The Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii, concurrently the Secretary of State of Hawaii, is the assistant chief executive of the state and its various agencies and departments, as provided in the Hawaii State Constitution Article V, Sections 2 though 6. He or she is elected by popular suffrage of residents of the state on the same ticket as the Governor of Hawaii. The lieutenant governor becomes acting governor upon the absence of the governor from the state, or if the governor becomes disabled from duty. In his or her capacity as Secretary of State of Hawai'i, the lieutenant governor is the chief elections officer. Historically, lieutenant governors were members of either the Hawaii Democratic Party or Hawaii Republican Party.

Qualifications

The Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii is limited to two four-year terms. Inauguration takes place on the first Monday in December following a gubernatorial election. A single term ends at noon four years later. He or she must be thirty years old and be a resident of Hawaii for five consecutive years previous to election. Unlike other states, the office of Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii is a full-time position and requires that he or she be barred from other professions or paid positions during the term.

Lieutenant Governors

• James Kealoha, Republican, 1959-1962
• William S. Richardson, Democrat, 1962-1966
• Tom Gill, Democrat, 1966-1970
• George Ariyoshi, Democrat, 1970-1973
• Nelson Doi, Democrat, 1974-1978
• Jean King, Democrat, 1978-1982
• John D. Waihee III, Democrat, 1982-1986
• Benjamin J. Cayetano, Democrat, 1986-1994
• Mazie Hirono, Democrat, 1994-2002
• James Aiona, Republican, 2002-Present

Resources

• Constitution of the State of Hawaii
• Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Hawai'i