Mazie Hirono

Mazie Hirono became the first Japanese-born individual to serve in the United States Senate when she took office in 2013. Her path to Washington began in Fukushima Prefecture, leading to a long career in Hawaii state politics, including service as a state representative and lieutenant governor before her eventual transition to federal legislative roles.

Early Life and Education

Born in 1947, Hirono immigrated to Hawaii in 1955. She attended Kaimuki High School and later earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in 1970, where she was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. She subsequently earned her Juris Doctor from the Georgetown University Law Center in 1978 and returned to Hawaii to practice law.

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State Legislative and Executive Service

Hirono served in the Hawaii House of Representatives from 1981 to 1994, chairing the Consumer Protection and Commerce Committee between 1987 and 1992. In 1994, she was elected Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii, serving until 2002. During this tenure, she championed the Pre-Plus program, an initiative focused on universal preschool education.

Congressional Career

In 2006, Hirono was elected to represent Hawaii’s 2nd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives, serving from 2007 to 2013. She advanced to the U.S. Senate in 2013 after winning the seat vacated by Daniel Akaka. Her federal work has included advocacy for education and reproductive health, and she maintains the position of dean of Hawaii's congressional delegations.