List of Governors of Hawaii

List of Governors of Hawaii encompasses the leaders of the Territory of Hawaii and the subsequent U.S. state of Hawaii. The office was established following the Newlands Resolution and the Spanish–American War, with Sanford B. Dole becoming the first territorial governor. Since achieving statehood in 1959, twelve individuals have served as the state's chief executive, with the current governor being Josh Green.

List of governors

The Governor of Hawaii is elected to a four-year term and, following a 1978 constitutional amendment, is limited to two consecutive terms. The Democratic Party has dominated the office since statehood, with Republicans holding it only in the early years. Key figures include first state governor William F. Quinn, long-serving John A. Burns, and George Ariyoshi, the first American governor of Asian descent. The lieutenant governor is elected on the same ticket and succeeds in case of a vacancy.

Territorial governors

From 1898 to 1959, Hawaii was an organized incorporated territory, with governors appointed by the President of the United States. Early appointees like Sanford B. Dole and Walter F. Frear were often former leaders of the Republic of Hawaii. Later territorial governors, such as Ingram Stainback and Oren E. Long, began to lay the groundwork for statehood. The final territorial governor, William F. Quinn, was appointed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower and later won election as the first state governor.

Other high offices held

Many governors of Hawaii previously or subsequently held significant federal or state offices. John A. Burns served as the territorial Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from Hawaii. George Ariyoshi and Ben Cayetano both served as Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii. Neil Abercrombie was a long-serving member of the United States House of Representatives. At the federal level, Hiram Fong became a United States Senator, while Mazie Hirono serves as a current U.S. Senator.

Living former governors

As of 2024, there are six living former governors of Hawaii. The oldest is George Ariyoshi (served 1974–1986), born in 1926. The most recent former governor to leave office is David Ige (served 2014–2022). The others are John D. Waiheʻe III (1986–1994), Ben Cayetano (1994–2002), Linda Lingle (2002–2010), and Neil Abercrombie (2010–2014). Linda Lingle is the only Republican among the living former state governors.

Notes

The governor's official residence is Washington Place in Honolulu. The line of succession extends through the lieutenant governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the Hawaii House of Representatives. Historical elections, such as the 1962 race between John A. Burns and William F. Quinn, were pivotal in shaping the state's modern political landscape. The governorship has been held by individuals of Native Hawaiian, Japanese, and Filipino ancestry.

Category:Lists of state governors of the United States