Stephen K. Yamashiro

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Stephen Yamashiro
Mayor of Hawaii County
In office
December 7, 1992 – December 2000
Preceded byLorraine Inouye
Succeeded byHarry Kim
Personal details
Born
Stephen Kim Yamashiro

(1941-07-15)July 15, 1941
Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, U.S.
DiedMay 24, 2011(2011-05-24) (aged 69)
Hilo, Hawaii, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseDella E. Allison
Alma materUniversity of Hawaiʻi
Willamette University
ProfessionPolitician, lawyer

Stephen Kei Yamashiro (July 15, 1941 – May 24, 2011) was an American

Mayor of Hawaii for two consecutive, four-year terms from 1992 until 2000.[1]

The

Big Island of Hawaii.[1] More specifically, Honolulu Star-Bulletin reporter Hugh Clark has called Yamashiro, "probably … the most significant newsmaker on the Big Island" during the final thirty years of the 20th century.[1]

Biography

Early years

Yamashiro was born on July 15, 1941, in Honolulu, Hawaii.[2] He attended University Elementary School and graduated from the Punahou School in 1959.[2] In 1964, Yamashiro also graduated from the U.S. Army Artillery Officer's Candidate School, located at Fort Sill in Oklahoma.[2]

He received a bachelor's degree from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in 1965 and a law degree from Willamette University College of Law in Salem, Oregon in 1969.[1][2]

Political career

Yamashiro worked as the Hawaii State Deputy

legal counsel for Hawaii County.[1] He was then employed by the Hawaii Public Employment Relations Board as a Hearings Officer.[2]

Yamashiro was elected to the

Hawaii County Council from 1976 to 1990.[2] He served as the chairman of the county council simultaneously for eleven of those years.[2]

Mayor of Hawaii County

Former Mayor of Hawaii

special election to fill the remainder of Akana's unexpired term.[1] Yamashiro left the council and announced his candidacy for Mayor of Hawaii County.[1] Yamshiro was defeated in the 1990 special election by Lorraine Inouye, who won the election by just 76 votes.[1]

Two years later, Yamashiro was elected Mayor of Hawaii County in 1992 in a rematch against incumbent Mayor Lorraine Inouye.

Russell Kokubun, who had also served on the county council, in the 1992 mayoral election.[1] Though rivals in the election, Kokuban became deputy planning director for several years during Yamashiro's tenure as mayor.[1]

He was inaugurated into office on December 7, 1992.

Green Party by a slimmer than expected margin of 3,148 votes.[4]

Yamashiro came into office facing major economic challenges for the

North Kona to replace jobs lost in the sugar industry.[1]

Yamshiro is credited with introducing the 100% Kona coffee emblem and logo now widely used by Kona Coffee producers on the Big Island.[2] He expanded the tourism industry between Japan and the Big Island of Hawaii.[2] Yamashiro spearheaded efforts to recruit the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to open an office and international service at Kona International Airport.[2] He also successfully lobbied for nonstop, international flights between Kona and Narita International Airport by Japan Airlines.[2]

He also considered an advocate for the Big Island of Hawaii's agricultural industry, the University of Hawaii and the island's film industry.[2]

In 2000, Yamashiro could not seek re-election due to term limits.

budget surplus.[2]

Post-Mayoral career

Hilo.[6]

Yamashiro died from pneumonia at Hilo Medical Center in Hilo, Hawaii, on May 24, 2011, aged 69.[7] He was survived by his wife, Della E. Allison.[2]

References

  1. ^
    Honolulu Star Advertiser
    . Retrieved 2011-07-08.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Former Mayor Stephen K. Yamashiro (1941-2011)". Hawaii 24/7. 2011-05-25. Retrieved 2011-07-10.
  3. Honolulu Advertiser
    . 2008-06-23. Retrieved 2011-07-09.
  4. University of Hawaii. Archived from the original
    (PDF) on 2011-10-26. Retrieved 2011-07-08.
  5. ^ a b "The Races to Watch: Neighbor Islands". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. 2000-09-25. Retrieved 2011-07-08.
  6. Honolulu Advertiser
    . Retrieved 2011-07-08.
  7. ^ "Former Big Island mayor Stephen Yamashiro dead at 69". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. 2011-05-25. Retrieved 2018-05-11.
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