Lieutenant Governor Luke
Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke is the 16th lieutenant governor of the State of Hawaiʻi, the third woman to hold the office, and the highest-ranking Korean American official in the U.S.
Born in Seoul, South Korea, she immigrated to Honolulu at the age of nine with her parents and siblings. She attended Hawaiʻi public schools and later pursued her higher education at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, where she served as the student body president, marking her introduction to public service. After completing her undergraduate degree, she furthered her studies at the University of San Francisco School of Law.
Sylvia was first elected to the Hawaiʻi State Legislature in 1998, where she served until 2022. During her twenty-four-year tenure in the State House, she had many roles, most notably as Chair of the Finance Committee, where she developed a reputation for bringing transparency and accountability to the State budget for over a decade.
Sylvia has long been a supporter of women’s rights, gender equity, civil rights, and immigrant services. As Finance Chair, she played a crucial role in ensuring essential funding for criminal justice reform for female inmates, tax equity for working families, services for domestic violence survivors, and care for the aging population.
Throughout her career in public service, Sylvia has been recognized for her advocacy and leadership by many organizations, including Hawaii Women Lawyers, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Technology Trade Association, Korean American Coalition, AARP Hawaii, Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau, Friends of the Library of Hawaii, and the Humane Society of the United States.
Lieutenant Governor Luke leads Ready Keiki, the state’s multifaceted plan to provide universal access to preschool while also creating economic stability for local families. Additionally, she spearheads Connect Kākou, the state’s initiative to expand access to reliable and affordable high-speed internet.
Sylvia is a wife, mother, dog mom, and former practicing attorney in Honolulu.