Late Hawaii Gov. George Ariyoshi lies in state at Capitol as leaders, community pay tribute

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) — The casket carrying the late former Gov. George Ariyoshi arrived at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol on Friday morning, following an escort led by the Honolulu Police Department from Nuʻuanu Memorial Park & Mortuary.

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Ariyoshi, who died April 19 at the age of 100, was greeted with honors during a morning procession that included the HPD Color Guard, State Sheriffs, and members of Hawaiian royal societies. Former First Lady Jean Ariyoshi and members of the Ariyoshi family were met at the Capitol by state leaders, including Gov. Josh Green and First Lady Jaime Green.

“My dad loved people. And when people come together like this, it makes my dad really happy. And it’s the people that make the occasion wonderful,” Donn Ariyoshi told Hawaii News Now.

“He is a titan and a legend for Hawaii, and he was so warm to Jamie and our whole ʻohana,” Green said. “It’s like a piece of history passing, but the fact that he made 100 years and was here really for all of our origin of statehood, if you think about the early glory days. It’s amazing.”

Leaders remember an era of public service

Bipartisan leaders and dignitaries gathered in the rotunda to pay their respects, including former Governors Neil Abercrombie and Linda Lingle, alongside Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Chief Justice Vladimir Devens.

Abercrombie reflected on Ariyoshi’s lasting legacy within Hawaiʻi’s political history.

“My thoughts go all the way back to the ’60s when I first joined the Democratic Party and first got exposed to Burns, Ariyoshi, Inouye, Patsy Mink, and Matsunaga — all of the stalwarts of the Democratic Party,” Abercrombie said. “Governor Ariyoshi manifested the vision, and the hope, and the dreams of the Democratic Party.”

“Governor Ariyoshi knew that he was planning for future generations,” Green said at the state service Friday evening at the State Capitol. “He was quiet and effective, which is what he celebrated. And that’s why he had enormous impact.”

Preserving Waiāhole Valley

Beyond the Capitol halls, community members remembered Ariyoshi for defining decisions that preserved rural communities across the islands.

In 1977, farmers and residents in Waiāhole Valley faced eviction amid proposed housing developments. The Ariyoshi administration intervened, purchasing hundreds of acres for $6 million to protect the agricultural land and ensure families could remain in their homes.

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“He was a hero. He’s one of the few politicians that stepped up and served the people, the grassroot people,” said Waiāhole Valley resident Patrick Dumadag.

Students from Waiāhole Elementary School were also on hand to honor the former governor with songs.

“He made sure that everyone was able to stay there and made sure they still had their homes,” said 10-year-old Mahina Brigoli, adding what she would say to Ariyoshi today: “I’d probably say thank you for keeping our land country.”

John Waihee, who was Ariyoshi’s last lieutenant governor and then succeeded him as governor, recalled his message at the 1978 Constitutional Convention.

“Just because something was good on the continent, it may not be good here,” Waihee recalled. “I’m listening to that and I’m starting to get excited about being involved in Hawaii’s future.”

While he was being remembered as the third governor of the State of Hawaii, he was also remembered by his family.

“He was interviewed and asked what he wanted to be remembered for — he would sway that ‘I would want my children to know that I was a good father.’ And he was. And I love you, dad,” Donn Ariyoshi said.

Ariyoshi will lie in state at the Capitol rotunda for 24 hours — making him the eighth leader in state history to receive the honor, and the first since the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka in 2018.

The lying in state will end at noon Saturday, when the casket will be moved to Kawaiahao Church for a celebration of life.

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