1947

Mazie is born to a mother poor of means, but rich in spirit, and lived much of her early life on her grandparents’ farm in Fukushima, Japan.

1955

Mazie's mother escapes a harshly abusive marriage, courageously fleeing Japan for Hawaii with nearly 8-year-old Mazie and her older brother with little more than the clothes on their backs.

1959

Exemplifying the American experience, Mazie is selected by her school, Koko Head Elementary School, to pin the new 50th Star on the American Flag at a school assembly celebrating Hawaii's statehood.

1966

Despite humble beginnings, Mazie graduates with honors from Kaimuki High School where she is co-editor in chief of the school newspaper, The Bulldog.

1970

Mazie becomes the first in her family to graduate from college, earning a B.A. in Psychology and Phi Beta Kappa honors from the University of Hawaii - Manoa (Oahu).

1974

Mazie first meets Leighton at a meeting of the Honolulu Young Democrats held in the Kapahulu Library. After much water under the bridge, they get married in 1989, 15 years after first meeting.

1978

From immigrant to standout student: Mazie graduates from Georgetown University Law Center, determined to make a difference in other people's lives.

Mazie serves two years as a State Deputy Attorney General in the Antitrust Division.

1980

Mazie is elected to the Hawaii House of Representatives, beginning 14 years of distinguished service as a strong voice for consumers and working families.

1984

Honoring her work on leasehold reform, a coalition of leaseholders lauds Mazie as "Legislator of the Year."

Mazie joins a leading plaintiffs' law firm, Shim, Tam, Kirimitsu, Kitamura & Chang.

1986

Mazie co-founds the bi-partisan House Women's Caucus to push reforms to help women and children.

1987

A tireless advocate for everyday people and families, Mazie is appointed as Chair of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Committee in the Hawaii State House, and continues leading the committee until 1992.

1989

Mazie and Leighton marry.

1992

Mazie successfully stands up for consumers and works to pass a law extending the expiration dates on retail gift cards.

As chair of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Committee in the Hawaii House, she also works on reforming auto, homeowners' and workers' compensation insurance to better protect consumers and employees.

1994

Becoming the first immigrant woman of Asian ancestry ever elected to statewide office in the U.S., the people of Hawaii elect Mazie as lieutenant governor.

1996

Mazie spearheads effort to reform workers' compensation, creating the Hawaii Employers Mutual Insurance Company (HEMIC), resulting in a more competitive workers' compensation market, saving businesses an estimated $85 million in the first year alone.

1997

Mazie testifies before Congress urging South Korea's entry into the visa waiver program to boost tourism in Hawaii.

1998

Mazie is re-elected lieutenant governor.

2002

Mazie launches Hawaii's Pre-Plus early education initiative, a public-private partnership helping thousands of our keiki who couldn't afford preschool get the preparation they need to start kindergarten ready to learn.

Mazie wins the Democratic nomination for governor. She comes within 4 points of winning the governorship.

2005

Mazie creates the Patsy T. Mink PAC to support women candidates in Hawaii who are running for state office. Roz Baker and Marilyn Lee were the first women to receive checks from the committee.

2006

Mazie is the victor in a tough, spirited, 10-way Democratic primary campaign for Congress, where she serves the people of Hawaii today.

2007

Mazie helps secure $2 million for clean-up of the Bellows Pier Dumpsite on Oahu. 

Mazie's legislation to offer student loan forgiveness for early childhood educators becomes law as part of College Cost Reduction and Access Act.

2008

Mazie helps make Hawaii's farmers and ranchers eligible for program to get up to 75% of their costs shared for water conservation improvements.

Mazie helps secure $980,000 to help reduce traffic congestion in Kapolei. 

Mazie, working with the Hawaii delegation, begins to secure $65 million for the Honolulu Rail project.

Mazie begins to secure $3.2 million for rehabilitation of the Lower Hamakua Ditch, which provides water for more than 100 farms and ranches.

Mazie's legislation to help states improve their early education workforce becomes law as part of the Higher Education Opportunity Act.

2009

Mazie secures a $500,000 investment in the Tutu and Me Traveling Preschool Program, a free mobile preschool for Native Hawaiian and low-income keiki.

Mazie leads the fight in Congress to protect Hawaii's prepaid health care law, which covers all of our full-time employees with good quality care.

Mazie's Kalaupapa Memorial Act, which authorizes a memorial for the 8,000 people forcibly sent to Kalaupapa, becomes law.

Mazie introduces legislation calling for a thoughtful approach to the preservation of historic resources on the Honouliuli and other island World War II Internment Camp for Japanese Americans.

Mazie continues the fight for quality early education, encouraging the Obama Administration to focus on improving preschool education.

Mazie helps secure $1 million for restoration of the historic Kilauea Lighthouse on Kauai.

2010

Mazie helps secure $1.4 million in extra funding for agricultural development projects on Kauai, Maui, Molokai, Hawaii Island, and Oahu.

2011

With a determination to lead the people of Hawaii through challenging times, Mazie announces her candidacy for United States Senate.

Mazie spearheads a successful effort to encourage the Obama Administration to create the Early Learning Challenge competition to expand pre-K.

Mazie co-sponsors legislation to renew the Combating Autism Act. President Obama signed it into law in the fall.

Mazie co-sponsors legislation signed into law by President Obama at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation to help ease travel restrictions on APEC partners.