The casket of former Hawaiʻi Gov. George Ariyoshi is seen at the State Capitol, Friday, in Honolulu. Ariyoshi’s casket will lie in state at the State Capitol Rotunda through Saturday. (Jamm Aquino/Civil Beat/2026)
A few hundred people, including some of Hawaiʻi’s most prominent politicians, came to the State Capitol Rotunda to pay their respects to former Hawaiʻi Gov. George Ariyoshi and his family. Under a cobalt blue sky and breezy tradewinds, the hearse carrying the casket of Ariyoshi arrived at the Capitol shortly after 10 a.m.
The hearse carrying the casket of former Hawaiʻi Gov. George Ariyoshi arrives at the State Capitol in Honolulu. (Jamm Aquino/Civil Beat/2026)
Jean Ariyoshi, middle, widow of former Hawaiʻi Gov. George Ariyoshi, is assisted by daughter-in-law Chika Ariyoshi and son Ryozo Ariyoshi, as the casket of George Ariyoshi is carried during a formal procession at the State Capitol, Friday, in Honolulu. (Jamm Aquino/Civil Beat/2026)
Hawaiʻi state sheriff’s deputies carry the casket of former Gov. George Ariyoshi, Friday. (Jamm Aquino/Civil Beat/2026)
Sheriff’s deputies carry the casket of former Gov. George Ariyoshi. (Jamm Aquino/Civil Beat/2026)
From left, Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green, First Lady Jaime Kanani Green, former Hawaiʻi Gov. Neil Abercrombie, Chief Justice Vladimir Devens and state Sen. Lorraine Inouye stand with participants as the casket of former Gov. George Ariyoshi is carried by Hawaiʻi state sheriffs in the rotunda. (Jamm Aquino/Civil Beat/2026)
State sheriffs salute after placing the casket of former Gov. George Ariyoshi at the State Capitol, Friday. (Jamm Aquino/Civil Beat/2026)
Former Hawaiʻi Gov. Linda Lingle, left, is embraced by current Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green during a formal procession for the casket of former Hawaiʻi Gov. George Ariyoshi, Friday. (Jamm Aquino/Civil Beat/2026)
Members of the Royal Order of Kamehameha I arrive to pay respects to Jean Ariyoshi, second from left, and the Ariyoshi family during a formal procession for the casket of former Hawaiʻi Gov. George Ariyoshi, Friday. (Jamm Aquino/Civil Beat/2026)People wait to pay respects to the Ariyoshi family during a formal procession for the casket of former Hawaiʻi Gov. George Ariyoshi, Friday. (Jamm Aquino/Civil Beat/2026)
The casket of former Hawaiʻi Gov. George Ariyoshi is seen at the State Capitol, Friday. (Jamm Aquino/Civil Beat/2026)
People pay respect and hold the hand of Jean Ariyoshi during a formal procession for the casket of her late husband. (Jamm Aquino/Civil Beat/2026)
Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green pauses for a moment of reflection at the casket of former Hawaiʻi Gov. George Ariyoshi. (Jamm Aquino/Civil Beat/2026)
Keiki from Waiāhole Elementary School sing a mele as Jean Ariyoshi listens and claps at right during a formal procession for the casket of former Hawaiʻi Gov. George Ariyoshi. (Jamm Aquino/Civil Beat/2026)
The casket of former Hawaiʻi Gov. George Ariyoshi will lie in state at the State Capitol Rotunda through Saturday. (Jamm Aquino/Civil Beat/2026)
George Ariyoshi was the third governor of Hawaiʻi since statehood in 1959 and the first Japanese-American governor in the U.S. A Democrat, he served as lieutenant governor under John A. Burns and took over as acting governor in 1972 when Burns became ill.
Ariyoshi was formally elected governor in 1974 and served until 1986, the only governor of the state to serve three terms. The law was later changed to limit the office to two consecutive four-year terms.
Prior to his political career, Ariyoshi served in the U.S. Army Military Intelligence Service during World War II as a Japanese-English interpreter. He earned degrees from Michigan State University and the University of Michigan Law School.
Ariyoshi died April 19 at the age of 100 at his home in Honolulu.
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