Hiram Fong

official photo of Hiram Fong

Birth Name: Yau Leong Fong

Date of Birth: October 15, 1906

Place of Birth: Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii

Date of Death: August 18, 2004

Place of Death: Kahaluu, Hawaii, U.S.

Ethnicity: Chinese

Hiram Fong was an American politician and businessperson. A Republican, he served as a U.S. Senator from Hawaii, from August 21, 1959 to January 3, 1977.

He was a candidate for the Republican Party’s nomination for President of the United States in 1964 and 1968.

Hiram was born in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, the son of Lum Shee and Fong Sau Howe. His parents were Chinese. His father was born in Zhong Xian, China.

He was married to Ellyn Lo, with whom he had four children.

Hiram’s paternal grandfather was named Gung Sung Fong.

Hiram was the first Asian-American to mount a notable campaign for a major political party’s nomination for President of the United States. Other Asian-Americans who are mounting or have mounted plausible or semi-plausible campaigns for a major party’s presidential nomination are:
*Patsy Mink (who sought the 1972 Democratic nomination; Mink was of Japanese descent)
*Bobby Jindal (who sought the 2016 Republican nomination; Jindal is of Punjabi Indian descent)
*Andrew Yang (who sought the 2020 Democratic nomination; Yang’s parents are Taiwanese)
*Kamala Harris (who is the Democratic Party’s nominee for President of the United States in 2024, and had also sought the 2020 Democratic nomination; Harris’ mother was a Tamil Indian)
*Nikki Haley (2024; Republican; won 2 contests; Haley is of Punjabi Indian descent)
*Vivek Ramaswamy (who sought the 2024 Republican nomination; Ramaswamy is of Tamil Indian descent)

Kamala Harris began serving as Vice President of the United States in 2021.