Linda Lingle
As Hawai‘i’s chief executive from 2002-2010, Governor Linda Lingle led the effort to meet the challenges of the 21st century, and capitalize on new opportunities during a pivotal and exciting time of change in the history of our state and world.
Throughout her time in office, Governor Lingle maintained a commitment to improving the quality of life for Hawai‘i residents, while positioning our state for a brighter future.
In moving Hawai‘i forward, Governor Lingle emphasized her mandate for state government to lead by example, particularly in the areas of innovation and decreasing Hawai‘i’s dependence on imported oil. She provided a clear vision for the fundamental transformation of Hawai‘i’s economy through the Hawai‘i Innovation Initiative and the Hawai‘i Clean Energy Initiative, both of which positioned Hawai‘i as a world leader in the 21st-century economy.
Governor Lingle remained committed to improving the quality of education in Hawai‘i and providing our youth with the skills they need to compete and excel in the global marketplace. Her administration focused on promoting science, technology, engineering, and math, or STEM, education for Hawai‘i students. In particular, she helped expand robotics education opportunities in our schools to provide students with hands-on learning experiences in which they can apply their knowledge of STEM disciplines, while developing skills in critical and analytical thinking, teamwork, and communication.
Governor Lingle also initiated major upgrades to our airports, harbors, highways, public schools, university campuses, state parks, small boat harbors, hospitals, and other public facilities. These investments in our transportation infrastructure and public institutions helped to improve the quality of life for both visitors and residents of our state, supported the needs of Hawai‘i’s businesses and created a brighter economic future for our state.
Her administration dramatically improved the quality of mental health services - raising the state’s rating from 51st in the nation to 11th.
The Lingle-Aiona Administration also focused on fulfilling commitments to Native Hawaiians, with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands awarding more leases to beneficiaries during their eight years of leadership than in the trust’s previous 80-year history.
Recognizing the importance of global partnerships in an increasingly technological and interconnected world, Governor Lingle was proactive in forging links with our Asia-Pacific neighbors. Governor Lingle visited China, Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, the Philippines, and South Korea to form partnerships in education, trade, tourism, business, clean energy, emergency preparedness, film, digital media, and culture and the arts.
As commander-in-chief of the Hawai‘i National Guard, she has also visited Hawai‘i troops in Iraq, Japan, Korea, and the mainland, and consistently reminded the people of Hawai‘i about the tremendous sacrifices of our troops and their families.
Governor Lingle took office on December 2, 2002, committed to bringing about a “New Beginning” for the people of Hawai‘i by making state government more open, accountable, and responsive. Her tremendous success at accomplishing these goals and revitalizing Hawai‘i led to re-election for a second four-year term in November 2006 by the largest margin of victory in any gubernatorial race in state history, which included winning all of Hawai‘i’s 51 house districts.
Governor Lingle served as the sixth elected Governor of Hawai‘i. She was the first mayor, first woman, and first person of Jewish ancestry to be Governor. She was also the first Republican to lead the Aloha State in more than 40 years.
She first served the people of Hawai‘i in 1980 as a member of the Maui County Council, and went on to complete five two-year terms, three representing the island of Moloka‘i. In 1990, she was elected Mayor of Maui County and served two full four-year terms. Under her leadership, job growth was faster in Maui County than anywhere else in the state.
Governor Lingle was born on June 4, 1953 and is a native of St. Louis, Missouri. When she was 12, her family moved to Southern California, where she attended public schools and graduated from Birmingham High School. She relocated to Hawai‘i in 1975 after graduating cum laude with a journalism degree from California State University, Northridge. In 1976, she founded and began serving as publisher of the Moloka‘i Free Press.