Patricia "Pat" Saiki, a trailblazing Republican figure who became the first Republican woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Hawaii after statehood, died peacefully Wednesday at her Honolulu home. Saiki was 96 years old and passed away of natural causes, according to her son, Stuart Saiki. Her death marks the end of a political career that spanned six decades, leaving an indelible mark on both Hawaii and national politics.
"Pat Saiki’s six decades of public service and her pioneering example for young women and Asian Americans in Hawaii and across the U.S. combine to form both a lasting, inspiring legacy and a high bar for all of us who serve the public." Governor Josh Green, Hawaii
Born in Hilo, Saiki embarked on a path of public service that began after her graduation from Hilo High School and the University of Hawaii. Before entering electoral politics, she worked as a teacher. An incident during her teaching career at Kaimuki Intermediate School proved to be a catalyst for her political involvement. Saiki recounted being denied the use of a school telephone for a personal call to check on her daughter, who had been taken to a hospital. This experience motivated her to organize teachers, advocating for improved workplace conditions, including designated planning periods and private access to telephones.
Saiki co-founded a teachers' chapter of the Hawaii Government Employees Association with leader Charles Kendall, successfully recruiting over 2,000 teachers. Her advocacy led her to represent teachers before the state Legislature, ultimately inspiring her to run for public office herself. In 1968, Saiki launched a successful campaign for the Hawaii House of Representatives as a Republican, utilizing the slogan, "This District Needs a Woman in the House." She served in the state House until 1974 and subsequently in the Hawaii Senate from 1974 to 1982.
Following an unsuccessful bid for lieutenant governor, Saiki took on the role of chairwoman for the Hawaii Republican Party, demonstrating her enduring commitment to the party's growth in a predominantly Democratic state. Her most significant electoral triumph occurred in 1986 when she secured a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, a notable achievement in Hawaii's federal races. She served two terms in Congress, from 1987 to 1991, where she championed several key initiatives.
One of Saiki's most impactful accomplishments was her instrumental role in building bipartisan support, particularly among Republicans, for the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. This landmark legislation formally apologized for the unjust incarceration of Japanese Americans by the federal government during World War II and authorized reparations of $20,000 to surviving detainees. President Ronald Reagan later signed the measure into law, signifying a national acknowledgment of a historical wrong. Her family also highlighted her successful efforts in convincing President George H.W. Bush to end the U.S. Navy’s use of Kahoolawe, a sacred island, as a bombing and target-training range.
After an unsuccessful run for the U.S. Senate in 1990, President George H.W. Bush appointed Saiki as the administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) in 1991. She led the agency until 1993, further extending her public service to the executive branch. Later in her career, Saiki shared her extensive political experience by teaching at Harvard University’s Institute of Politics at the John F. Kennedy School of Government. She also returned to serve as chairwoman of the Hawaii Republican Party decades later, underscoring her lifelong dedication to public service and her party.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green recognized Saiki's profound impact, ordering U.S. and state flags lowered at the state Capitol, government offices, and Hawaii National Guard facilities in her honor from Friday through Monday. Governor Green praised her extensive career, stating, "Pat Saiki’s six decades of public service and her pioneering example for young women and Asian Americans in Hawaii and across the U.S. combine to form both a lasting, inspiring legacy and a high bar for all of us who serve the public." Her son, Stuart Saiki, fondly remembered her as a devoted parent alongside her political prowess, noting, "She would help me with my homework, and she would be just a regular mom to us as well as a politician. So we called her Supermom."
Saiki was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Stanley Saiki, and their oldest son, Stanley Saiki Jr. She is survived by four children—Sandra, Margaret, Stuart, and Laurie—and her grandchildren. Funeral arrangements for Patricia Saiki are still pending.
