKinley
2 Governor George Robert Carter.png George R. Carter
(1866–1933)
November 23, 1903

August 15, 1907
Roosevelt, TheodoreTheodore Roosevelt
3 Walter F. Frear.jpg Walter F. Frear
(1863–1948)
August 15, 1907

November 29, 1913
Roosevelt, TheodoreTheodore Roosevelt
4 Lucius Eugene Pinkham - standing.jpg Lucius E. Pinkham
(1850–1922)
November 29, 1913

June 22, 1918
Wilson, WoodrowWoodrow Wilson
5 Charles J. McCarthy (vol. 2, 1921).jpg Charles J. McCarthy
(1861–1929)
June 22, 1918

July 5, 1921
Wilson, WoodrowWoodrow Wilson
6 Wallace R. Farrington, G. G. Bain photo portrait.jpg Wallace Rider Farrington
(1871–1933)
July 5, 1921

July 5, 1929
Harding, Warren G.Warren G. Harding
Coolidge, CalvinCalvin Coolidge
7 Lawrence M. Judd (PP-74-3-007).jpg Lawrence M. Judd
(1887–1968)
July 5, 1929

March 1, 1934
Hoover, HerbertHerbert Hoover
8 Joseph B. Poindexter (vol. 2, 1921).jpg Joseph Poindexter
(1869–1951)
March 1, 1934

August 24, 1942
Roosevelt, Franklin D.Franklin D. Roosevelt
9 Ingram Stainback.jpg Ingram Stainback
(1883–1961)
August 24, 1942

April 30, 1951
Roosevelt, Franklin D.Franklin D. Roosevelt
Truman, Harry S.Harry S. Truman
10 Oren E. Long (PP-75-4-020).jpg Oren E. Long
(1889–1965)
May 8, 1951

February 28, 1953
Truman, Harry S.Harry S. Truman
11 Samuel Wilder King (PP-74-9-002).jpg Samuel Wilder King
(1886–1959)
February 28, 1953

August 29, 1957
Eisenhower, Dwight D.Dwight D. Eisenhower
12 William F. Quinn, 1958 (cropped).jpg William F. Quinn
(1919–2006)
September 2, 1957

August 21, 1959
Eisenhower, Dwight D.Dwight D. Eisenhower

Governors of the State of Hawaii

Hawaii officially became a U.S. state on August 21, 1959. Since then, there have been nine governors.

The governor is elected for a four-year term. Their term starts on the first Monday in December after the election. The lieutenant governor is also elected for the same four-year term. Since 1964, the governor and lieutenant governor run for office together on the same "ticket." This means you vote for both of them at once.

There's a rule that a governor can only serve two terms in a row. If the governor's office becomes empty, the lieutenant governor takes over. If the governor is out of the state or can't do their job, the lieutenant governor steps in temporarily.


Governors of the State of Hawaii
No. Governor Term of office Party Election Lt. Governor
1 William F. Quinn, 1958 (cropped).jpg   William F. Quinn
(1919–2006)
August 21, 1959

December 3, 1962
Republican 1959   Kealoha, JamesJames Kealoha
2 John A. Burns, 1957.jpg John A. Burns
(1909–1975)
December 3, 1962

December 2, 1974
Democratic 1962 Richardson, William S.William S. Richardson
Ing, Andrew T.F.Andrew T.F. Ing
1966 Gill, ThomasThomas Gill
1970 Ariyoshi, GeorgeGeorge Ariyoshi
3 George Ariyoshi, 1974 (cropped).jpg George Ariyoshi
(b. 1926)
December 2, 1974

December 1, 1986
Democratic 1974 Doi, NelsonNelson Doi
1978 King, JeanJean King
1982 Waiheʻe III, John D.John D. Waiheʻe III
4 John D. Waiheʻe III, 1993.jpg John D. Waiheʻe III
(b. 1946)
December 1, 1986

December 5, 1994
Democratic 1986 Cayetano, BenBen Cayetano
1990
5 Hawaii Governor Benjamin Cayetano.jpg Ben Cayetano
(b. 1939)
December 5, 1994

December 2, 2002
Democratic 1994 Hirono, MazieMazie Hirono
1998
6 Linda Lingle in March 2010.jpg Linda Lingle
(b. 1953)
December 2, 2002

December 6, 2010
Republican 2002 Aiona, DukeDuke Aiona
2006
7 Neil Abercrombie (cropped).jpg Neil Abercrombie
(b. 1938)
December 6, 2010

December 1, 2014
Democratic 2010 Schatz, BrianBrian Schatz
Vacant
Tsutsui, ShanShan Tsutsui
8 Governor David Ige (cropped).jpg David Ige
(b. 1957)
December 1, 2014

December 5, 2022
Democratic 2014
Vacant
Chin, DougDoug Chin
2018 Green, JoshJosh Green
9 Josh Green Official Photo 2022 (cropped) (cropped).jpg Josh Green
(b. 1970)
December 5, 2022

Incumbent
Democratic 2022 Luke, SylviaSylvia Luke

More About Hawaii's Leaders

  • List of governors of Hawaii (island)
  • List of governors of Maui
  • List of governors of Oahu
  • List of governors of Kauai
  • List of Hawaii state legislatures
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