The governor of the State of Hawaii is the head of government of Hawaii,HI Const. art. V, § 1 and commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.HI Const. art. V, § 5 The governor has a duty to enforce state laws; the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Hawaii Legislature;HI Const. art. IV, § 16 the power to convene the legislature;HI Const. art. IV, § 10 and the power to grant pardons, except in cases of treason and impeachment.

Of the eight governors of the state, two have been elected to three terms, four have been elected to two terms, and one has been elected to one term. No state governor has yet resigned or died in office, nor did any territorial governor die in office. George Ariyoshi was the first Asian American to be governor of any U.S. state. The current governor is Democrat Josh Green, who took office on December 5, 2022.

The longest-serving governors are John A. Burns (1962–1974) and George Ariyoshi (1974–1986), both of whom served 12 years each.

List of governors The Republic of Hawaii was annexed by the United States in 1898. It was organized into Hawaii Territory in 1900, and admitted as a state in 1959. The Republic had only one president, Sanford B. Dole, who later was the first territorial governor.

Hawaii Territory Hawaii Territory was organized on June 14, 1900, remaining a territory for 59 years. Twelve people served as territorial governor, appointed by the president of the United States.

+ Governors of the Territory of HawaiiGovernorTerm in officeAppointed by1Sanford B. DoleJune 14, 1900–November 23, 19032George R. CarterNovember 23, 1903–August 15, 19073Walter F. FrearAugust 15, 1907–December 31, 19134Lucius E. PinkhamDecember 31, 1913–June 22, 19185Charles J. McCarthyJune 22, 1918–July 5, 19216Wallace Rider FarringtonJuly 5, 1921–July 5, 19297Lawrence M. JuddJuly 5, 1929–March 1, 19348Joseph PoindexterMarch 1, 1934–August 24, 19429Ingram StainbackAugust 24, 1942–April 30, 195110Oren E. LongMay 8, 1951–February 28, 195311Samuel Wilder KingFebruary 28, 1953–July 31, 195712William F. QuinnSeptember 2, 1957–August 21, 1959

State of Hawaii

Hawaii was admitted to the Union on August 21, 1959, consisting of Hawaii Territory minus Palmyra Atoll. Since then, there have been nine governors.

The governor is elected to a four-year term commencing on the first Monday in the December following the election. The lieutenant governor is elected for the same term and, since 1964, on the same ticket as the governor. The 1978 constitutional convention established a term limit of two consecutive terms for both offices. If the office of governor is vacant, the lieutenant governor becomes governor; if the governor is out of the state or unable to fulfill duties, the lieutenant governor acts as governor during such absence or disability.HI Const. art. V, § 4

+ Governors of the State of HawaiiGovernorTerm in officePartyElectionLt. Governor1 William F. QuinnAugust 21, 1959–December 3, 1962Republican1959 2John A. BurnsDecember 3, 1962–December 2, 1974Democratic1962196619703George AriyoshiDecember 2, 1974–December 1, 1986Democratic1974197819824John D. Waiheʻe IIIDecember 1, 1986–December 5, 1994Democratic198619905Ben CayetanoDecember 5, 1994–December 2, 2002Democratic199419986Linda LingleDecember 2, 2002–December 6, 2010Republican200220067Neil AbercrombieDecember 6, 2010–December 1, 2014Democratic2010Vacant8David IgeDecember 1, 2014–December 5, 2022Democratic2014Vacant20189Josh GreenDecember 5, 2022–IncumbentDemocratic2022

Electoral history YearDemocratic nomineeRepublican nomineeIndependent candidateLibertarian nomineeGreen nomineeOther candidateOther candidateCandidate#%Candidate#%Candidate#%Candidate#%Candidate#%Candidate#%Candidate#% 1959 John A. Burns 82,074 48.66% William F. Quinn 86,213 51.12% 480 0.98% – – – – 1962 John A. Burns 114,308 58.32% William F. Quinn 81,707 41.68% – – – – – 1966 John A. Burns 108,840 51.06% Randolph Crossley 104,324 48.94% – – – – – 1970 John A. Burns 137,812 57.65% Samuel P. King 101,249 42.35% – – – – – 1974 George Ariyoshi 136,262 54.58% Randolph Crossley 113,388 45.42% – – – – – 1978 George Ariyoshi 153,394 54.48% John R. Leopold 124,610 44.25% Alema Leota 1,982 0.70% Gregory Reeser 1,059 0.38% – 542 0.19% – 1982 George Ariyoshi 141,043 45.23% D. G. Anderson 81,507 26.14% Frank Fasi 89,303 28.64% – – – – 1986 John D. Waiheʻe 173,655 51.98% D. G. Anderson 160,460 48.02% – – – – – 1990 John D. Waiheʻe 203,491 59.83% Fred Hemmings 131,310 38.61% Peggy Ha'o Ross 2,446 0.72% Don Smith 2,885 0.85% – – – 1994 Ben Cayetano 134,978 36.58% Pat Saiki 107,908 29.24% 113,158 30.67% – Kioni Dudley 12,969 3.51% – 1998 Ben Cayetano 204,206 50.11% Linda Lingle 198,952 48.82% – George Peabody 4,398 1.08% – – – 2002 Mazie Hirono 179,647 47.01% Linda Lingle 197,009 51.56% Jim Brewer 1,147 0.30% Tracy Ryan 1,364 0.36% – 2,561 0.67% 382 0.10% 2006 Randy Iwase 121,717 35.35% Linda Lingle 215,313 62.53% – Ozell Daniel 1,850 0.54% Jim Brewer 5,435 1.58% – – 2010 222,724 58.22% Duke Aiona 157,311 41.12% Tom Pollard 1,263 0.33% – – 1,265 0.33% – 2014 David Ige 181,106 49.45% Duke Aiona 135,775 37.08% Mufi Hannemann 42,934 11.72% Jeff Davis 6,395 1.75% – – – 2018 David Ige 244,934 62.67% Andria Tupola 131,719 33.70% Terrence Teruya 4,067 1.04% – Jim Brewer 10,123 2.59% – – 2022 Josh Green 261,025 63.16% Duke Aiona 152,237 36.84% – – – – –

See also List of governors of Hawaiʻi Island List of governors of Maui List of governors of Oʻahu List of governors of Kauaʻi List of Hawaiʻi state legislatures List of Hawaiian monarchs

Notes

References

General

Constitution

Specific

External links

Office of the Governor of Hawaii