Esther Kaleimomi Kaiuwailani Kaoao Richardson (January 17, 1901 – March 18, 1963) was a Republican Representative for

Hawaii Island Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii ) is the largest island in the United States, located in the state of Hawaii. It is the southeasternmost of the Hawaiian Islands, a chain of volcanic islands in the North Pacific Ocean. With an area of , it has 63% of t ...

in the

Hawaii Territorial House of Representatives The Hawaii Territorial Legislature was established on April 30, 1900, by the Hawaiian Organic Act which established the Territory of Hawaii as part of the United States. It was the legislative body of the Territory until Hawaii became a state in ...

. In the 1942 election, she was the only woman from Hawaii Island to be elected to

public office Public Administration (a form of governance) or Public Policy and Administration (an academic discipline) is the implementation of public policy, administration of government establishment (public governance), management of non-profit establ ...

. The ''

Honolulu Star-Bulletin The ''Honolulu Star-Bulletin'' was a daily newspaper based in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. At the time publication ceased on June 6, 2010, it was the second largest daily newspaper in the state of Hawaii (after the ''Honolulu Advertiser''). ...

'' described her in 1951 as "a slender woman with quiet dignity". Richardson served in the Territorial House of Representatives representing the 2nd district for seven consecutive terms before her retirement in 1957. She was from

South Kona Kona is a ''moku'' or district on the Big Island of Hawaii in the State of Hawaii, known for its Kona coffee and the location of the Ironman World Championship Triathlon. In the current system of administration of Hawaii County, the ''moku'' ...

, where she ran a lauhala weaving studio. Richardson was born in Punaluu, Oahu and died in

Plymouth, Massachusetts Plymouth (; historically known as Plimouth and Plimoth) is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. Located in Greater Boston, the town holds a place of great prominence in American history, folklore, and culture, and is known as ...

after a heart attack while on a trip to visit her son. She married Arnold Barrister Moliakalanikeola Richardson in 1917. Their son, Barrister Allen Richardson, was the first orthopedic surgeon in Hawaii, who married two-time Olympic swimmer Lillian "Pokey" Watson.

References

1901 births 1963 deaths 20th-century American legislators 20th-century American women politicians Hawaii Republicans Members of the Hawaii Territorial Legislature People from Oahu Women territorial legislators in Hawaii {{Hawaii-politician-stub