NOMINATING JOHN D. WAIHEʻE III FOR INDUCTION INTO THE ALOHA ORDER OF MERIT.

HR93

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

93

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

NOMINATING john d. waihe
ʻ
e
iii FOR INDUCTION into the aloha order of merit
.

����
WHEREAS, John
D. Waihe
ʻ
e III
made history as the first Native Hawaiian to be elected as Governor of any
state in the United States, serving as the fourth Governor of the State from
1986 to 1994; and

����
WHEREAS, John
D. Waihe
ʻ
e III's
election as Governor was nationally and internationally significant,
representing a milestone for Native Hawaiian leadership and inspiring indigenous
peoples across the United States and beyond; and

����
WHEREAS,
John D. Waihe
ʻ
e III
distinguished
himself nationally and internationally by working closely with presidents,
governors, and foreign leaders, and elevating the State's role as a bridge
between the United States and the Asia-Pacific region; and

����
WHEREAS, John
D. Waihe
ʻ
e III
was chosen by his fellow governors to serve as the Chair of the Democratic
Governors Association in 1992, placing a governor from the State in a prominent
national leadership role and reflecting the respect and confidence of his peers
during a pivotal election year; and

����
WHEREAS, John
D. Waihe
ʻ
e III also
served as Chair of the Education Commission of the States, through which he
helped shape national education policy and strengthen public education systems
across the country while advocating for strong federal-state collaboration to
support the State's schools; and

����
WHEREAS, during
the period of military downsizing and economic transition in the early 1990s, John
D. Waihe
ʻ
e III worked
with federal leaders to support economic diversification, workforce
development, and long-term stability for the State's economy; and

����
WHEREAS, John
D. Waihe
ʻ
e III implemented
and advanced the State's QUEST health care program, an innovative Medicaid
managed care model designed to expand access to health coverage for low-income
and working families, which received national recognition as a pioneering
example of effective federal-state partnership in health care reform; and

����
WHEREAS, as
the first Native Hawaiian governor of any state, John D. Waihe
ʻ
e III brought the
voice and concerns of indigenous peoples into federal policy discussions,
elevating the State's national stature and bringing distinction and honor to
the State; and

����
WHEREAS, John
D. Waihe
ʻ
e III served
as a delegate and emerging leader at the State's Constitutional Convention of
1978, where he and fellow delegates championed reforms that reshaped the State's
government and society, including establishing the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, formally
recognizing the Hawaiian language as an official language of the State, strengthening
protections for natural and cultural resources, and increasing government ethics
and accountability, demonstrating his commitment to the betterment of all the
people of the State; and

����
WHEREAS, John
D. Waihe
ʻ
e III further
advanced the national dialogue on reconciliation and Native Hawaiian rights
through the Hawaiian Sovereignty Advisory Commission, efforts that helped lay
the groundwork for the 1993 Apology Resolution, Public Law 103-150; and

����
WHEREAS, John
D. Waihe
ʻ
e III
devoted his administration to the betterment of the people of the State,
promoting educational opportunity, economic development, social equity, and
environmental stewardship; and

����
WHEREAS, John
D. Waihe
ʻ
e III continues
to contribute to the well-being of the State through public commentary, civic
engagement, and leadership in critical policy discussions, including his
advocacy for resilience and accountability in the State's energy sector, as
expressed in opinion articles published in Honolulu Civil Beat in 2024 and
2025, and through his ongoing promotion of the State's role as a vital bridge
between Pacific nations and the United States while serving as Chair of the
Board of Governors of the East-West Center; and

����
WHEREAS, through
his current efforts in media, opinion editorials, and civic forums, John D.
Waihe
ʻ
e III
exemplifies lifelong service to the State, demonstrating that his leadership
did not conclude with public office but continues to uplift and guide the lahui;
and

����
WHEREAS, the
Legislature established the Aloha Order of Merit in 1993 to honor certain
individuals, and section 5-7.6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, provides in relevant
part that "[h]onorees shall have:

����
(1)
�
Achieved national or international recognition
in their field either by a single event or by the totality of their work that
has been either pioneering in their field or that has been outstanding in the
long-term; and

����
(2)
�
(A)
�
Contributed
to the attainment of statehood for
��
Hawaii;

������
��
(B)
�
Devoted
themselves to the betterment of the

State,
embodying the concept of the Aloha Spirit;

������
��
(C)
�
Provided
extraordinary service to the State; or

������
��
(D)
�
Brought
honor to the State"; and

����
WHEREAS,
John D. Waihe
ʻ
e III
has
achieved national and international recognition as a statesman and advocate for
the State and its people through the totality of his work that has been
outstanding in the long-term; and

����
WHEREAS, John
D. Waihe
ʻ
e III has
devoted himself to the betterment of the State while embodying the concept of
the Aloha Spirit, provided extraordinary service to the State, and brought
honor to the State; and

����
WHEREAS, John
D. Waihe
ʻ
e III meets
all requirements necessary to be inducted as a member of the Aloha Order of
Merit; now, therefore,

����
BE IT
RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the
State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, that this body nominates John D.
Waihe
ʻ
e III for
induction into the Aloha Order of Merit; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the members
of the Aloha Order of Merit Committee, Governor, President of the Senate,
Speaker of the House of Representatives, and former Governor John D. Waihe
ʻ
e III.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:
�

Governor;
Aloha Order of Merit; Former Governor John D. Waihe
ʻ
e III; Nomination