Mazie Hirono

Mazie Hirono 広野 慶子
United States Senator from Hawaii
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2013 Serving with Brian Schatz
Preceded by	Daniel Akaka
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Hawaii's 2nd district
In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2013
Preceded by	Ed Case
Succeeded by	Tulsi Gabbard
Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii
In office December 2, 1994 – December 2, 2002
Governor	Ben Cayetano
Preceded by	Ben Cayetano
Succeeded by	James Aiona
Member of the Hawaii House of Representatives from the 22nd district
In office January 3, 1993 – December 2, 1994
Preceded by	Gene Ward
Succeeded by	Terry Nui Yoshinaga
Member of the Hawaii House of Representatives from the 32nd district
In office January 3, 1985 – January 3, 1993
Preceded by	Clarice Hashimoto
Succeeded by	Len Pepper
Member of the Hawaii House of Representatives from the 20th district
In office January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1985
Preceded by	Mitsuo Shito Daniel Kihano
Succeeded by	Campbell Cavasso
Member of the Hawaii House of Representatives from the 12th district
In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1983
Preceded by	Clifford Uwaine David Hagino
Succeeded by	Barbara Marumoto
Personal details
Born	Mazie Keiko Hirono (1947-11-03) November 3, 1947 (age 77) Fukushima, Japan
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Leighton Kim Oshima
Alma mater	University of Hawaii, Manoa Georgetown University

Mazie Keiko Hirono (born November 3, 1947) is an American politician. She is best known as the first Asian-American woman elected to the US Senate.^[1]

Early life

Hirono was born in Fukushima, Japan. At the age of 8, she emigrated to Hawaii with her mother. She became a US citizen in 1959.^[1] She considers herself among the Issei who are immigrants born in Japan.^[2]

Career

Hirono was elected three times to the US House of Representatives. She was a member of Congress for Hawaii's 2nd congressional district before she was elected to the US Senate in 2012.^[1]

Personal life

In May 2017, Hirono was diagnosed with kidney cancer.^[3]

References

1. "Hirono Becomes First U.S. Senator Born in Japan," Wall Street Journal, 6 November 2012; retrieved 2012-11-25.
2. Hirono, Mazie. "Commemorating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month," Congressional Record, May 14, 2009; retrieved 2012-11-25.
3. Hawaii Sen. Mazie Hirono diagnosed with kidney cancer