30 Facts About Sylvia Luke

Sylvia Jung Luke is an American attorney and politician who is serving as the 16th lieutenant governor of Hawaii.

Sylvia Luke served as a member of the Hawaii House of Representatives for 24 years, from 1998 until her election as lieutenant governor in 2022.

Sylvia Luke is the first Korean American politician ever elected to a statewide office in the United States.

Sylvia Luke was born Sylvia Eun Jung Chang on December 15,1967, in Seoul, South Korea.

Sylvia Luke could speak only a few words of English and recalls how her homeroom teacher volunteered to coach her daily after school.

Sylvia Luke later attended Lincoln Elementary School, Kawananakoa Middle School and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1985.

Sylvia Luke spent a semester studying international studies at Yonsei University in Korea.

Sylvia Luke consecutively served from January 1999 until 2013 in the Hawaii House of Representatives for the 26th district, and from January 2013 until 2022 for the 25th district.

For 24 years, Sylvia Luke served in the Hawaii House of Representatives as the representative for Makiki, Punchbowl, Nuuanu, Dowsett Highlands, Pacific Heights and Pauoa.

Sylvia Luke has served as Vice Chair of the House Committee on Economic Development and Business Concerns, Vice Speaker from 2001 to 2004, Chair of the House Select Committee on War Preparedness, and Chair of the House Committee on Judiciary from 2005 to 2006.

Sylvia Luke gained a reputation as a powerful lawmaker in her leadership of the House Finance Committee, where she asked tough questions about how state money is spent.

Sylvia Luke was the first woman to chair the Finance Committee in the Legislature's history.

Sylvia Luke estimated that the Hawaii State Department of Education could potentially claim up to $50 million to $100 million more each year.

Sylvia Luke took significant steps to regain control over state spending.

Sylvia Luke believes it is important for the Legislature to have transparency and the ability to prioritize spending, including special funds, which are dedicated accounts for specific programs.

Sylvia Luke has tackled other complex fiscal issues, such as addressing temporary hires and introducing legislation for regular reviews of tax credits and exemptions.

Sylvia Luke's efforts aimed to ensure accountability, effective allocation of public funds, and the Legislature's ability to fulfill its responsibilities.

When Hawai'i's unemployment rate rose from one of the lowest in the country to the highest in April 2020, Sylvia Luke worked with legislative leadership to establish a satellite unemployment insurance claims center at the Convention Center, where hundreds of state employees volunteered to help process the backlog of over 160,000 unemployment claims.

Sylvia Luke helped direct federal funding to support local business recovery efforts through the Hawai'I Restaurant Card program.

In 2021, Sylvia Luke announced her intention to run for Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii.

Sylvia Luke joined incumbent lieutenant governor Josh Green, who won the Democratic nomination for governor, on the ticket.

Sylvia Luke was inaugurated as the 16th Lieutenant Governor of Hawai'i on December 5,2022.

In January 2023, Sylvia Luke launched the Ready Keiki initiative to expand preschool services statewide and build hundreds of classrooms to increase the state's capacity to serve underserved children.

Sylvia Luke launched the 24th Annual State Employees' Food Drive to support the Hawaii Foodbank.

Sylvia Luke led the inaugural Food Drive Fest at the Hawaii State Capitol.

Sylvia Luke served as acting Governor during the start of the August 2023 fires on Hawaii Island and Maui.

Sylvia Luke immediately declared a state of emergency and issued an emergency proclamation which activated the National Guard and authorized expenditures for disaster relief.

Sylvia Luke worked with the Council of Native Hawaiian Advancement and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to open a new Maui Relief Storage Facility, a 30,000 square feet warehouse to manage Oahu-based donations headed for victims of the Maui fires.

Sylvia Luke met with the Chair of the South Korean National Assembly's intelligence committee in December 2022.

Sylvia Luke is married to Michael Luke and has one son.