JoAnn Yukimura
American politician (born c. 1949)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 76–77) |
| Spouse | John Wehrheim |
| Alma mater | Stanford University (BA) University of Washington School of Law (JD) |
Early life and education
Yukimura 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
Yukimura 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
Yukimura is the oldest of five children. She was born into a Christian family as a member of the Lihue Christian Church.[5]