Benjamin J. Cayetano ’68

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When Benjamin Cayetano left Hawaii in 1963, moved his young family to Los Angeles and entered UCLA as a political science major, he did not foresee that he would later return to the islands to become Hawaii’s fifth governor. In the 35 years of tireless public service that transpired along the way, Cayetano would earn a reputation as being one of Hawaii’s toughest and most courageous political leaders.

After graduating from UCLA with a bachelor’s degree in 1968, Cayetano earned a law degree from Loyola Law School and returned to Hawaii in 1971. His ability and vision were quickly recognized, and he was appointed to the Hawaii Housing Authority Commission in 1972. Although many tried to dissuade him from running for office, he ran and won his first campaign against an incumbent in 1974 and was elected to the Hawaii State House of Representatives. Cayetano served for three years as chair of the Energy and Transportation Committee, bar examiner for the Hawaii State Supreme Court and member of the Disciplinary Board.

He was elected to the Hawaii State Senate in 1975 and served as chair of the Ways and Means Committee, member of the the Economic Development & Public Utilities Committee and Senate Majority Policy Leader. Cayetano was elected lieutenant governor in 1986 and reelected in 1990, then the nation’s highest ranking Filipino American in elected office.

In 1993, Cayetano was presented the UCLA Public Service Award for his outstanding accomplishments. But more was still to come. His election as governor of Hawaii in 1994 marked yet another record. As Governor, Cayetano made revitalizing Hawaii’s economy his top priority. His efforts included luring new clean industries, such as high technology and film production, to Hawaii as well as authoring a historic package of initiatives that includes the largest proposed tax cut in the state’s history. His commitment to promoting the telecommunications industry in the islands caused Time Warner President Richard Parson to comment that “The rest of the nation could take a lesson from Hawaii.”

At the same time, Cayetano placed a strong emphasis on protecting Hawaii’s beautiful and world-renowned natural environment. Under his administration, funding for ocean and marine protection and preservation programs dramatically increased and plans for sustainable management of environmental resources, including coral, fisheries, forests and beaches, were put in place.

Cayetano was also widely recognized for his efforts in state education reform. His After School Plus “A+” Program was the first in state-funded, after-school program for working families in the nation and is considered a model by other states across the country. A+ was operating in 99 percent of Hawaii’s public schools seven months after it was announced. Since his election as governor, Cayetano has successfully guided that state through a period of tremendous social and economic change and has led Hawaii into an exciting new era.