Pat Saiki
Encyclopedia
Patricia Fukuda "Pat" Saiki (born May 28, 1930) is an American politician and former school teacher from Hilo in the State of Hawai'i
. She served as a Republican
in Congress
from 1987 to 1991 and then as Administrator of the Small Business Administration
under President of the United States
George H. W. Bush
.
, graduated from Hilo High School
in 1948 and received her bachelor's degree from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa
in 1952. Upon graduating college, Saiki became a teacher and later a business executive.
's untimely leave from Congress, and on September 20, 1986 a special election was held. Saiki lost the special election (to Democrat Neil Abercrombie
) but won a separate election (over Democrat Mufi Hannemann
) sending her to Congress where she served two consecutive terms. In 1988, she beat challenger Mary Bitterman, a Democrat and former head of Voice of America
.
Until the election of Charles Djou
on May 22, 2010, Saiki was the only Republican
to ever hold a House seat from the state of Hawai`i
and one of only two Republican Members of Congress (the other being Senator Hiram Fong
) to represent the state since it gained statehood. She is also the second woman to be elected to Congress from the state of Hawai`i (the first being Patsy Mink
, with whom Saiki served with for two years).
In 1990, she lost a United States Senate
race to Daniel K. Akaka, then was appointed Administrator of the Small Business Administration
under President George Herbert Walker Bush. In 1994, she lost a race for Governor of Hawai'i
against Democratic challenger Benjamin J. Cayetano. She attributes her loss in 1994 to the third-party candidacy of maverick Mayor of Honolulu
Frank F. Fasi
. Saiki placed third in the race behind Fasi. Saiki subsequently chaired the Hawaii Presidential campaign of former New York Mayor Rudy Guiliani in 2008 and the 2010 congressional campaign of Charles Djou
.
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. She served as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
in Congress
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from 1987 to 1991 and then as Administrator of the Small Business Administration
Small Business Administration
The Small Business Administration is a United States government agency that provides support to entrepreneurs and small businesses. The mission of the Small Business Administration is "to maintain and strengthen the nation's economy by enabling the establishment and viability of small businesses...
under President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
.
Early life
Saiki, a Japanese AmericanJapanese American
are American people of Japanese heritage. Japanese Americans have historically been among the three largest Asian American communities, but in recent decades have become the sixth largest group at roughly 1,204,205, including those of mixed-race or mixed-ethnicity...
, graduated from Hilo High School
Hilo High School
Hilo High School is a public, co-educational high school of the Hawaii State Department of Education, and serves grades nine through twelve. Established in 1906, its first class graduated in 1909. Hilo High School is near the Wailuku River in Hawaii County on the Big Island of Hawaii. The campus...
in 1948 and received her bachelor's degree from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa
University of Hawaii
The University of Hawaii System, formally the University of Hawaii and popularly known as UH, is a public, co-educational college and university system that confers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees through three university campuses, seven community college campuses, an employment...
in 1952. Upon graduating college, Saiki became a teacher and later a business executive.
Political career
In 1968, Saiki joined the Hawai`i Republican Party and ran successfully for a seat in the Hawai`i State House of Representatives. In 1974, she moved to the Hawai`i State Senate where she served her district until 1982. A vacancy was created by U.S. Rep. Cecil HeftelCecil Heftel
Cecil Landau Heftel, popularly known as Cec Heftel was an American politician and businessman from Hawai'i...
's untimely leave from Congress, and on September 20, 1986 a special election was held. Saiki lost the special election (to Democrat Neil Abercrombie
Neil Abercrombie
Neil Abercrombie is the 7th and current Governor of Hawaii. He was the Democratic U.S. Representative of the First Congressional District of Hawaii which comprises urban Honolulu. He served in Congress from 1986 to 1987 and from 1991 to 2010 when he resigned to successfully run for governor...
) but won a separate election (over Democrat Mufi Hannemann
Mufi Hannemann
Muliufi Francis "Mufi" Hannemann is an American politician. He is the former Mayor of Honolulu. Hannemann has served as a special assistant in Washington, D.C., with the Department of the Interior, where he was selected for a White House fellowship in the Reagan administration under Vice President...
) sending her to Congress where she served two consecutive terms. In 1988, she beat challenger Mary Bitterman, a Democrat and former head of Voice of America
Voice of America
Voice of America is the official external broadcast institution of the United States federal government. It is one of five civilian U.S. international broadcasters working under the umbrella of the Broadcasting Board of Governors . VOA provides a wide range of programming for broadcast on radio...
.
Until the election of Charles Djou
Charles Djou
Charles Kong Djou is the former U.S. Representative for Hawaii's 1st congressional district...
on May 22, 2010, Saiki was the only Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to ever hold a House seat from the state of Hawai`i
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
and one of only two Republican Members of Congress (the other being Senator Hiram Fong
Hiram Fong
Hiram Leong Fong , born Yau Leong Fong , was an American businessman and politician from Hawaii. He is most notable for his service as Republican United States Senator from 1959 to 1977, and for being the first Asian American and Chinese American to be elected as such...
) to represent the state since it gained statehood. She is also the second woman to be elected to Congress from the state of Hawai`i (the first being Patsy Mink
Patsy Mink
Patsy Matsu Takemoto Mink was an American politician from the U.S. state of Hawaii. Mink was a third generation Japanese American and member of the Democratic Party. She also was the Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs.Mink served in the U.S...
, with whom Saiki served with for two years).
In 1990, she lost a United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
race to Daniel K. Akaka, then was appointed Administrator of the Small Business Administration
Small Business Administration
The Small Business Administration is a United States government agency that provides support to entrepreneurs and small businesses. The mission of the Small Business Administration is "to maintain and strengthen the nation's economy by enabling the establishment and viability of small businesses...
under President George Herbert Walker Bush. In 1994, she lost a race for Governor of Hawai'i
Governor of Hawaii
The Governor of Hawaii is the chief executive of the state of Hawaii and its various agencies and departments, as provided in the Hawaii State Constitution Article V, Sections 1 through 6. It is a directly elected position, votes being cast by popular suffrage of residents of the state...
against Democratic challenger Benjamin J. Cayetano. She attributes her loss in 1994 to the third-party candidacy of maverick Mayor of Honolulu
Mayor of Honolulu
The Mayor of Honolulu is the chief executive officer of the City and County of Honolulu and considered the third most powerful official in the U.S. state of Hawaii, behind the Governor of Hawaii and the Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii...
Frank F. Fasi
Frank Fasi
Frank Francis Fasi was a United States politician having the distinction as the longest serving Mayor of Honolulu in Honolulu, Hawaii. He also served as a territorial senator and member of the Honolulu City Council...
. Saiki placed third in the race behind Fasi. Saiki subsequently chaired the Hawaii Presidential campaign of former New York Mayor Rudy Guiliani in 2008 and the 2010 congressional campaign of Charles Djou
Charles Djou
Charles Kong Djou is the former U.S. Representative for Hawaii's 1st congressional district...
.