Governor, State of Hawaii, 2014-2022

Candidate, Governor of Hawaii, 2018

Senator, Hawaii State Senate, 1994-2014

Majority Technology Leader, Hawaii State Senate, 2008-2010

Representative, Hawaii State House of Representatives, District 34, 1993-1995

Representative, Hawaii State House of Representatives, District 43, 1985-1993

Former Vice-Chair, Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, Hawaii State Senate

Former Chair, Committee on Health, Hawaii State Senate

Chair, Committee on Ways and Means, Hawaii State Senate, 2010-2014

Chair, Committee on Health, Hawaii State Senate, 2006-2010

Chair, Committee on Education and Technology, Hawaii State Senate, 1998-2000

Chair, Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Information Technology, Hawaii State Senate, 1996-1998

Chair, Committee on Higher Education, Culture, and the Arts, Hawaii State Senate, 1994-1996

Chair, Committee on Education, Hawaii House of Representatives, 1992-1994

Chair, Committee on Higher Education, Hawaii House of Representatives, 1990-1992

Chair, Committee on Economic Development and Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaii House of Representatives, 1988-1990

Project Manager, Robert A. Ige and Associates, Incorporated, 2003-2014

Vice President of Engineering, Net Enterprise, Incorporated, 2001-2002

Project Engineer/Senior Principal Engineer, Pihana Pacific, Limited Liability Company, 1999-2001

Project Manager, Pihana Pacific, Limited Liability Company, 1999-2001

Network Designer, General Telephone and Electronics (GTE) Hawaiian Telephone, 1981-1999

Project Engineer/Senior Administrator, General Telephone and Electronics Hawaiian Telephone, 1981-1999

Electronics Engineer, Pacific Analysis Corporation, 1979-1981

Research Analyst, Pacific Analysis Corporation, 1979-1981

Member, Newtown Estates Community Association, 1986-present

Member, Pearl City Community Association, 1986-present

Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, 1979-present

Member, Phi Delta Sigma

Awards:

Outstanding Legislator of the Year, 2011 , Hawaii AARP
Senator of the Year, 2011, Healthcare Association of Hawaii
State Technology Innovator Award, 2010, National Association of Chief Information Officers (NASCIO)
Outstanding Elected Leader, 2010, Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaii
Advocacy Award, 2009-2010, American Heart Association-Hawaii Division
Legislator of the Year, 2009, Hawaii Dental Association
Kulia Award, 2007, Hawaii Primary Care Association
Outstanding Civic Leadership, 2000, Hawaii Technology Trade Association
Mahalo Award, 1999, The Friends of the library of Hawaii
Pacific Century Fellows, 1997, Inaugural Class
Kulia I Ka Nu'u "Strive for the Highest" Individual Achievement Award, 1995, GTE Hawaiian Tel
GTE President's Leadership Award, 1994, Team Leadership, Bronze
Achievement Award, 1990, High Technology Development Corporation-Hawaii
20/20 Business Development Award, 1989, Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii
University of Hawaii Top 10 MBA's, 1986, Hawaii Business Magazine

Father's Name:

Tokio Ige

Father's Occupation:

Served in the 100th Battalion/442nd Regimental Combat Team, Word War II (Awarded Purple Heart and Bronze Star);
Steel worker, Construction Projects

Mother's Name:

Tsurue Ige

Mother's Occupation:

Nurse; Dental Hygienist

Reason for Seeking Public Office:

My Commitment

I am running for Governor because Hawaiʻi needs a new style of leadership. Hawaii needs leadership that brings us together instead of divides us. Hawaiʻi needs leadership that moves us forward collectively instead of favoring special interests. Hawaiʻi needs leadership that delivers results and is willing to be held accountable for its actions.

The Ige administration will address the many issues facing our state in a direct and forthright manner. I will collaborate with our federal and county partners and with the Legislature to serve all of the people of our state. We will spend public funds thoughtfully and without waste to avoid raising taxes. We will make state government more efficient, especially in the procurement of goods and services and the hiring of personnel. We will conduct government affairs openly and be visible to the public.

The Ige administration will not only strive to do the right thing, but do it the right way. My administration will be honest, transparent, accountable, and responsive to you. I will serve the public interest and not special interests. I will hold regular news conferences. I will have no hidden agendas.

There will be no name-calling when I disagree with anyone, no disparaging remarks toward anyone, no taking sole credit for collective achievements or blaming others when things go wrong. When conflicts occur among diverse groups, my administration will hear all views and strive to find the best solution for all.

I will hold my appointees to a high standard of transparency and accessibility to assure the public that there are no conflicts of interest. If I were Governor I would have immediately signed SB 2682, which requires members of 15 state boards and commissions to publicly disclose their financial interests. Many of these boards and commissions make major expenditure decisions, and the public must be assured that these decisions are made in the public interest. The current Governor initially threatened to veto the bill, then reluctantly allowed it to become law without his signature. Instead, Hawaiʻi's Governor should have taken a strong stand for transparency in government.

My administration will honor and respect our Native Hawaiian culture, customs and practices.

This is my commitment to the people of Hawaiʻi.

The Ige Action Agenda

State government needs to work more like a business by consistently delivering results on time and within budget. As an electrical engineer in private business, I manage project teams that must deliver results that meet customer requirements. If we don't deliver results, we don't get paid and our clients are free to choose someone else. I bring this perspective to State government, which needs to be agile and efficient, innovative in developing solutions, adaptable to a rapidly changing environment, and above all, accountable to our "customers," the people of Hawaiʻi.