George Ariyoshi
George Ariyoshi | |
|---|---|
Ariyoshi in 1974 | |
| 3rd Governor of Hawaii | |
| In office December 2, 1974 – December 1, 1986 Acting: October 17, 1973 – December 2, 1974 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 (Japanese: 有吉 良一, romanized: Ariyoshi Ryōichi, born March 12, 1926) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the third governor of Hawaii from 1974 to 1986. A Democrat, he is Hawaii's longest-serving governor and the first American of Asian descent to serve as governor of a U.S. state. He assumed gubernatorial powers and duties when Governor John A. Burns was declared incapacitated in October 1973 and was elected in 1974 (assuming governorship December 1974), becoming the first Asian-American to be elected governor of a U.S. state or territory. His lengthy tenure is a record likely to remain unbroken due to term limits enacted after he left office. Since the death of former U.S. president Jimmy Carter in December 2024, he is the oldest living former governor of any U.S. state.