State services announced for former Gov. George Ariyoshi, set for September in Honolulu

Services honoring the life and legacy of former Gov. George Ryoichi Ariyoshi have been finalized, with a lie-in-state, state service and celebration of life all scheduled for mid-September in Honolulu, according to the Gov. George R. Ariyoshi State Services Committee.

Ariyoshi, Hawaiʻi’s third state and longest-serving governor, died April 19 at age 100, surrounded by family. He led the state from 1974 to 1986 and was the first Asian American elected governor of any US state.

Public services will span two days:

Lie in State
Friday, Sept. 18, 2026

• 10 a.m. — Ceremonial arrival and honor guard procession
• 10:30 a.m. — Public visitation begins

Hawaiʻi State Capitol Rotunda, 415 S. Beretania St.

The official 24-hour lie-in-state period is open to the public and runs from 10:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 18, through 12 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19.

State Service
Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, 6 p.m.
Hawaiʻi State Capitol Rotunda

Seating is reserved for invited guests; public seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Celebration of Life
Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026

• 2 to 4 p.m. — Public visitation
• 4 to 5 p.m. — Celebration of life

Kawaiahaʻo Church, 957 Punchbowl St.

As with the state service, seating is reserved for invited guests, with public seating available first-come, first-served.

The committee said additional details regarding the services are still forthcoming. Media interested in covering the public events are asked to contact Denise Park at ariyoshistateservices@gmail.com or 808-780-3104.

Ariyoshi’s life

Born March 12, 1926, in Honolulu to Japanese immigrant parents, Ariyoshi served in the US Army Military Intelligence Service during World War II as a Japanese-English interpreter before earning degrees from Michigan State University and the University of Michigan Law School. He went on to serve in the Territorial Legislature, the state Senate and as lieutenant governor before being elected governor in his own right, winning reelection twice.

Following his death, Gov. Josh Green ordered flags at the state Capitol, all state offices and Hawaiʻi National Guard facilities lowered to half-staff through sunset on the day of his memorial service—an order that will apply to the September services. Hawaiʻi’s congressional delegation and legislative leaders offered condolences to Ariyoshi’s wife, Jean, and the Ariyoshi ʻohana at the time of his death.