 |
George Ariyoshi | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Ariyoshi in 1977 | |
| 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, Ann Arbor (JD) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Unit | Military intelligence |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
George Ryoichi Ariyoshi (Japanese: 有吉 良一, 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. Ariyoshi is now considered an elder statesman of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi.