Waihe'e, John D. (John David), III, 1946-

<p>John David Waiheʻe III (born May 19, 1946) is an American politician who served as the fourth governor of Hawaii from 1986 to 1994. He was the first American of Native Hawaiian descent to be elected to the office from any state of the United States. After his tenure in the governor's office, Waiheʻe became a nationally prominent attorney and lobbyist.</p>

<p>Waiheʻe was born in Honokaʻa on the Island of Hawaii. Upon graduating from Hawaiian Mission Academy, Waiheʻe attended classes at Andrews University in Michigan. There he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degrees in both business and history. He moved to Honolulu to attend the newly established William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. He obtained his Juris Doctor degree in 1976. Waiheʻe is an Eagle Scout and recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award.</p>

<p>Waiheʻe started his political career as a delegate to the 1978 Hawaiʻi State Constitutional Convention where he was instrumental in the creation of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the adoption of the Hawaiian language as an official language of the state. He later served one term as a Democratic member of the Hawaiʻi State House of Representatives from 1981 to 1983. Waiheʻe was elected lieutenant governor of Hawaii under Governor George Ariyoshi, serving in that capacity until 1986. In 2008 Waiheʻe served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention.</p>

JOHN WAIHEE was born in Honokaa, Hawaii. He received his bachelor’s degree in history and business from Andrews University in Michigan, and his law degree from the University of Hawaii in 1976. His political career began with his election to the Constitutional Convention of 1978. In 1980 he was elected to the Hawaii House of Representatives, and in 1982 he was elected lieutenant governor of Hawaii. In 1986 he became Hawaii’s fourth elected governor and the first elected governor of Hawaiian ancestry.