Mufi Hannemann
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| Mufi Hannemann | |
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| January 2, 2005 – Present | |
| Preceded by | Jeremy Harris |
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| Succeeded by | Incumbent |
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| Born | July 16, 1954 Honolulu, Hawaii |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Gail Mukaihata Hannemann |
| Religion | Mormon |
Muliufi Francis "Mufi" Hannemann is an American career politician. Currently the Mayor of Honolulu, he served as a special assistant in Washington, D.C. with the Department of the Interior, where he was selected for a White House fellowship in the Reagan administration under then Vice President George H. W. Bush. He also served as chairman of the Honolulu City Council. He is the first person of Samoan descent and the first Mormon, member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to serve as Mayor of Honolulu.
[edit] Education
Hannemann was raised in the Honolulu community of Kalihi by his German father Gustav Hannemann, and Samoan mother Faiaso Hannemann. He attended various local public elementary schools before being accepted to the Iolani School with a scholarship. He graduated with honors and competed in basketball and football. Hannemann briefly left the Hawaiian Islands to attend Harvard University. In addition to graduating from Harvard cum laude, he was elected freshman class president and was varsity basketball letterman. Upon leaving Harvard, Hannemann became a Fulbright Scholar and continued his studies at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand.
[edit] Government service
Hannemann returned to Honolulu after his studies to become an educator at his alma mater, Iolani School. He was a history teacher and basketball coach. After his teaching career, he entered government service as a special assistant to President Jimmy Carter, working with the United States Department of the Interior. Hannemann was recalled to Honolulu to become special assistant to Governor of Hawaii George R. Ariyoshi before returning to the White House to serve as staff assistant to Vice President George H. W. Bush.
After a brief stint as President and General Manager of Punaluu Sweetbread Shop and C. Brewer Hawaiian Juices, in 1984 Hannemann was promoted Vice President for Corporate Marketing and Public Affairs for the parent company, C. Brewer and Company, Ltd.
In 1986 Hannemann ran for the First District U.S. House seat vacated by Cecil Heftel, who sought the governorship that year. Hannemann won the Democratic primary election but lost the special election to fill Heftel's unexpired term to Neil Abercrombie. He again lost in the general election to Republican candidate Pat Saiki. In 1990, he ran for Congress again, this time for the Second District seat vacated by Daniel Akaka, who was eventually elected to the U.S. Senate. He lost the Democratic primary to Patsy Mink, who eventually won the seat.
However, Hannemann would again be tapped for government service in 1991, appointed by Governor John D. Waihee III as Chairman of the Hawaii Pro Bowl Host Committee, Chairman of the Task Force on Homeporting, Director of the Hawaii Office of International Relations and Director of the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Having directed various state agencies of the Government of Hawaii, Hannemann was appointed by President Bill Clinton to serve at the federal level once again as United States Representative to the South Pacific Commission.
In 1994, Hannemann was elected to the Honolulu City Council representing Aiea and Pearl City, and re-elected to his seat in 1998. He served as Council Chairman from 1998 to 1999. Differences in opinion with then-Mayor Jeremy Harris led to his resignation from the Council in 2000 to run against Harris. Harris won re-election in the September 2000 non-partisan election with enough votes to avoid a run-off that November.
In the administration of President George W. Bush, Hannemann served in the United States Department of Labor as a member of the President's Council on the 21st Century Workforce.
In 2004 Hannemann again ran for Mayor, this time to replace Harris, who was unable to seek a third full term as Mayor due to term limits. His opponent was former City Council colleague Duke Bainum. The race was considered one of the most expensive and fiercest races, with both candidates sharply criticizing the other's stands and character. Bainum received the most votes in the September election, but failed to receive the necessary majority to avoid a run-off against Hannemann. In November, Hannemann narrowly won the election with a margin of about 1,300 votes out of nearly 300,000 cast.
Hannemann was sworn in as mayor on January 2, 2005. In his first State of the City address, Hannemann pledged to concentrate on fiscal restraint and basic city services, claiming a contrast between himself and his predecessor.
[edit] References
| Preceded by Jeremy Harris |
Mayor of Honolulu January 2, 2005 - Present |
Succeeded by incumbent |
