View source for George Ariyoshi

{{Short description|Governor of Hawaii from 1974 to 1986}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{BLP sources|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = George Ariyoshi
| image               = George Ariyoshi 1974.jpg
| caption             = Ariyoshi in 1974
| order               = 3rd [[Governor of Hawaii]]
| lieutenant          = [[Nelson Doi]]<br />[[Jean King]]<br />John Waiheʻe
| term_start          = December 2, 1974
| term_end            = December 1, 1986
| predecessor         = [[John A. Burns]]
| successor           = [[John D. Waiheʻe III|John Waiheʻe]]
| office1             = 5th [[Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii]]
| governor1           = [[John A. Burns]]
| term_start1         = December 2, 1970
| term_end1           = December 2, 1974
| predecessor1        = [[Thomas Gill (politician)|Thomas Gill]]
| successor1          = [[Nelson Doi]]
| birth_name          = George Ryoichi Ariyoshi
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1926|3|12}}
| birth_place         = [[Honolulu]], [[Territory of Hawaii]], U.S.
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| spouse              = {{marriage|[[Jean Ariyoshi|Jean Hayashi]]|1955}}
| children            = 3
| education           = [[University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa]]<br />{{nowrap|[[Michigan State University]] {{small|([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])}}}}<br />[[University of Michigan]] {{small|([[Juris Doctor|JD]])}}
| allegiance          = {{flag|United States|1912}}
| branch              = {{army|United States}}
| branch_label        = Branch
| battles             = [[World War II]]
| battles_label       = Conflict
| unit                = [[Military intelligence]]
}}

'''George Ryoichi Ariyoshi''' ({{langx|ja|有吉 良一|Ariyoshi Ryōichi}}, born March 12, 1926) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the third [[governor of Hawaii]] from 1974 to 1986.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-12-02 |title=George Ryoichi Ariyoshi |url=https://www.nga.org/governor/george-ryoichi-ariyoshi/ |access-date=2024-12-31 |website=National Governors Association}}</ref> A [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]], he is Hawaii's longest-serving governor and the first [[Asian American|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 [[United States|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]] from [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] in December 2024, he is the oldest living former governor of any U.S. state.

==Early life==
Ariyoshi was born in [[Honolulu, Hawaii|Honolulu]], then in the [[Territory of Hawaii|Territory of Hawai{{okina}}i]], to [[Japanese American|Japanese]] immigrant parents, who named him after [[George Washington]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/bitstream/10125/46011/Ariyoshi_combine_pc_final_revised.pdf|title=George R. Ariyoshi: An Oral History of the First Asian American Governor|publisher=University of Hawaii at Manoa|date=December 2016|page=45|access-date=July 4, 2020|archive-date=July 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200705052442/https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/bitstream/10125/46011/Ariyoshi_combine_pc_final_revised.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> Ariyoshi graduated in 1944 from [[President William McKinley High School|McKinley High School]]. As [[World War II]] drew to a close, he served as an interpreter with the [[U.S. Army]] [[Military Intelligence Service (United States)|Military Intelligence Service]] in Japan. Upon returning stateside, he first attended the [[University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa]], then transferred to [[Michigan State University]], where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1949. He then went on to receive his [[Juris Doctor|J.D.]] degree from the [[University of Michigan Law School]] in 1952.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4ti5uYDfQ6IC&pg=PA125 |title=John A. Burns: the man and his times − Dan Boylan, T. Michael Holmes − Google Boeken |date=January 2000|isbn=9780824822828 |access-date=December 17, 2011|last1=Boylan |first1=Dan |last2=Michael Holmes |first2=T.|publisher=University of Hawaii Press}}</ref>

==Political career==
Ariyoshi's political career began in 1954 when he was elected to the Hawaii Territorial House of Representatives. He was later elected to the Hawaii Territorial Senate in 1958, then to the [[Hawaii State Senate]] in 1959. He served in the senate until 1970 when he ran for and was elected [[Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii|lieutenant governor of Hawaii]] in 1970 with Governor [[John A. Burns]]. When Governor Burns fell ill in October 1973, Ariyoshi assumed his constitutional role as [[acting governor]].

==Governor==
{{expand section|date=November 2024}}
In the election of 1974, Ariyoshi was elected governor in his own right, with [[Nelson Doi]] as his lieutenant governor. He was re-elected in 1978 with [[Jean King]] as lieutenant governor and in 1982 with [[John D. Waihee III]] as lieutenant governor. Ariyoshi's administration was marked by fiscal conservatism as the post-statehood economic boom came to an end. He guided the state through its first [[economic recession]]. Barred by term limits from seeking another term in 1986, Ariyoshi was succeeded by Waihee. After leaving public office, he served in a variety of corporate and non-profit capacities.

==Personal life==
[[File:Jean Ariyoshi, Billy Kenoi and George Ariyoshi.jpg|Ariyoshi with Hawaii County Mayor [[Billy Kenoi]] and former first lady Jean Ariyoshi in 2011|thumb|252px]]
Ariyoshi married [[Jean Ariyoshi|Jean Miya Hayashi]] in 1955 in [[Honolulu]], [[Hawaii|Hawai{{okina}}i]]. They have a daughter, Lynn, born in 1957; and two sons, Ryozo, born in 1959, and Donn, 1961.

In her book ''Washington Place: A First Lady's Story'', Jean Ariyoshi credits former police officer Larry Mehau as becoming responsible for her family's safety. Mehau was also named "Neighbor Islands Coordinator" for her husband's campaign for governor. In the book she states that Mehau, although having a reputation as being honest and tough, was nicknamed in the press as "the Godfather". She does not mention why he was given this nickname, but the press did so because he was accused of having ties to the criminal underworld, many claiming that he was the top boss of organized crime in Hawai'i. According to Jean Ariyoshi, Mehau offered his help but told her husband: "I know I'm controversial, so don't put me up in front." Her husband responded: "I've known you for a long time and I've known you to be a good and honest person. What kind of friend would I be if I said 'I want your help but I don't want anyone to know you're helping me?' I'm not afraid to have people know of our friendship." In his own autobiography, ''With Obligation to All'', George Ariyoshi does not mention Larry Mehau at all.

Ariyoshi has also served as president of the Hawaii [[Bar Association]] and served on the board of directors for [[First Hawaiian Bank]], the Honolulu Gas Company and Hawaiian Insurance Guaranty Company. He also served on the board of governors at the [[East-West Center]], based in [[Honolulu]], an internationally known education and research organization that was established by U.S. Congress. As governor, he is credited with revitalizing the organization, and joined the board when his term as governor ended. He served five terms as chairman, until he was not reappointed by [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] governor [[Linda Lingle]] in 2003.

== See also ==
* [[List of minority governors and lieutenant governors in the United States]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

*Ariyoshi, Wife Detained in Dispute with Customs" (Honolulu Advertiser 05-28-87)
*(resigned from FHB to spare them "any embarrassment")(Honolulu Advertiser 06-19-87)
*(pays $11,389.00 fine)(Honolulu Advertiser 11-28-87)
*https://books.google.com/books/about/Land_and_Power_in_Hawaii.html?id=8128CdCEJNcC

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.interliteracy.com/philosophy/george_a.html My Philosophy Vol.85 George Ariyoshi (2018)]
*[http://www.starbulletin.com/2004/11/22/features/ Honolulu Star Bulletin Article about Ariyoshi's Wife and her book, ''Washington Place: A First Lady's Story'']
*[http://starbulletin.com/98/12/03/editorial/smyser.html Honolulu Star Bulletin Editorial Column]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20041029175759/http://www.weekender.co.jp/LatestEdition/010713/baby.html The Hawai{{okina}}i Connection]
*[http://starbulletin.com/96/12/09/features/donnelly.html Donn Ariyoshi]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20161003034450/http://georgeariyoshi.com/ George Ariyoshi Tribute Site]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090327093449/http://sargentportraits.com/professionals/hawaii2.htm Portrait of Ariyoshi] by [[Margaret Holland Sargent]]
*[https://www.c-span.org/person/?124459/GeorgeAriyoshi Appearances] on [[C-SPAN]]

{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee for [[Governor of Hawaii]]|years=[[1974 Hawaii gubernatorial election|1974]], [[1978 Hawaii gubernatorial election|1978]], [[1982 Hawaii gubernatorial election|1982]]}}
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{{s-prec|usa}}
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{{s-ttl|title=[[United States order of precedence|Order of precedence of the United States]]|years=Within Hawaii}}
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{{s-bef|before=[[Bill Walker (American politician)|Bill Walker]]|as=Former Governor}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[United States order of precedence|Order of precedence of the United States]]|years=Outside Hawaii}}
{{s-hon}}
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{{s-ttl|title = Oldest living American governor| years = 2024–present
{{s-inc|current}}
{{s-end}}
}}

{{Governors of Hawaii}}
{{HawaiiLtGovernors}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ariyoshi, George}}
[[Category:1926 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Hawaii State Legislature]]
[[Category:American military personnel of Japanese descent]]
[[Category:American state governors of Japanese descent]]
[[Category:Asian American and Pacific Islander state legislators in Hawaii]]
[[Category:Democratic Party governors of Hawaii]]
[[Category:Democratic Party Hawaii state senators]]
[[Category:Hawaii people of Japanese descent]]
[[Category:Hawaii politicians of Japanese descent]]
[[Category:Lawyers from Hawaii]]
[[Category:Lieutenant governors of Hawaii]]
[[Category:Members of the Hawaii Territorial Legislature]]
[[Category:Michigan State University alumni]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Hawaii]]
[[Category:President William McKinley High School alumni]]
[[Category:Politicians from Honolulu]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:United States Army soldiers]]
[[Category:University of Michigan Law School alumni]]