Governor Linda Lingle - Biography
Governor Linda Lingle recognizes that the world is rapidly changing because of technology, innovation and globalization, and as the state’s chief executive, she is leading Hawai‘i to meet these unique challenges and capitalize on new opportunities during this pivotal and exciting time in history.
Governor Lingle is focused on increasing Hawai‘i’s prosperity, preserving its special quality of life and conserving its incredible natural resources by reducing the over-dependence on land development as the primary driver of the economy. To achieve these goals, she has launched the Hawai‘i Innovation Initiative to develop the capacity of Hawai‘i’s citizens to innovate. This will enable companies to compete effectively in the global economy of the 21st century and create new, higher-paying jobs in the state, particularly in the fields of science, technology and engineering.
In moving Hawai‘i forward, Governor Lingle continues to emphasize her mandate for state government to lead by example, particularly in the areas of innovation, renewable energy and fiscal accountability. Her Administration has forged strategic public-private partnerships to deliver programs and services to improve the state. She also encourages residents to take personal responsibility for building a better Hawai‘i through their unique personal capacities.
Under Governor Lingle’s leadership, her Administration has expanded and diversified the economy while prudently managing the state’s budget. As a result, Hawai‘i’s economy is the strongest it has been in more than a decade and continues to grow faster than the national average, while also maintaining one of the country’s lowest unemployment rates.
The environment has also been a top priority for her Administration. Governor Lingle helped to establish Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, the largest conservation area in the United States, which encompasses the 1,200 mile-long chain of atolls and reefs known as the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Under her leadership, the state has also expanded efforts to combat invasive species, promoted citizen monitoring of natural resources, launched the first comprehensive improvements to state parks in 40 years and dramatically increased funding and staff for the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Other initiatives of the Lingle-Aiona Administration include:
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Reducing Hawai‘i’s dependence on imported oil by encouraging development of clean affordable and renewable energy sources;
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Increasing the supply of affordable and public housing;
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Decreasing homelessness through immediate and long-term solutions;
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Revising the tax structure to better reflect Hawai‘i’s cost of living and allow residents to keep more of their hard-earned money;
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Enhancing public safety, particularly to protect children and the elderly;
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Increasing support for preschool, K-12 and higher education, including charter schools;
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Emphasizing openness and responsiveness in state government;
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Improving health and human services, especially by expanding affordable, quality health care.
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Encouraging residents to take personal responsibility for their health by living a healthy lifestyle; and
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Upgrading the state’s transportation infrastructure of airports, harbors and highways.
Governor Lingle has traveled to China, Japan, Indonesia, Israel, the Philippines and South Korea to form partnerships in education, trade, tourism, business and emergency preparedness. She visited Hawai‘i troops in Iraq, Japan and Korea, and makes it a point to reflect on their tremendous sacrifices at many speaking engagements.
She has hosted three Asia-Pacific Homeland Security Conferences, and founded the annual International Women’s Leadership Conference, now in its fifth year.
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 precincts.
Governor Lingle is the sixth elected Governor of Hawai‘i. She is the first mayor, first woman and first person of Jewish ancestry to be Governor. She is also the first Republican to lead the Aloha State in more than 40 years. In November 2005, she was awarded the Diversity Best Practices Award for Leadership in Government – the first such award for a state’s chief executive.
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 is a native of St. Louis, Missouri. When she was 12, her family moved to Southern California, where she attended public schools. 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.
