JoAnn Yukimura is an American politician who served as the first female Mayor of Kauai County.[1][2] She also served on the Kauai County Council for over 22 years.[3]
JoAnn Yukimura | |
|---|---|
| 5th Mayor of Kauai | |
| In office 1988–1994 | |
| Preceded by | Tony Kunimura |
| Succeeded by | Maryanne Kusaka |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1949 or 1950 (age 75–76) |
| Spouse | John Wehrheim |
| Stanford University (BA) University of Washington School of Law (JD) | |
Early life and education
editYukimura graduated from Kaua'i High School in 1967 as valedictorian.[4] She earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Stanford University in 1971 and an J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law in 1974.[5]
Career
editYukimura was first elected to the Kauai County Council in 1976 at the age of 26, serving until 1980.[4] She served later terms from 1984 to 1988, 2002 to 2008, and 2010 to 2018.[6][7]
Yukimura served as mayor during Hurricane Iniki in 1992, "the most powerful hurricane in the Hawaiian islands [that] century."[8]
Over her career, Yukimura advocated for environmental and land use planning issues.[9] She supported efforts to oppose suburbanization of Kilauea’s agricultural lands, stop development of condominiums on Alekoko (Menehune) Fishpond, fight a proposal to build three hotels in Nukolii, secure and protect 140 acres as part of the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, and establish the Kauai Public Land Trust.[10]
Personal life
editYukimura is the oldest of five children. She was born into a Christian family as a member of the Lihue Christian Church.[5]
References
edit- ↑ Chang, Lester (May 8, 2004). "County of Kaua'i history comes to life at ceremony". The Garden Island. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
- ↑ "Former mayor of Kauaʻi, Yukimura, wants you to know this". KHON2. April 10, 2024. Archived from the original on April 10, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
- ↑ "'Pretty Unusual': Big Changes Are Possible At The Kauaʻi County Council". News From The States. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
- 1 2 "Born to Politics". MidWeek Kaua'i. August 4, 2011. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
- 1 2 "Kauai's JoAnn Yukimura". Hoji Shinbun Digital Collection. Hawaii Herald. April 7, 1989.
- ↑ none (November 6, 2002). "New, old faces elected to Council". The Garden Island. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
- ↑ Staff, The Civil Beat (July 6, 2018). "Candidate Q&A: Kauai Mayor — JoAnn Yukimura". Honolulu Civil Beat. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
- ↑ "7-Mph Iniki Slams Into Hawaii -- Hurricane Cuts Off All Power On Kauai Island | The Seattle Times". archive.seattletimes.com. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
- ↑ https://kauaihistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/manuscript_12.pdf
- ↑ Island, The Garden (December 7, 2018). "Yukimura feted for public service". The Garden Island. Retrieved April 3, 2026.