10/01/2026
Today, Hawaiʻi lost a true pioneer. Former U.S. Representative and 2021 Lung Association Breath of Motherhood Award Honoree (formerly Outstanding Mother Awards) Pat Saiki leaves behind a legacy of perseverance that shaped the future for our wahine, our entrepreneurs, and our ʻāina.
Champion for Women: She was a driving force behind the successful passage of the Equal Rights Amendment in Hawaiʻi, changing laws so women could hold credit cards in their own names, secure independent mortgages, and retain their maiden names after a divorce.
Advocate for Small Business: As head of the U.S. Small Business Administration, she took her advocacy to the national level, fighting to ensure that small, independent enterprises had the federal backing needed to thrive.
Protector of Kahoʻolawe: She played a pivotal role in stopping the military bombing of Kahoʻolawe in 1990. Leveraging her influence in Washington, she secured the deal that compelled the federal government to return the island to the State of Hawaiʻi, sparking its ongoing healing and restoration.
Defender of Our Oceans: In Congress, she successfully championed federal legislation to ban environmentally devastating driftnet fishing. Up into her 90s, she remained a fierce advocate for Hawaiʻi’s commercial fishing fleet, fighting to ensure local fishermen were protected and heard in modern federal maritime regulations.
Despite her many accomplishments, Pat considered her family to be greatest achievement. From founding Hawaiʻi’s first teachers’ union to her decades of public service, her impact is woven into the very fabric of our islands. In fact, if you're enjoying poke made from locally caught fish today, a little thanks goes to Pat. Rest in aloha, Pat Saiki. We leave you with her acceptance speech for the 2021 Hawaii Outstanding Mother Awards.
