Nelson Doi, who served as lieutenant governor of Hawaii from 1974 until 1978, has died at the age of 93.

According to Cremation Services of West Hawaii, Doi died Saturday at his home in Waimea on the Big Island.

Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui issued this statement Tuesday:

“During his extensive career as a public servant, former Lt. Governor Nelson Doi worked on many important initiatives that set the stage for Hawaii’s future, including a measure that explored creating a robust tourism industry. I have great respect for his lasting accomplishments and his advocacy for education. My heartfelt aloha and condolences to his family and loved ones.”

Doi, a Big Island attorney, later served in the territorial and state Legislature, including a stint as Senate president. He also served as a judge for the Third Circuit Court.

Screen shot.

Hamakua Times

Doi first ran for LG in 1970 but lost to George Ariyoshi, who became acting governor when Gov. John Burns fell ill in 1973. (Burns died in 1975.)

In the 1974 race, Doi ran as Ariyoshi’s running mate and was elected, making the two men the first Japanese-Americans to hold the top two posts of any state in the nation.

Doi ran for mayor of Honolulu in 1978 but lost to Frank Fasi.

“Nelson Doi was an eloquent speaker with a gravelly voice and a firey personality,” wrote Tom Coffman in “The Island Edge of America: A political History of Hawaii” (UH Press; 2009).

According to a recent profile in the Hamakua Times, “Doi was outspoken in his passion for good government and democracy. His mode of operation in the Legislature was to get the facts and find out how to help solve the problem. He became a champion for education reform. …”