Hawaii Governor: Check Current Name, Party, Term Limits and Prior Public Experience

The Governor of Hawaii is an important and complex leader in one of the most unique and diverse states in the U.S. and in the world. As the chief executive, the governor is tasked with overseeing the state’s government, executing laws, directing public policy, and managing the challenges of living in an island state. The governor is a key player in Hawaii’s future, and depending on the circumstances, the governor can have a huge impact on environmental issues, disaster recovery, health care, economic development, and many other important issues. 

Hawaii governance is immediately complicated by its isolation from other places in the U.S, and the reliance on tourism as an economic engine is an additional factor; this reality adds to the cultural complexity of what it means to be a governor in Hawaii, requiring an individual who has tremendous vision, deep-rooted ties to the island communities, and a fresh perspective. Hawaii has had its share of leaders navigate the island since 1959, and in that time, faced many unique times of change; growing, recovering, and transforming. The office continues to hold meaning and significance as a leader in government who aims to navigate the waters of continuity, sustainability, and change in the 50th state.

Check Out: All About Hawaii: Check History, Map, Economy and Education

Governor of Hawaii

Josh Green was inaugurated as the current Governor of Hawaii in December 2022, and is a member of the Democratic Party. He previously spent several years as a physician in rural communities while serving in the state legislature, focusing on issues related to healthcare and public health. As governor, he has already made affordable housing, access to medical care, and climate change solutions priorities, one of which is called the "Green Fee."

 This is a tax on tourists designed to fund environmental protection projects that include conservation of wildlife, parks, seas, and coasts. Governor Green has already been involved in significant recovery efforts after the horrific 2023 Maui wildfires and has been prompting stricter ways to enforce illegal fireworks laws in the aftermath of a deadly explosion. As a physician and proven public leader, Governor Green is healthcare-focused and driven to create a healthier and more resilient Hawaii for generations.

Term Limit 

Josh Green, the current governor of Hawaii, is bound by the state's term limits. A governor can serve for four years per term and can serve a maximum of two consecutive terms. So if re-elected, Governor Green has the potential to serve a maximum of eight consecutive years. Once he has served two terms, he must vacate the office and cannot run to return immediately. 

However, if he steps away for at least one full term (four years), he has the opportunity to run for governor again. Term limits are a way to make sure the leadership changes at regular intervals and to allow others with appropriate qualifications to serve in the highest executive office in the state.

Prior Experience 

Prior to becoming Governor of Hawaii, Josh Green had a longstanding history in medicine and public service. As a physician, Green worked in rural areas on the Big Island where healthcare access was limited, especially for the uninsured or those who had insufficient coverage. Green worked with rural and underserved communities through the National Health Service Corps and witnessed and personally experienced the conditions around poverty, addiction, and limited medical resources for people with no coverage or insurance - the typical situations in underserved communities. 

After working as a physician, Green became a politician, starting in 2004 when he was elected to the Hawaii State House of Representatives, serving from 2004-2008. In 2008, he moved to the Hawaii State Senate - one of the original 25 State Senators who pleasantly surprised many people with a thirst for fresh ideas, most recently on health care policy, and was the chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. 

He served in the State Legislature and was subsequently elected to be Hawaii's Lieutenant Governor in 2018. In his role as Lieutenant Governor, he was the lead on Hawaii's response to COVID-19, where he was the highest-level leader coordinating both testing and vaccine distribution with unity councils, legislators, nonprofits, and federal COVID-19 taskforce members.

In short, when Green was called on during a crisis as a trusted leader, he rose to be a visible leader in the state, and he had a medical background and shared experiences to support him in his role as Lieutenant Governor.