The First Lady or First Gentleman of Hawaii is the spouse of the Governor of Hawaii, an unpaid ceremonial position. Territorial spouses carved out their roles in varied ways, from traditional wives who raised the children and supported their husbands, to philanthropists and society hostesses. Perhaps the most personal insight into any of the spouses came from Territorial Governor Sanford B. Dole. Three years after the death of Anna Prentice Cate Dole, he published a small book, "for those who loved and still love Anna—my dear wife" detailing their courtship and marriage, her love of poetry, and the admiration the first governor of the Territory of Hawaii had for his wife.[1]
Nancy Quinn bridged the change of history, as the wife of the last governor of the Territory of Hawaii and first governor of the State of Hawaii. She believed her position was to put family first, being her husband's support in a place and time when Hawaii had not yet worked out financial accommodations for care of the governor's family.[2]Beatrice Burns was a nurse and polio survivor; so far, the only governor's spouse of Hawaii who served her term while in a wheelchair. The agendas of the first spouses have evolved as the country's social history has. Jean Ariyoshi helped reforest Hawaii with "A Million Trees of Aloha." Lynne Waihee put children's literacy first on her agenda. Vicky Cayetano was a business owner before she married Governor Ben Cayetano. Through her business acumen, a trust fund was created to erect a new residence for Hawaii's governor.
Native of Castine, Maine. President of the Hawaiian Humane Society. Chairman of the 1915 Peace Society. Supported the Temperance League and the Red Cross. Served as First Lady of the Provisional Government of Hawaii (Jan 1893 – July 1894) and the Republic of Hawaii (July 1894 – June 1900).
Native of Rochester, New York. Philanthropist focused primarily on child dental health and welfare. Donated the Strong-Carter Dental Clinic. In 1944, honored by 20,000 students in recognition of her work for Hawaii's children. Donated money for a mobile field kitchen to be used in England's World War II efforts.
Born in Honolulu, descended from missionaries. Writer, poet, society hostess. Philanthropist, descendant of missionaries, heir to wealthy Dillingham fortune. Bequeathed her mansion to Punahou School.
Her parents were immigrants to Hawaii from Ireland. Tried to preserve historic artifacts in the Washington Place governor's residence. Prevented Hawaiian squatters from being evicted from the mansion's grounds. While her husband was governor, she opened the Donna Hotel and managed apartment buildings.
Born in San Francisco. Philanthropist, society hostess. President of the American Association of University Women. Trained as a teacher, she and Farrington began a shipboard romance en route to Honolulu, marrying a year later.
Raised in Missouri and Oklahoma. Met her husband on a golf course in Hawaii. When asked if she had political aspirations, she dismissed the idea with, "Keeping a home for my husband is enough." Died in surgery to remove a brain tumor.
Governor Cayetano and his first wife, Lorraine Cayetano, had separated in 1991, though they remained married during the first two years of his governorship. The marriage ended in divorce in 1996. They remain the only Governor and First Lady of Hawaii to divorce while in office.
Vicky Tiu Cayetano married Governor Ben Cayetano on May 5, 1997, to become Hawaii's First Lady.[20] Cayetano, a businesswoman, created the Washington Place Foundation to raise funds to build a new residence for the state's governor.
^"Mrs. Carter, Ex-Governor's Widow Dies". Honolulu Star-Bulletin – via Newspapers.com(subscription required). May 28, 1945. p. 1, col. 4. Retrieved December 8, 2017.; "Mrs. H. S. Carter Dies on Coast". Honolulu Advertiser – via Newspapers.com(subscription required). May 29, 1945. p. 5, col. 3. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
^"Mrs. W. Frear, Kamaaina, Dies Here at 80". Honolulu Advertiser – via Newspapers.com(subscription required). January 18, 1951. p. 1, col. 5. Retrieved December 8, 2017.; "Hawaii Has Lost a Notable woman". Honolulu Advertiser – via Newspapers.com(subscription required). January 18, 1951. p. 8, col. 1. Retrieved December 8, 2017.; "Frear Bequeaths Mansion to Punahou". Honolulu Star-Bulletin – via Newspapers.com(subscription required). February 2, 1951. p. 8, col. 1. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
^"Death Calls Margaret McCarthy". Honolulu Advertiser – via Newspapers.com(subscription required). March 19, 1934. p. 1, col. 4. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
^"Mrs. Wallace R. Farrington Dies After Long, Useful Life". Honolulu Star-Bulletin – via Newspapers.com(subscription required). January 1, 1953. p. 1. Retrieved December 8, 2017.; "Mrs. Farrington Dies". Honolulu Star-Bulletin – via Newspapers.com(subscription required). January 1, 1953. p. 5. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
^"Ex-Governor Poindexter Dies at 82". Honolulu Star-Bulletin – via Newspapers.com(subscription required). December 3, 1951. p. 1. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
^Paddleford, Clementine (May 28, 1965). "Mrs. John A. Burns Has 12-Hour-A-Day Job". The Honolulu Advertiser – via Newspapers.com(subscription required). p. 47. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
^Altonn, Helen (November 30, 1994). "Outgoing first lady looks to life out of the spotlight". Honolulu Star-Bulletin – via Newspapers.com(subscription required). p. A1. Retrieved December 8, 2017.; Altonn, Helen (November 30, 1994). "She leaves top record as volunteer". Honolulu Star-Bulletin – via Newspapers.com(subscription required). p. A4. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
^"Vicky Cayetano". The Honolulu Advertiser – via Newspapers.com(subscription required). May 3, 1998. p. F1. Retrieved December 8, 2017.; "Vicky Cayetano: A year in the limelight". The Honolulu Advertiser – via Newspapers.com(subscription required). May 3, 1998. p. F10. Retrieved December 8, 2017.; Leidermann, Mike (January 5, 2001). "Washington: first lady's plan would build a new home". The Honolulu Advertiser. p. A6. Retrieved December 4, 2017.