Pat Saiki
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Patricia Fukuda Saiki (1930- ), popularly known as Pat Saiki, American statesman and former school teacher from Hilo in the State of Hawai'i. She served as a Republican in Congress from 1987 to 1991 and then as Administrator of the Small Business Administration under President of the United States George Herbert Walker Bush.
Saiki, a Japanese American, was born in Hilo on May 28, 1930. She graduated from Hilo High School in 1948 and received her bachelor's degree from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa in 1952. Upon graduating college, Saiki became a teacher and later a business executive. In 1968, Saiki joined the Hawai'i Republican Party and ran successfully for a seat in the Hawai'i State House of Representatives. In 1974, she moved to the Hawai'i State Senate where she served her district until 1982. A vacancy was created by Cecil Heftel's untimely leave from Congress and on September 20, 1986 a special election was held. Saiki lost the special election but won a separate election sending her to Congress where she served two consecutive terms. She is the only Republican to ever hold a House seat from Hawaii and one of only two to ever represent the state in Congress. In 1990, she lost a United States Senate race to Daniel K. Akaka but was then appointed Administrator of the Small Business Administration under George Herbert Walker Bush. In 1994, she ran and lost a race for Governor of Hawai'i against Benjamin J. Cayetano. She attributes her loss in 1994 to the third-party candidacy of maverick Mayor of Honolulu Frank F. Fasi. Saiki placed third in the race behind Fasi.
Preceded by: Neil Abercrombie | U.S. Representative of Hawaii's 1st Congressional District 1987-1991 | Succeeded by: Neil Abercrombie |