James Kealoha, formally James Kimo Kealoha, and also known as Jimmy Kealoha (April 29, 1908–August 24, 1983), of Hilo, Hawaii was Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii in the administration of Governor of Hawaii William F. Quinn. Prior to his election as Lieutenant Governor, Kealoha served a number of years as a legislator on Hawaii island, distinguishing himself as a respected leader.
In 1934, Kealoha was elected to the Territorial House of Representatives, serving as speaker pro tem. He was elected for a second term two years later. In 1938, he successfully ran for a seat in the Territorial Senate, where he served as president pro tem. That same year, he switched to the Republican Party, expressing his unhappiness with the in-fighting amongst island Democrats. People often referred to Kealoha as the “Wonder Boy of Hawaiian politics” because he won elections by sizable margins
In 1940 Kealoha was elected to the Hawaii County Board of Supervisors, where he won re-election for three successive terms. In 1946, he suffered his first-ever defeat in his political career, losing in a bid for Hawaii County Chairman. In 1948, he ran again, winning the first of six consecutive terms as Hawaii County Chairman.
Lieutenant Governor
Kealoha, because of his popularity and leadership, was selected in 1959 by the Republican Party as its candidate for lieutenant governor in the state of Hawaii’s first gubernatorial election, running alongside William F. Quinn, the party’s candidate for governor. The pairing worked well, as Quinn and Kealoha successfully defeated their Democratic opponents John Burns and Mitsuyuki Kido. Kealoha was the first Chinese American and Native Hawaiian to be elected lieutenant governor in the United States.
Kealoha’s term as lieutenant governor was described as “unpleasant” for him (Kim). After serving for years as a powerful Hawaii County leader, Kealoha found himself relegated to presiding at ceremonial functions. He also had disagreements with Governor Quinn about the issue of political patronage (Kim).
A highlight of his term as lieutenant governor came in 1960 when Kealoha gained national attention after ordering an audit of ballots cast in the close presidential election between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon. The election nationwide was so close, Hawaiʻi effectively had the power to decide the winner. Kealoha certified the vote total in favor of fellow Republican Nixon resulting in the call of national Democrats for a recount. The recounts were tied up in the Hawaii State Judiciary. Confusion led to crisis as the Democrats submitted their three electoral votes for Kennedy while at the same time Republicans submitted their three electoral votes for Nixon. The result was finally resolved on the floor of the United States Senate during the electoral college certification process.
In 1934, Kealoha was elected to the Territorial House of Representatives, serving as speaker pro tem. He was elected for a second term two years later. In 1938, he successfully ran for a seat in the Territorial Senate, where he served as president pro tem. That same year, he switched to the Republican Party, expressing his unhappiness with the in-fighting amongst island Democrats. People often referred to Kealoha as the “Wonder Boy of Hawaiian politics” because he won elections by sizable margins
In 1940 Kealoha was elected to the Hawaii County Board of Supervisors, where he won re-election for three successive terms. In 1946, he suffered his first-ever defeat in his political career, losing in a bid for Hawaii County Chairman. In 1948, he ran again, winning the first of six consecutive terms as Hawaii County Chairman.
Lieutenant Governor
Kealoha, because of his popularity and leadership, was selected in 1959 by the Republican Party as its candidate for lieutenant governor in the state of Hawaii’s first gubernatorial election, running alongside William F. Quinn, the party’s candidate for governor. The pairing worked well, as Quinn and Kealoha successfully defeated their Democratic opponents John Burns and Mitsuyuki Kido. Kealoha was the first Chinese American and Native Hawaiian to be elected lieutenant governor in the United States.
Kealoha’s term as lieutenant governor was described as “unpleasant” for him (Kim). After serving for years as a powerful Hawaii County leader, Kealoha found himself relegated to presiding at ceremonial functions. He also had disagreements with Governor Quinn about the issue of political patronage (Kim).
A highlight of his term as lieutenant governor came in 1960 when Kealoha gained national attention after ordering an audit of ballots cast in the close presidential election between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon. The election nationwide was so close, Hawaiʻi effectively had the power to decide the winner. Kealoha certified the vote total in favor of fellow Republican Nixon resulting in the call of national Democrats for a recount. The recounts were tied up in the Hawaii State Judiciary. Confusion led to crisis as the Democrats submitted their three electoral votes for Kennedy while at the same time Republicans submitted their three electoral votes for Nixon. The result was finally resolved on the floor of the United States Senate during the electoral college certification process.
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