Senator Hiram L. Fong
First Asian American elected to the U.S. Senate
Welcome to the SENATOR HIRAM L. FONG Website
This site is dedicated to the many accomplishments of Hiram L. Fong, familyman, businessman, and statesman.
Hiram Fong combined the American dream with the realities of business and politics. The seventh of eleven children born to Chinese immigrants, he worked his way through school, graduating from Harvard Law, and became the first Asian American to serve in the U.S. Senate (1959 - 1977). He was also the first Asian American presidential candidate (1964). He is still the only republican to have represented Hawaii in the Senate.
He came from the streets of Kalihi, studied law at Harvard and served the territory of Hawaii in its legislature and the State of Hawaii in its nation’s capital. From the sidewalks of an island city to the Senate of the United States, he wove a plain-speaking wisdom for life that guided him to success in finance and leadership in government.
Hiram Fong's family was important to his life; Ellyn and his children- Hiram Jr., Rodney, Marvin, and Merie-Ellen, reflected his love of Hawaii, its nature and the wonder of its people. Relatives, friends, business and political colleagues will remember his personal generosity, his concern for the vital interests of Hawaii, his approachable easy humor and his good sense throughout a long, rewarding life.
Updates------------
November 2005
Senator Hiram L. Fong is included in Honolulu's 100 most influential citizens of the past century. http://www.honolulumagazine.com/archives/HON100/1105_100_31-40.html
August 18, 2006
The U.S. Postal Service dedicates the Kapalama Station as the Hiram L. Fong Post Office Building.
December 5, 2006
McKinley High School dedicates their business building in Senator Hiram L. Fong’s memory, Honolulu, Hawaii.
