Mufi hanneman biography

Few people know Mufi Hannemann ‘76 for his exploits as a basketball player. As an alum of the Harvard men’s basketball team, Hannemann has become a distinguished leader in both business and politics, working in three presidential administrations (Carter, Clinton, and Bush), serving as the Mayor of Honolulu for six years, and most recently leading the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association, Hawaii’s largest private tourism organization, as President and CEO, his second stint holding that post.

Hannemann has had a unique path to success. His father Gustav and mother Faiaso immigrated to Hawaii from Samoa before his birth because of a desire for their children to be educated in a “western environment.” He remembers that early on, his mother (and eventually father) adopted a version of the American dream that one of their children would go on to attend Harvard. Hannemann believes that vision was sparked by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt’s visit to American Samoa in 1943.

“I think that might have gotten my mom thinking because she made such a great impact,” Hannemann said. “My mom was telling me, ‘that's where presidents go to school.’” Hannemann didn’t find out about Roosevelt’s trip until after Faiaso’s passing, so he never got to ask her about the visit.

While attending Kalihi Kai Elementary, a public school in Honolulu, Hannemann remembers his mother telling him about her dream. He responded with skepticism, explaining that people from Kalihi “don't get into Harvard.”After seventh grade, Hannemann earned a scholarship to attend ‘Iolani School, where he played basketball and football while excelling academically. Hard work enabled him to overcome a historic lack of precedent and fulfill his mother’s dream by getting accepted into Harvard during his senior year. Hannemann also was accepted to Yale, Princeton, Stanford, Brown, and Cornell, making history as the first Samoan to receive offer

Mufi Hannemann, the Hawaii Independent Party candidate for governor, has a unique media platform that his opponents don’t enjoy.

The former Honolulu mayor pens a regular column for MidWeek and hosts a Saturday program on KKOL Kool Gold 107.9 FM.

The radio time and print-online space deliver Hannemann to lots of households, radios and computers in the state, keeping the former Democrat’s name prominent in the public sphere.

And it’s all legal, according to the state Campaign Spending Commission.

“The columns and radio show are OK — that’s his job,” said commission attorney Gary Kam, who pointed to an advisory opinion from 2000 on candidates employed in local media and 2010 Hawaii Administrative Rules on candidate contributions.

If Hannemann were to use his program or column to campaign, Kam said he would either have to pay the paper or the station for the time or report the expense as an in-kind contribution from the paper or the station on his campaign spending reports.

The Hannemann campaign declined to comment for this story. Calls to Leilani Williams, the general manager of KKOL, were not returned.

“The columns and radio show are OK — that’s his job,” said Gary Kam of the Campaign Spending Commission.

We did hear from MidWeek, however.

“Mufi is compensated for his columns, which are well-written, informative and among our best-read, according to surveys,” editor Don Chapman said via email. “Mufi is just one of several politicians who contribute to MidWeek, including in our MidWeek Islanders.”

Chapman sent along a list of contributors to Windward Oahu, Central Oahu and West Oahu Islanders that included 16 elected officials — among them, state Sen. Will Espero, Rep. Cynthia Thielen and Honolulu City Council

Mufi Hannemann, a distinguished figure in Hawaiian politics, has left an indelible mark on the landscape of Honolulu through his tenure as mayor from 2005 to 2010. With a background that includes an education from Harvard University and a deep-rooted connection to Honolulu as a native-born leader, Hannemann brought a unique blend of expertise and passion to his role. Throughout his time in office, he set ambitious goals, achieved remarkable milestones, and garnered recognition for his dedication to the city and its residents.

Fiscal Integrity and Accountability

Mayor Mufi Hannemann’s emphasis on fiscal integrity and accountability stemmed from his educational background at Harvard University, where he honed his skills in financial management and governance. His experience serving under multiple U.S. Presidents provided him with a comprehensive understanding of governmental operations and budgetary processes.

Initiatives and Impact

Under Hannemann’s leadership, Honolulu witnessed a significant improvement in financial transparency and responsibility. By implementing stringent oversight measures and promoting ethical practices, he instilled a culture of accountability within the city administration. This approach not only enhanced public trust but also paved the way for sustainable financial practices that benefited the city in the long run.

Key Achievements Table

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American politician and businessman (born 1954)

Muliufi Francis Hannemann (born July 16, 1954) is an American politician, businessman, and non-profit executive. He was elected twice as Mayor of Honolulu in 2004 and 2008. Hannemann has served as a special assistant in Washington, D.C., with the Department of the Interior, where he was selected for a White House fellowship in the Reagan administration under Vice President George H. W. Bush. He also served as chairman of the Honolulu City Council. He is the first person of Samoan descent and the second member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to serve as Mayor of Honolulu (Neal Blaisdell was the first).

Early life, education, and academic career

Muliufi Francis Hannemann was raised in the Honolulu community of Kalihi by his German-Samoan father, Gustav Arthur Tafu Tupulo Hannemann III, and Samoan mother, Faiaso Soli'ai, whose grandfather High Chief Muliufi Soliai was one of the original signatories to the deed of cession that transformed Eastern Samoa and the Manua Islands into the US Territory of American Samoa. He attended Fern, Puʻuhale and Kalihi Kai elementary schools up to the seventh grade before being accepted to the ʻIolani School with a scholarship. He graduated with honors and competed in basketball and American football. In the fall of 1972, Hannemann left the Hawaiian Islands to attend Harvard College where he was elected freshman class president and was varsity basketball letterman. Upon graduation from Harvard in 1976, Hannemann continued his studies as a Fulbright Scholar at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand. He returned to Honolulu after his studies to become an educator at his alma mater, Iolani School. He was a history teacher and basketball coach.

Business career

In 1981, he took on advisory role on the board of the Schutter Foundation, a not-for-profit civil rights advocacy group started by Hawaii criminal defense attorn