Patricia F. Saiki Papers

Collection

Identifier: MANUSCRIPT-HCPC00002

Staff Only

On July 29, 1998, The Hawaii Congressional Papers Collection (HCPC) received a donation of one audiotape and 22 videotapes from the University of Hawaii at Manoa Political Science Department. Pat Saiki donated a collection of 50 videotapes on September 19, 2005. The bulk of her papers were received from her on December 5, 2007. On March 14, 2008, Saiki donated a publication and a poster. PBS Hawaii donated a CD with 13 images of Saiki copied from the HCPC’s Saiki Papers for a “Long Story Short” episode. These materials were archivally processed from December 2007 through December 2008.

The papers have been arranged into nine series, further divided into subseries and sub-subseries (see Series, Subseries and Sub-subseries Listing). Unlabeled material was assigned to appropriate series and subseries by the Archives staff.

The material was largely in fair to good condition. The boxes and folders were in fair condition. Some corrosive binders, paper clips, staples and rubber bands had caused minor damage and were removed. Newspaper clippings were yellowed, but in reasonable condition.

In a November 11, 2007, conversation with HCPC archivists Jan Zastrow and Ellen Chapman, Saiki said she had discarded most of her congressional and other papers, keeping those she believed best represented her work and her interests while in public office. Most of the material in this collection concerns her two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and the two years she headed the Small Business Administration. The bulk of the election campaign material consists of newspaper clipping (in the Public Relations series).

Although there are no items in the Papers concerning her appointments to the military academies, Saiki told HCPC archivists about her process for choosing nominees (in the same conversation as above). She chose a committee in Honolulu, headed by prominent businesswoman Lily Yao, to review all applications and nominations. Based solely on the nominees’ qualifications, the committee chose three names to give Saiki who made the final decision. She said she set it up this way to avoid partisan influences.

All of the papers are open for research, but since some may contain information about individuals, the Archives staff may redact documents out of concern for personal privacy.

For other research and biographical material related to Pat Saiki, please consult the University of Hawaii at Manoa Library’s online catalog, the Index to the Honolulu Advertiser and Honolulu Star-Bulletin (1929-1992), the online Newspaper Index maintained by the Hawaii State Library (1989 to the present), the Congressional Record and papers of other members of Congress in the Hawaii Congressional Papers Collection. See also the “Artificial Files” of information about Saiki collected by the Archives staff, largely from 1997 onward.

Dates

1970 - 2006
Majority of material found within 1980 - 1999

Creator

Saiki, Patricia F., 1930- (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Material with personal information may be redacted by the Archives staff. Some fragile items may need to be handled by the staff only. Use of audiovisual material may require the production of listening or viewing copies.

The Hawaiʻi Congressional Papers Collection is accessible in the University Archives and Manuscripts Department's John Troup Moir, Jr., and Gertrude M.F. Moir Archives Reading Room. For more information, please contact the Congressional Papers Archivist by email: archives@hawaii.edu, or phone: 808-956-6047.

Literary Rights Notice

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the University of Hawaii Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must be obtained by the researcher.

Extent

18.5 Linear Feet (35 document cases, one flat box)

Additional Description

Abstract

“Pat” Saiki was a major figure in Hawaii and national Republican politics. She was a state representative (1968-1974), a state senator (1974-1983) and a Hawaii representative in the U.S. Congress (1987-1991). President George H.W. Bush appointed her Administrator, Small Business Administration (1991-1993). She held numerous positions in state and national civic organizations, was chair of the National Women’s Business Council (1991-1992), was a teaching fellow at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government (Spring 1993), and has served as member of the Board of Governors of the East-West Center (2003-present).

The Patricia F. Saiki Papers consist of a few items from her service in the state legislature, but most are from her terms in the U.S. Congress and the Small Business Administration. She donated a large collection of newspaper clippings about her activities and interests dating from 1968 through 1990, including many during her successful and unsuccessful campaigns for public office.

There are also a few memorabilia items, a small collection of photographs from throughout her career and several dozen videotapes largely concerning her election campaigns.

Biographical Sketch

Patricia “Pat” Fukuda was born a third generation Japanese American in Hilo, Hawaii on May 28, 1930 and graduated from Hilo High School in 1948. She earned a B.S. degree from the University of Hawaii in 1952, working her way through college as a flight attendant, babysitter and sales clerk She was a teacher in Honolulu from 1956-1968 at Punahou School, Kaimuki Intermediate School and Kalani High School.

She married Stanley M. Saiki, a physician, and they had five children—Stanley, Jr., Sandra, Margaret, Stuart and Laura.

Beginning in the 1960s, Saiki held several offices in the Hawaii Republican Party and was a member of the Hawaii State Legislature – House (1968-1974) and Senate (1974-1983). In 1972 she spearheaded Hawaii’s Equal Rights Amendment and the state’s first-place ratification of the federal ERA. She helped organize the Hawaii Government Workers Association.

Saiki served in the U.S. House of Representatives (1987-1990), the only Republican from Hawaii to serve in the House and only the second woman to represent the state in Congress. After an unsuccessful campaign for the U.S. Senate, Pres. George H.W. Bush appointed her as Administrator, Small Business Administration (1991-1993).

Saiki was dedicated to improving public education in the state and the nation. She was chair of the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education (1978-1980) and was a national board member of Funding and Improvement of Post-Secondary Education (1982-1984).

After leaving public office, Saiki remained active in local and national Republican Party politics. She was, and is, a member of or on the board of numerous community service organizations. She has been a member of the East-West Center Board of Governors since 2003.

Biographical Chronology

1930 May 28: Born, Hilo, Hawaii; parents Kazuo and Shizue (Inoue) Fukuda. Her father worked for Amfac for 35 years
1948: Graduated from Hilo High School
1952: B.S., University of Hawaii
1954: Married Stanley M. Saiki; five children
1956-1968: Teacher: Punahou School, Kaimuki Intermediate School and Kalani High School
1964-1966: State Secretary, Republican Party of Hawaii
1966-1968: Research assistant for the Hawaii Senate Republicans; Vice-Chairman, Republican Party of Hawaii
1968-1974: State Representative, Hawaii Legislature
1968: Assistant Republican floor leader; Delegate, Hawaii Constitutional Convention
1969-1977: Member, President's Citizens Advisory Council on the Status of Women
1970: Eagleton Institute of Politics Fellow (Rutgers University): Fellow; named Most Promising Legislator
1972: Spearheaded Hawaii's Equal Rights Amendment and the state's first-place ratification of the federal Equal Rights Amendment
1972-1986: Became the first woman to serve on the Amfac Board of Directors
1973-1981: Commissioner, Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education
1973-1986: Board of Directors, Hawaiian Airlines
1974-1983: State Senator, Hawaii Legislature
1976: Member, President's National Commission on the Observance of International Women's Year
1978-1980: Chair, Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education
1982: Lost the Republican nomination for Hawaii Lt. Governor
1982-1984: National Board member, Funding and Improvement of Post-Secondary Education
1983-1985: Chair, Republican Party of Hawaii
1984: Member, Republican National Committee; Delegate, Republican National Convention
1986 Nov: Won election to U.S. House over Mufi Hannemann
1987 Jan 3-1991 Jan 3: Representative, U.S. ongress, 2 terms (only Republican from Hawaii to serve in the House; only second woman to represent Hawaii); Committees: Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs; Merchant Marine and Fisheries
1988: Helped persuade President Reagan to sign the Civil Liberties act that included repatriations and an apology to Japanese Americans interned during World War II; Delegate and Secretary, Republican National Convention; Led Presidential delegation to Tonga; signatory, Treaty of Friendship
1988 Nov: Won second term in U.S. House, defeating Mary Bitterman
1989: Official U.S. Delegate to funeral of Japan's Emperor Hirohito
1990: Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate; lost election to Democrat Daniel Akaka for Spark Matsunaga's seat
1991 Apr 10-1993 Jan 20: Appointed Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration by President George H.W. Bush
1991 May 1: Husband Stanley Saiki died
1991-1992: Chair, National Women's Business Council
1992: Delegate and Official Seconding Speaker for the nomination of George H. W. Bush at the Republican National Convention; Federal Liaison, "Re-Build L.A."
1993 Spring: Teaching Fellow, Institute of Politics at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government
1994: Ran for Governor; lost to Democrat Ben Cayetano
2003 Nov-2008 Jan: Appointed by Secretary of State Colin Powell as member, Board of Governors, East-West Center
2008-present: Reappointed by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for second term as member, Board of Governors, East-West Center

Community Service

American Association of University Women

American National Red Cross, Advisory Council

Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii

Civil Air Patrol, Senior Advisory Council

Education Commission of the States

Ford Foundation and Harvard University Government Initiative, Selection Committee, member

Hawaii Government Employees Association, Teachers Chapter, President

Hawaii Kids at Work, Executive Advisory Committee

Hawaii Medical Association Auxiliary

Hawaii Pacific College, Trustee

Hawaii Special Olympics for Retarded Children, Chair and Board member

Hawaii Visitors Bureau, Board of Directors

Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. Board of Directors

Heart Sunday (Oahu), Hawaii Heart Association, Co-Chair

Honolulu Business and Professional Women

Kaimuki YMCA, board member

Kalani Band Boosters, Chair

Kapiolani Hospitol Auxiliary, member

League of Women Voters, member

National Women's Business Council, Chair

Oahu Tuberculosis and Health Association, member

St. Francis Hospitol Research Committee (Honolulu)

Straub Medical Research and Education Foundation (Honolulu)

University of Hawaii, College of Education, Search Committee for Dean

University of Hawaii Foundation, Trustee

Variety Club Schools for Handicapped Children

Honors and Awards

Asian American Small Business Association of Chicago, Woman of the Year (1992)

Asian Pacific Council, Asian American of the Year

Kulia I ka Nuu

Rutgers University, Eagleton Institute of Politics-Most Promising Legislator (1970)

Sales and Marketing Executives of Honolulu, Sales Person of the Year (1992)

University of Hawaii Alumni Association, Lifetime Achievement Award (2010)

YWCA Hawaii, Woman of the Year

Immediate Source of Acquisition

An initial donation was made by Patricia F. Saiki in 2005 followed by accruals in 2005 and 2008. Addional donations were recieved from the University of Hawaii at Manoa Political Science Department in 1998 and Cheryl Sakai of PBS Hawaii in 2008.