 Flag of the Governor | ||||||||||||||
The Governor of the State of Hawaii is the head of the executive branch of Hawaii's state government, and commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws; the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Hawaii Legislature; the power to convene the legislature; and the power to grant pardons, except in cases of treason and impeachment.
Of the seven governors of the state, two have been elected to three terms, three have been elected to two terms, and two have been elected to one term. Though he also served a term as territorial governor. 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 Keiko Mahoe, who took office in 2016.
Governors of the State of Hawaii[]
Hawaii was admitted to the Union on August 21, 1959, consisting of Hawaii Territory minus Palmyra Atoll.
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 their duties, the lieutenant governor acts as governor during such absence or disability.
- Parties
Democratic Republican
| # | Governor | Portrait | Took office | Left office | Party | Lt. Governor | Terms | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patricia Jameson | 2011 | ||||||||
| Samuel Denning | 2011 | 2016 | |||||||
| Keiko Mahoe | 2016 | ||||||||