James Aiona
Encyclopedia
James R. "Duke" Aiona, Jr. (born June 8, 1955) is an American politician who served as Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii
from 2002 to 2010. He is of Hawaiian
, Chinese
, and Portuguese
descent. Prior to his election to the office in 2002, he served both as an attorney and a judge for the state.
Aiona announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for the Hawaii gubernatorial election, 2010
and he was victorious after being widely considered the front runner for his party's nomination. He was defeated by former House Representative Neil Abercrombie
in the general election.
, Hawai`i. He attended Saint Louis School
, a local academy of the Diocese of Honolulu
. Upon graduating high school, Aiona pursued a bachelor of arts degree in political science
, which he received from the University of the Pacific in Stockton
, California
in 1977. Aiona returned to Hawai`i and graduated from the William S. Richardson School of Law
at the University of Hawai`i at Mānoa
in 1981.
In 1977, while attending law school, he met Vivian Welsh at a dance in Waikīkī. They married in 1981. They have two sons, Kulia and Makana; and two daughters, Ohulani and Kaimilani.
According to the State of Hawai`i website, Duke Aiona has spent his life serving the public and working to improve the quality of life for the people of Hawai`i. As a city attorney, state judge and as Lt. Governor, Duke Aiona's campaign website claims he has built a "proven record of integrity, leadership and commitment".
He began his legal career at the City and County of Honolulu as a deputy prosecutor, and was appointed to the Hawai`i State Judiciary in 1990 as a Family Court judge. In 1996, Aiona became the first administrative judge and primary architect of the Drug Court Program in Hawai`i. The program gives non-violent offenders a chance to stay out of prison through active and effective drug rehabilitation. Under his leadership, 85 percent of offenders stayed in the program and out of prison.
In his first term as Lt. Governor, Aiona intensified efforts against the problem of illicit drug abuse, including methamphetamine, and underage drinking, which increasingly plagued the state. In 2003, his efforts led to Hawai`i’s first Drug Control Strategy Summit. This project gathered together government, nonprofit organizations and members of the community to create an all-encompassing strategy that included community mobilization, prevention, treatment and vigorous law enforcement to deal with illegal drug and alcohol use. Production and use of crystal methamphetamine has since been greatly reduced in the state. As Lt. Governor Aiona is paid $117,312.
Aiona has served as a member of the advisory council for the Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). He was appointed by President George W. Bush in 2006 to the Advisory Commission on Drug-Free Communities, which advises the Director of the White House Office of National Drug Policy. He is also a co-chair for the Aerospace States Association, a national organization of Lt. Governors whose purpose is to promote aerospace policies relating to education and economic development. Additionally, Aiona is a Co-Chair of Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol Free, a national leadership coalition that seeks to prevent underage drinking across the nation.
became Hawaii's first Republican Administration to win a second term, and they won with the largest margin of victory in any gubernatorial race in the history of the state.
Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii
The Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii, concurrently the Secretary of State of Hawaii, is the assistant chief executive of that U.S. state and its various agencies and departments, as provided in the Hawaii State Constitution Article V, Sections 2 though 6. He or she is elected by popular suffrage of...
from 2002 to 2010. He is of Hawaiian
Native Hawaiians
Native Hawaiians refers to the indigenous Polynesian people of the Hawaiian Islands or their descendants. Native Hawaiians trace their ancestry back to the original Polynesian settlers of Hawaii.According to the U.S...
, Chinese
Chinese American
Chinese Americans represent Americans of Chinese descent. Chinese Americans constitute one group of overseas Chinese and also a subgroup of East Asian Americans, which is further a subgroup of Asian Americans...
, and Portuguese
Portuguese American
Portuguese Americans are citizens of the United States whose ancestry originates in the southwest European nation of Portugal, including the offshore island groups of the Azores and Madeira....
descent. Prior to his election to the office in 2002, he served both as an attorney and a judge for the state.
Aiona announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for the Hawaii gubernatorial election, 2010
Hawaii gubernatorial election, 2010
The Hawaii gubernatorial election of 2010 was held on November 2, 2010 to determine the next Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii. The winning candidates will serve a four-year term from 2010 to 2014. Incumbent Republican Governor Linda Lingle was term-limited in 2010 and not eligible to run...
and he was victorious after being widely considered the front runner for his party's nomination. He was defeated by former House Representative 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...
in the general election.
Background
James Aiona was born in Pearl CityPearl City, Hawaii
Pearl City is a census-designated place located in the Ewa District and City & County of Honolulu on the Island of Oahu. As of the 2010 Census, the CDP had a total population of 47,698. Pearl City is located along the north shore of Pearl Harbor. ʻAiea borders Pearl City to the east, while Waipahu...
, Hawai`i. He attended Saint Louis School
Saint Louis School
Saint Louis School, located in the town of Kaimuki in Honolulu, Hawaii, is a historic Roman Catholic college preparatory school for boys founded in 1846 to serve the needs of early Hawaiian Catholics in the former Kingdom of Hawaii...
, a local academy of the Diocese of Honolulu
Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu
The Catholic Diocese of Honolulu, officially in Latin Dioecesis Honoluluensis, is an ecclesiastical territory or particular church of the Catholic Church in the United States...
. Upon graduating high school, Aiona pursued a bachelor of arts degree in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
, which he received from the University of the Pacific in Stockton
Stockton, California
Stockton, California, the seat of San Joaquin County, is the fourth-largest city in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. With a population of 291,707 at the 2010 census, Stockton ranks as this state's 13th largest city...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 1977. Aiona returned to Hawai`i and graduated from the William S. Richardson School of Law
William S. Richardson School of Law
The William S. Richardson School of Law is a public, co-educational institution of the University of Hawaii at Mānoa in Honolulu, Hawaii. Named after the beloved Hawaii State Supreme Court Chief Justice William S. Richardson, it is the only law school in the State of Hawaii...
at the University of Hawai`i at Mānoa
University of Hawaii at Manoa
The University of Hawaii at Mānoa is a public, co-educational university and is the flagship campus of the greater University of Hawaii system...
in 1981.
In 1977, while attending law school, he met Vivian Welsh at a dance in Waikīkī. They married in 1981. They have two sons, Kulia and Makana; and two daughters, Ohulani and Kaimilani.
According to the State of Hawai`i website, Duke Aiona has spent his life serving the public and working to improve the quality of life for the people of Hawai`i. As a city attorney, state judge and as Lt. Governor, Duke Aiona's campaign website claims he has built a "proven record of integrity, leadership and commitment".
He began his legal career at the City and County of Honolulu as a deputy prosecutor, and was appointed to the Hawai`i State Judiciary in 1990 as a Family Court judge. In 1996, Aiona became the first administrative judge and primary architect of the Drug Court Program in Hawai`i. The program gives non-violent offenders a chance to stay out of prison through active and effective drug rehabilitation. Under his leadership, 85 percent of offenders stayed in the program and out of prison.
In his first term as Lt. Governor, Aiona intensified efforts against the problem of illicit drug abuse, including methamphetamine, and underage drinking, which increasingly plagued the state. In 2003, his efforts led to Hawai`i’s first Drug Control Strategy Summit. This project gathered together government, nonprofit organizations and members of the community to create an all-encompassing strategy that included community mobilization, prevention, treatment and vigorous law enforcement to deal with illegal drug and alcohol use. Production and use of crystal methamphetamine has since been greatly reduced in the state. As Lt. Governor Aiona is paid $117,312.
Aiona has served as a member of the advisory council for the Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). He was appointed by President George W. Bush in 2006 to the Advisory Commission on Drug-Free Communities, which advises the Director of the White House Office of National Drug Policy. He is also a co-chair for the Aerospace States Association, a national organization of Lt. Governors whose purpose is to promote aerospace policies relating to education and economic development. Additionally, Aiona is a Co-Chair of Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol Free, a national leadership coalition that seeks to prevent underage drinking across the nation.
Electoral history
Aiona and Governor Linda LingleLinda Lingle
Linda Lingle was the sixth Governor of Hawaii. Lingle holds a number of distinctions: first Republican elected governor of Hawaii since the departure of William F...
became Hawaii's first Republican Administration to win a second term, and they won with the largest margin of victory in any gubernatorial race in the history of the state.
External links
- James Aiona for Governor official campaign site