Pat Saiki facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pat Saiki
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Chair of the Hawaii Republican Party | |
| In office March 19, 2014 – June 8, 2015 |
|
| Preceded by | David S. Chang |
| Succeeded by | Fritz Rohlfing |
| 17th Administrator of the Small Business Administration | |
| In office April 16, 1991 – January 20, 1993 |
|
| President | George H. W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Susan Engeleiter |
| Succeeded by | Erskine Bowles |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Hawaii's 1st district |
|
| In office January 3, 1987 – January 3, 1991 |
|
| Preceded by | Neil Abercrombie |
| Succeeded by | Neil Abercrombie |
| Member of the Hawaii Senate from the district |
|
| In office 1974–1982 |
|
| In office 1968–1974 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Patricia Hatsue Fukuda
May 28, 1930 Hilo, Hawaii Territory, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Stanley Saiki |
| Children | 5 |
| Education | University of Hawaii, Manoa (BS) |
Patricia Hatsue Saiki, born on May 28, 1930, is an American politician and a former teacher from Hilo, Hawaii. She is a member of the Republican Party. She served in the United States House of Representatives from 1987 to 1991. Later, she became the Administrator of the Small Business Administration under President George H. W. Bush.
Early Life and Education
Pat Saiki was born in Hilo, Hawaii, on May 28, 1930. She finished Hilo High School in 1948. In 1952, she earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
After college, Saiki worked as a teacher. She taught at Punahou, Kaimuki Intermediate, and Kalani High schools. She also taught in Toledo, Ohio, when she lived there with her husband, Stanley Saiki.
Saiki decided to run for public office after helping to start a teachers' group. Her fellow teachers encouraged her to get involved in politics. She first ran for office in 1968.
Political Career Highlights
In 1968, Pat Saiki joined the Hawaii Republican Party. She successfully ran for a seat in the Hawaii State House of Representatives. This was her first step into politics.
In 1974, she moved to the Hawaii State Senate. She represented her district there until 1982. In 1986, she won an election to go to the U.S. Congress. She served two terms there. With this election, she became the first Republican from Hawaii to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives since Hawaii became a state.
Pat Saiki was one of only two Republicans to represent Hawaii in Congress since it became a state. The other was Senator Hiram Fong. She was also the second woman from Hawaii to be elected to Congress. The first was Patsy Mink.
While in Congress, Saiki focused on issues related to education. She worked to improve higher education. Even though she believed in careful spending, she also supported giving money to Japanese Americans. This was to make up for their unfair imprisonment during World War II.
Saiki also voted for the Abandoned Shipwrecks Act. This law helps states protect old shipwrecks found in their waters. It stops treasure hunters from damaging these important historical sites. President Ronald Reagan signed this law in 1988.
In 1990, she ran for the United States Senate but did not win. After that, President George H. W. Bush appointed her to lead the Small Business Administration. This agency helps small businesses in the U.S. In 1994, she ran for Governor of Hawaii but lost that election too.
Later, Saiki helped with political campaigns for other Republican leaders. She led the Hawaii campaign for former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani in 2008. She also helped with the campaigns of Charles Djou in 2010 and 2012. From 2014 to 2015, she served as the leader of the Republican Party of Hawaii.
See also
- Women in the United States House of Representatives
- List of Asian Americans and Pacific Islands Americans in the United States Congress
