Mazie Keiko Hirono was born on November 3, 1947 in Fukushima, Japan. She is known as the first Asian immigrant and first female Japanese immigrant to serve in the U.S Senate, she represented Hawaii.
Hirono was raised in Honolulu which made her a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1956. She ended up graduating from Kaimuki High school after graduating from high school and continued her education at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa. She graduated from there as Phi Beta Kappa with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology in the year 1970. Later on she ended up attending Georgetown University Law Center where she obtained her Juris Doctor in 1978. After receiving her Juris Doctor she returned to Honolulu to continue practicing law.
In 1980, Hirono was elected to Hawaii’s 12th House district. It was a multi-member district with Democratic State Representative David Hagino. When Hawaii eliminated multi- member districts after redistricting she ran for Hawaii’s 20th House district and won. Hirono served in the Hawaii House of Representatives from the year 1981 to 1994. She sponsored many bills that ended up becoming state laws. From the year 1987 to 1992 she was Chair of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Committee.
Hirono is well known for her tough, direct questioning when it comes to the Senate’s Judiciary Committee. She transitioned from having a quiet reputation to being a passionate fighter for progressive values. She’s also been a consistent lifelong advocate for reproductive freedom for women. She has advocated for abortion since college, long before it was legalized nationally.
All in all, Mazie Keiko Hirono is a woman that people should look up to because not only is she the first Asian immigrant and first female Japanese immigrant to serve in the U.S Senate she stands up for the people and puts them first.
