Hawaii Secretary of State

Hawaii Secretary of State. The office of the Hawaii Secretary of State is a constitutional position in the Government of Hawaii, with responsibilities that include overseeing state legislative and gubernatorial elections, as well as maintaining public records and documents, such as those related to the Hawaii State Capitol and the University of Hawaii. The Hawaii Secretary of State also works closely with the Hawaii Governor, the Hawaii Lieutenant Governor, and other state officials, including the Hawaii Attorney General and the Hawaii State Auditor. The officeholder is also involved in international relations, such as interactions with the United States Department of State and the United States Secretary of State, as well as with foreign dignitaries, including those from Japan, China, and South Korea.

History and establishment

The office of the Hawaii Secretary of State was established in 1959, when Hawaii became the 50th state of the United States of America, with the Admission Act and the Hawaii Admission Act. The first Hawaii Secretary of State was appointed by William F. Quinn, the first Governor of Hawaii, and was tasked with organizing the new state government, including the Hawaii State Legislature, the Hawaii Supreme Court, and the Hawaii Department of State. The office has since been involved in various significant events, including the 1960 United States presidential election, the 1970s Hawaii State Constitutional Convention, and the 1990s Native Hawaiian sovereignty movement, which involved interactions with the United States Congress, the White House, and the Supreme Court of the United States. The Hawaii Secretary of State has also worked with other state officials, including the California Secretary of State, the Texas Secretary of State, and the New York Secretary of State, on issues such as voter registration and election security, as well as with international organizations, including the United Nations and the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures.

Duties and responsibilities

The Hawaii Secretary of State has a range of duties and responsibilities, including overseeing state legislative and gubernatorial elections, as well as maintaining public records and documents, such as those related to the Hawaii State Capitol and the University of Hawaii. The officeholder is also responsible for issuing business licenses and trademarks, as well as maintaining the Hawaii State Archives, which includes documents related to the Kingdom of Hawaii, the Republic of Hawaii, and the Territory of Hawaii. The Hawaii Secretary of State also works closely with the Hawaii Governor, the Hawaii Lieutenant Governor, and other state officials, including the Hawaii Attorney General and the Hawaii State Auditor, on issues such as economic development and tourism, as well as with federal agencies, including the Federal Election Commission and the United States Department of Commerce. The officeholder is also involved in international relations, such as interactions with the United States Department of State and the United States Secretary of State, as well as with foreign dignitaries, including those from Japan, China, and South Korea, and with international organizations, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and the Pacific Islands Forum.

List of officeholders

The following individuals have served as Hawaii Secretary of State: Della Au Belatti, Lorraine Inouye, Les Ihara Jr., Cynthia Thielen, and Shan Tsutsui, who have all played important roles in shaping the state's government and policies, including interactions with the Hawaii State Legislature, the Hawaii Supreme Court, and the Hawaii Department of State. Other notable officeholders include George Ariyoshi, who later became Governor of Hawaii, and Jean King, who served as a United States Representative from Hawaii's 1st congressional district. The officeholders have also worked with other state officials, including the California Secretary of State, the Texas Secretary of State, and the New York Secretary of State, on issues such as voter registration and election security, as well as with international organizations, including the United Nations and the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures. The Hawaii Secretary of State has also interacted with notable figures, including Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and Nancy Pelosi, on issues related to Hawaii and the Pacific Islands.

Election and succession

The Hawaii Secretary of State is elected by the Hawaii State Legislature, with the Hawaii Governor and the Hawaii Lieutenant Governor playing key roles in the selection process, as well as the Hawaii Attorney General and the Hawaii State Auditor. The officeholder serves a four-year term, with a limit of two consecutive terms, as specified in the Hawaii State Constitution and the Hawaii Revised Statutes. In the event of a vacancy, the Hawaii Governor appoints a replacement, subject to confirmation by the Hawaii State Legislature, which includes the Hawaii Senate and the Hawaii House of Representatives. The Hawaii Secretary of State has also worked with other state officials, including the California Secretary of State, the Texas Secretary of State, and the New York Secretary of State, on issues such as voter registration and election security, as well as with federal agencies, including the Federal Election Commission and the United States Department of Commerce.

Related constitutional provisions

The office of the Hawaii Secretary of State is established in Article V of the Hawaii State Constitution, which outlines the powers and duties of the officeholder, including the responsibility to oversee state legislative and gubernatorial elections, as well as to maintain public records and documents, such as those related to the Hawaii State Capitol and the University of Hawaii. The Hawaii Revised Statutes also provide further guidance on the role and responsibilities of the Hawaii Secretary of State, including interactions with the Hawaii Governor, the Hawaii Lieutenant Governor, and other state officials, including the Hawaii Attorney General and the Hawaii State Auditor. The Hawaii Secretary of State has also worked with other state officials, including the California Secretary of State, the Texas Secretary of State, and the New York Secretary of State, on issues such as voter registration and election security, as well as with international organizations, including the United Nations and the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures, and with notable figures, including Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and Nancy Pelosi, on issues related to Hawaii and the Pacific Islands. Category:State secretaries of state in the United States