Raised on a sugar plantation on Hawaiʻi Island, Lorraine R. Inouye rose to become the first Filipino-American woman in the United States to serve as mayor of a U.S. County.
A public servant for more than four decades, she has faced tough decisions on controversial issues, but through them all has remained true to her core values: “Work hard. Always be honest. Help one another whenever possible.”
As a current member of the Hawaiʻi Senate’s Ways and Means Committee, Sen. Inouye has secured nearly $380 million dollars for construction and improvement projects, and nearly $28 million in grants for non-profit organizations. She was instrumental in rebuilding CTAHR’s Komohana Research and Extension Center, as well as improving the Waiakea Research Station.
Sen. Inouye’s leadership and collaborative style is evident in her key roles as the Majority Whip, Chair of the Water and Land Committee, and Vice-Chair of the Transportation and Culture and Arts committees. She has done much to inspire young women to participate in the process, pursue careers and seek leadership positions in public policy making.
A proud wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Sen. Inouye’s life and career is rooted in personal values forged in the plantation camp, and showcase the power of personal commitment in shaping a brighter future in Hawaiʻi for generations to come.
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The Ka Lei Hano Award is the highest tribute the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, bestows on friends and benefactors whose commitment and service greatly enhance the college’s efforts to support a diverse economy, healthy environment, and strong communities.