"The point of now answering was to simply say it was inappropriate for me to say a response." Emigrated to America when she was 8 years old after her mother left her alcoholic father. The court ruled using the phrase sexual orientation and not sexual preference and said, "Decisions about marriage are among the most intimate that an individual can make. A former attorney was a married man before having a romantic relationship with Hirono. Residence: Honolulu, HI Education: Kaimuki High School, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Georgetown University Law Center Husband: Leighton Kim Oshima; Sworn in: January 3, 2013 Cat: Hemic "[4][5], After first living with Mazie's uncle Akira, the family moved into a rooming house on Kewalo Street in Honolulu with one room, one table, three chairs and one bed. And Im just like, who takes notes at a Young Democrats meeting?, Hirono was president of the group at the time. In Aizu, Japan, Hirono is pictured in the middle with her brother Roy to the right. Likewise, when Mazie was suffered from stage 4 kidney cancer at that time he gave her hope and strength to live life. Describing their meeting, Oshima reportedly said, "We were duly unimpressed with each other: Mazie in her rubber slippers and pedal pushers with all these tablets and notepads, a huge stack of notebooks. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('impressionViewable', function(event) { She wants these answers on the record in case future information shows a nominee lied. eventAction: 'click_image_ads' Although Brian Schatz is Hawaii's senior senator because he joined the Senate a week before Hirono, following the death of Daniel Inouye, Hirono's three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives make her the dean, or longest-serving member overall, of Hawaii's congressional delegation. eventAction: 'view' The senators wrote of their hope that the subcommittee would support continued funding for Section 4 in Fiscal Year 2020. Hirono talks to an aide during the confirmation hearing of FBI Director nominee Christopher Wray. And, by our efforts, if we can decrease that number, we will be making a difference. Unlike her colleague, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, Hirono didn't have a young family to consider. ", Hirono never saw her father again, and he has since died. Hirono spent $5 million and Lingle $4.8 million. 808-***-**** View Phone. But they do have the power to debate each nominee on the Senate floor for up to 30 hours. They would eventually travel by ship, in steerage for a week, to Hawaii. Mazie's grandfather Hiroshi died in 1989, and her grandmother Tari died in 2000 at age 99. Before her run in the Senate, Hirono was a member of the Hawaii House of Representatives for 10 yearsand was the Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii for eight years. }); Hirono actually wound up getting more votes in that election than Cayetano himself. New Details About Annie Coons, Death Certificate Of Indiana Lyching Victim Finally Changed From Suicide To Homicide 100 Years Later, The Most Terrifying Tweets From Inside The Capitol During The Riots As Far-Right Mobs Stormed The Building, Senator Patrick Leahy Hospitalized Weeks Before Trump's Impeachment Trial Meet His Wife, Marcelle Pomerleau, Who Is Jeff Flake? As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee I have worked to promote these values in fighting against unqualified nominations, promote fairer treatment of immigrants and minority groups, and protect the civil rights of everyone. "I began to talk with him," she recounted, "and I said, 'Why is your caucus so against this bill?' [30], Hirono won reelection to a second term with 76% of the vote. degree in 1978. ", "I always was," Hirono said in an interview with NPR. She also asks them whether theyve ever been made to sign a non-disclosure form. Indeed, she can often have a rather flat affect, an unassuming, even cool public presence that is in sharp contrast to her earthiness and colorful language in private. According to Hirono, When we got married, I told him this better be good because I dont have time for another one., The spouses of many politicians often find themselves doing behind-the-scenes work to support their partnersand though Oshima is a voice of support for Hirono, that doesnt mean he ever dabbles in the spotlight. It was getting closer to the start of school, so I went to look for him. Not only is she the first woman Senator from Hawaii, but shes the first Asian-American woman elected to the Senate period! A user slammed Hirono, "My dads sexual preference was women for a majority of his life. Hawaii is also the third woman to be elected to congress from Hawaii. Another user wrote on her questions, "Doesnt Mazie Hirono have her own questions? Under Senate rules, an objection from just one senator would doom the bill. hitType: 'event', Lawmakers Rush to Codify Same-Sex Marriage, Who Is Running for President in 2024? The couple first met at a Young Democrats meeting back in 1973 at the Waikiki library. Kim always sticks with Hirono to support her in her ups and downs. Hirono switched races. My mother had to use it to buy food. Kim has a daughter from a previous relationship, who became Hironos step daughter. Mazie recalled that she and her brother used to get a dime once or twice a week from their mother. RELATED: 12 Things To Know About Senator Kamala Harris And Why Her Background, Attitude & Political Stances Make Jeff Sessions VERY Nervous. Leighton K. Oshima LO Principal at Law Office of Leighton K. Oshima Honolulu, HI 96813 Peer Reviews 4.4/5.0 Client Reviews < 50% Recommended (1) Update your Profile Education & Credentials University Attended: University of Michigan, B.B.A., 1970 Law School Attended: George Washington University, J.D., 1973 Year of First Admission: 1973 Admission: Linda Lingle from the Republicans defeated her. This is the Second marriage of Leighton, but it's the first for Maize. }); Currently, he works as a specialized insurance defense lawyer in Honolulu. ", "I view that as very much a projection of how I was at the time," Hirono tells PEOPLE. The act aimed to increase public access to contraception and government funding to support the use of contraception. I led an effort to revamp Hawaii's workers' compensation insurance laws, saving businesses millions. Leighton Kim Oshima is a lawyer. She was diagnosed with stage-4 kidney cancer in May 2017. The bill also gave the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) the role of evaluating and providing guidance for digital equity projects. His daughter lives her life away from the limelight and media like her father. Do the right thing for a change.. hitType: 'event', Hirono and her mother boarded the President Cleveland, a Pacific ocean liner, and crossed the ocean to Hawaii, traveling steerage class. In 2015's Obergefell case, the Supreme Court decided in favor of marriage equality. Mazie Hirono is theUS Senator from Hawaii who has been making headlines because of her brash comments about Brett Kavanaugh. Hirono expressed disappointment when the Democrat-proposed Feinstein Amendment (banning the sale of firearms to individuals on the terrorist watchlist) and the Republican-backed background check expansion and alert system (regarding guns being sold to terrorist watchlist suspects) both failed to pass the Senate. The couple celebrated their wedding ceremony as simple and private by inviting friends and family. Laura felt out of place in Japan as one of the many Nisei Japanese Americans who emigrated with their returning Issei parents (barred from US citizenship or land ownership) before World War II and during the Great Depression. The Democratic primary was very competitive. Mazie, the middle child, was the only surviving daughter. Mazie Keiko Hirono (/mezi hirono/; Japanese name: , Hirono Keiko; born November 3, 1947) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the junior United States senator from Hawaii since 2013. She served as a member of the. ", If that's considered liberal, as opposed to what I call justice and fairness, as I am wont to say, 'F*** them!' Because Senate Democrats are in the minority, they have little control over the legislative agenda, whether that is addressing immigration or infrastructure, or the pace of confirmation votes. Over the past 32 years, Oshima has been at Hirono's side during many career highs including her 2006 election to the U.S. House of Representatives and her 2012 U.S. Senate race, the body in which she currently serves. ", Indeed, she was 42 and serving in the Hawaii state legislature when she finally took the plunge, marrying Leighton Kim Oshima. [3] She is also the third woman to be elected to Congress from Hawaii (after Patsy Mink and Pat Saiki). hitType: 'event', There is one daughter from Leighton's first wife named Malia. Do the right thing for a change. Acquired 1973. MEAWW is an initialism for Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide. You showed me your compassion. Your Tango reported that the pair dated and broke up over 13 years before their marriage. He was born in the United States and is an Asian-American ethnicity. Hirono was the first female senator from Hawaii and the first Asian-American woman elected to the Senate. Leighton Oshima has an estimated net worth of $600 thousand which he has been earning through his professional career as a lawyer. By the summer of 1975, Hirono had been accepted to Georgetown University's Law Center, but she and Oshima decided to maintain their relationship, despite the difference. Also, his law firm provides him a handsome amount remuneration. In the Senate, Hirono is known as a "workhorse, not a show horse," as one of her colleagues put it. Currently, he works as an lawyer specializing insurance defense in Honolulu. With a very few wiki data, Leighton's birth and family information remain unavailable. Four years later, however, Hirono went to Sessions to tell him she could not support his nomination to be attorney general, not just because they disagreed on so many issues, but in particular because Sessions "would come on the floor every week to rail against immigration reform.". [69] Hirono's right kidney was removed on May 17, 2017, with a Cyberknife procedure to treat the rib lesion. Contact Information. She moved to Hawaiian Island along with her mother and her brother. However, the exact sum of his bank balance is still under review. My husband took the money, went to town and never came back home. So she did something unusual. Additionally, Kim worked as a litigator in the state attorney general's office. Lingle raised $5.5 million, with 74% from large corporations. She has stakes in Manulife Financial and Sun Life Financial. My early childhood was spent on my grandparents' rice farm in Fukushima, Japan. Sessions explained that Republicans felt they had to be consistent in opposing this sort of special tax provision. MEAWW brings you the best content from its global team of I attended Georgetown University Law Center because it had a strong clinical program and I wanted to focus on public interest law. A sixth-grade class photo with the future Sen. Hirono in the second row from the back, fourth from right in a striped dress. In an interview, the couple has shared about their relationship. And so when her path crossed with Oshima's again, she wasn't all that eager to settle down with him but their connection re-sparked at a celebration to kick off the opening of the new legislative session. if(document.querySelector("#ads")){ Someone should investigate Sen Hirono. She is the most unprepared Senator having to read the script she is given from who knows who. Kim is not active in politics like Maize and always tries to be anonymous in Hirono's field. Like many immigrants, our new life was not easy. [68] The cancer was discovered in a chest X-ray in April before minor eye surgery. [70][68] She returned to the Senate on May 22, 2017, and was reelected to a second term in 2018. Let's dig into some unknown facts about Oshima, to know him better. After a long day, this reporter asked her why her skepticism about Trump judicial nominees is any different from Republican skepticism of Obama nominees. Doesnt mean he wasnt gay, but he had a conscious or subconscious preference, and that changed once he came to terms with who he was. She recalls a breakfast in 1994 when the Democratic candidate for governor, Ben Cayetano, tried to talk her out of running for lieutenant governor. The landlady was so nice. Leighton Kim Oshima was married to an American lawyer, politician, and member of the Democratic Party, Sen. Mazie Hirono, in 1987. Five years after their small backyard wedding at the governor's house, Hirono decided to launch a campaign for lieutenant governor of Hawaii. And I'm just like, who takes notes at a Young Democrats meeting?". Senator Born in Japan", "Majority of states have all-Christian congressional delegations", "General Election 2018 Final Summary Report", "Call for men to 'step up' puts Sen. Hirono in the spotlight", "Sen. Mazie Hirono to men: 'Just shut up and step up', "Sen. Hirono's message to men: 'Just shut up and step up. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), [60], On July 28, 2017, two months after undergoing surgery for stage-four kidney cancer, Hirono spoke on the Senate floor and voted against the so-called "skinny repeal" of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). During my time in the House, our nation and state faced incredible challenges and opportunities. Who votes for these idiots." Their marriage didn't work and has to get a divorce. #SCOTUShearings., As Mazie Hirono and Cory Booker made clear, it is NOT OKAY to say "sexual preference" instead of "orientation". Congresswoman Patsy Mink, for whom Title IX was renamed after her death, was my friend and her legacy lives on in schools and universities across the country. But in Oshima, she found a partner and a champion, someone who allowed her to forge her own path. Here's what we know about her personal life. [71], As of 2018, according to OpenSecrets.org, Hirono's net worth was more than $4.3 million. "[4] After telling her in-laws she was going to take her children to school in her hometown, Laura left the house, never to return. My father was an alcoholic and compulsive gambler and I did not get to know him much. Your Tango reported Hirono has been a supporter of immigrants, health care rights, veterans, women, survivors of sexual assault, and has openly challenged President Donald Trump on many occasions. [34]EMILY's List, a Democratic pro-choice action committee, pledged support to Hirono for her history of supporting contraceptive and abortion policies during her term. Give me a moment.". [7] Laura became a newspaper proofreader in 1961 and retired from the Hawaii Newspaper Agency in 1986; Roy became a Hawaiian Electric supervisor. " she said. Working collaboratively both with Hawaii stakeholders and my colleagues in Washington, I'm proud of what we have been able to accomplish. My mother gave us money. She loves what shes doing. They always have because of her style. }); Her teacher was Mr. Oshiro, with whom she is still in touch. We didn't have much, but we persevered. Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. 5 Details About The Senator Who Called To Delay Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court Vote At The Last Minute. Hirono sees herself today as strategic and able to build bridges. I would like to have us come together and figure out what is the best way to proceed. I simply meant to be referring to Obergefell's holding with regard to same-sex marriage. In fact, the first bill she got enacted into law was with the help of then-Sen. and now Attorney General Jeff Sessions, a man with whom she disagrees on almost everything. Taking cue from this, Democratic Senators such as Hirono warned Barrett that the term is offensive and outdated". From 1981 to 1995, Hawaii also served as a member of the Hawaii House of Representatives and from 1994 to 2002 as Hawaii's ninth lieutenant governor under Ben Cayetano. Hirono originally planned to run for mayor of Honolulu in a potential 2002 special election created by the vacancy of incumbent Mayor Jeremy Harris, who was planning to resign in order to run for governor of Hawaii. Updated: January 03, 2013 [9] She attended Kaahumanu Elementary and Koko Head Elementary Schools. "I am very self-contained. [39] Hirono was endorsed as one of Democracy for America's Dean Dozen. On May 17, 2017, his wife's right kidney was removed with a Cyberknife procedure to treat the rib lesion. 'I would have given you the finger.' [18] In the general election she defeated three other candidates: Danny Kaniela Kaleikini (Best Party), State Representative Fred Hemmings (Republican Party), and Jack Morse (Green Party), 37%31%29%4%. Hirono claims that, It was one of those breakups where I burned all of his pictures.. By 1987, Hirono then a state legislator was ready to settle down, having recently turned 40. "Hirono went on to say that sexual orientation is a key part of a person's identity. She was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for governor of Hawaii in 2002, defeated by Republican Linda Lingle in the general election. He also notes that he does like to visit Washington, D.C. but absolutely hates the weather and the lack of plate lunches. Hirono said that it is concerning for the LGBTQ+ community that the rights granted in the Obergefell case could be overturned if Barrett is confirmed as SCOTUS. She is United States Senator from Hawaii. 2023byTango Publishing Corporation All Rights Reserved. But they didnt have an amicable breakup. After having separations much time, both got affected by each other, and finally, in the year 1987, they got married. Hirono's advantage was that she was the only candidate who had held statewide office and as a result had the most name recognition. She is known for The Jackson Confirmation Hearings (2022), MSNBC Live (1996) and At This Hour with Kate Bolduan (2014). [62], In January 2019, during the 201819 United States federal government shutdown, Hirono was one of 34 senators to sign a letter to Commissioner of Food and Drugs Scott Gottlieb recognizing the efforts of the FDA to address the effect of the government shutdown on the public health and employees while expressing alarm "that the continued shutdown will result in increasingly harmful effects on the agency's employees and the safety and security of the nation's food and medical products. The vote was 941, with Senator Hawley (R-MO) the only one who voted against the bill. ", ""But," he added, "I say the last things to her at night and the first things to her in the morning.". New Details About Annie Coons, Hirono and Oshima eventually married in 1987and by that time, Oshima had already been married and divorced with one child. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Though his first wife's information is kept secret, they share a daughter. The content produced by YourTango is for informational and educational purposes only. [21], In 1994 Hirono joined the ticket of incumbent Lieutenant Governor Benjamin J. Cayetano and was elected to a historic administration led by the first Filipino American governor and first Japanese immigrant lieutenant governor. In fact, he was the president of the congregate then. When she was 42, Hirono married Leighton Kim Oshima. That's when I made up my mind to leave. But she is the only senator who asks every nominee, for any position, whether they have ever been accused of sexual misconduct and whether they have ever signed a nondisclosure agreement. I also helped lead state efforts to improve early childhood education and promote Hawaii's tourism industry through visa reform, issues I continue to champion in the U.S. Senate. This is true for all persons, whatever their sexual orientation." She was sworn in on January 3, 2013, by Vice President Joe Biden. But that didn't mean they were falling right in love. According to Marriedceleb, Oshima graduated with a law degree from George Washington University, and he is a veteran in the field of law. She works hard and she works behind the scenes. [42], In the 2012 campaign Hirono raised $5.2 million, with approximately 52% of that from large corporations. The way she was, she describes in her new memoir, Heart of Fire: An Immigrant Daughter's Story, was headstrong and independent with her focus set squarely on fighting injustice through lawmaking, rather than settling down. Hirono was born in Fukushima, Japan on November 3, 1947. The husband wife dated and broke up many times in between a period of thirteen years. Sighing audibly, she began, "I was born at home in rural Japan. Oshima, Hirono writes in Heart of Fire, "was the first attorney I had met who was my own age, and that interested me. Since her time as a Senator, Hirano has been a supporter of immigrants, health care rights, veterans, women, survivors of sexual assault, and has openly challenged President Trump on multiple occasions for his off-the-wall comments. Mazie's maternal grandfather, Hiroshi Sat, immigrated to Hawaii to work on a sugar plantation at the age of 16; her grandmother, Tari Shinoki, immigrated to Hawaii as a picture bride. In her free time, you can find her obsessing about cats, wine, and all things Vanderpump Rules. 70s. [22][23][24], In the general election, Republican nominee and Maui Mayor Linda Lingle defeated Hirono 5247%, becoming Hawaii's first female governor. However, the identity of Leighton first spouse is a mystery. [54] She is also endorsed by EMILY's list for pro-choice women. Doesnt mean he wasnt gay, but he had a conscious or subconscious preference, and that changed once he came to terms with who he was. Leighton K. Oshima. Mazie in her rubber slippers and pedal pushers with all these tablets and notepads, a huge stack of notebooks. From his work, his average annual income is $45k to $65k. ", The senator ended her remarks without allowing Barrett to speak. She was the first Buddhist Senator and U.S. senator born in Japan. . She is the Senate's only immigrant and its first female Asian-American, and she had kept a pretty low profile. Leighton Kim Oshima is an attorney and the spouse of the first immigrant U.S Senator Mazie Hirono. She was seen as polite, never in-your-face, not a boat-rocker. They first met in 1973 in a meeting at Waikiki Library. Associated Addresses 2443 Halekoa Dr, Honolulu, HI 96821841 Bishop St Ste 2000, Honolulu, HI 96813841 Bishop St Ste 301, Honolulu, HI 96813 Associated Phone Numbers (808) 538-0040 (808) 737-1213 ga('create', 'UA-67136960-15', 'auto', 'ads'); [27] She won with a plurality of 22% of the vote. She has been serving as the United States Senator since 2013. }) His wife is a well-known politician who has been serving as the Junior United States Senator. He continued, She looked at me and said,So I hear youre an attorney in a way that made me feel embarrassed to be an attorney., They dated and broke up over 13 years before they married. I have to remind myself that shes a cancer survivor, hes said. See full bio Born: November 3, 1947 in Koori, Fukushima, Japan More at IMDbPro Contact Info: View agent, publicist, legal on IMDbPro Quick Links Biography Awards for Hawaii's 2nd congressional district from 2007 to 2013. Mazie Keiko Hirono (/ m e z i h i r o n o /; Japanese name: , Hirono Keiko; born November 3, 1947) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the junior United States senator from Hawaii since 2013. Washington is one of his favorite places. Hirono announced that she had been diagnosed with stage 4 kidney cancer in 2017, which had already spread to her seventh rib. This is worth your time", "Democratic Senators 'Alarmed' by Shutdown's Potential Impact on Food Safety", "FDA May Call Back More Furloughed Staff for Food Safety Checks Amid Shutdown", "Hirono Announces Support for Medicare for All | Mazie K. Hirono A Voice for Hawai'i in the U.S. Senate", "Wyden, Merkley urge more affordable housing funds", "Dems introduce bill to tackle 'digital divide', "Hawaii Sen. Mazie Hirono diagnosed with kidney cancer", "Sudden surgery for Senator Mazie Hirono", "US Senator Mazie Hirono Recovering After Kidney Surgery", "Hirono returns to Senate following kidney surgery with message of thanks", "Mazie K Hirono Net Worth Personal Finances", "25 Great New Memoirs to Add to Your TBR Pile", "2021 Autumn Conferment of Decoration: Senator Mazie Keiko Hirono", http://hawaii.gov/elections/results/2002/general/02swgen4.pdf, "Statistics of the General Election of November 2, 2010", "PRIMARY ELECTION 2012 State of Hawaii Statewide", "Hawaii General 2012 State of Hawaii Statewide November 6, 2012 Final Summary Report", Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mazie_Hirono&oldid=1141857208, This page was last edited on 27 February 2023, at 05:09. [4] "She determined that she had to get away [from her husband]she wanted to put thousands of miles between them", Hirono said of her mother. 1. As a result, our family had little stability or money. All through his career, Leighton has supposedly gathered a net worth in eight figures. Oshima already had a child from his previous marriage. Our website services, content and products are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Leighton Kim Oshima came to the limelight as the life partner of Mazie Hirono. Whether it is welcoming Hawaii visitors to my Washington D.C. office for weekly Talk Story events, bringing aloha to our nation's Capital as part of the annual Hawaii on the Hill showcase of local businesses, or sitting down with and helping Hawaii constituents and businesses cut through federal red tape at home, my work as a Senator is driven by my connection to Hawaii and energized by the people and place that we call home. eventAction: 'click_ads' But due to internal controversies, Harris dropped out of the gubernatorial election and remained mayor for another two years. However, he was born in the territory of America, unlike his wife who migrated from Japan which makes him of American nationality. But although her brother returned to Hawaii after the war, she remained in Japan and married a veterinarian, Hirono Matabe, in 1946. Talk about making history. Hirono worked to gain the support of Hawaii Democrats in her primary against former State House Majority Leader Ed Case. window.googletag.cmd.push(function() { Further, she follows Buddhism. Davies Pacific Center 841 Bishop Street Suite 1600 Honolulu, HI 96813. Smiling with neighbors' children on her grandparents' farm Hirono is second from the right, next to her brother Roy on the far right. Legislation I've authored to honor our Filipino World War II Veterans, promote clean energy use by the military, expand opportunities for Hawaii small businesses, and invest in the education, training, and treatment of servicemembers from their time in uniform to their transition home are some of my proudest accomplishments in these areas. A user wrote, "Hirono is an embarrassment to the nation. McConnell's aggressiveness about judges is galling to Hirono. [31], Hirono won reelection to a third term with 72% of the vote. Buddhist. She has been married to Leighton Kim Oshima since 1987. "We both came together 13 years after we broke up and here we are, over 30 years married, very happy with each other.". 941 Visits. Although being born in Japan, her mother was of an American citizen. The cancer had spread to other parts of her body. She was elected Hawaii's Lieutenant Governor in 1994. Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono may have a quiet demeanor, but that shouldn't be confused for a lack of toughness. I am thus demanding a swift and immediate apology from Joe Biden, who used this term during a speech in May. But they didnt have an amicable breakup. That way, Hirono says, theyre on the record: and it makes it easier to catch if it ever turns out that they told a lie about those issues. She is the Senate's only immigrant and its first female Asian-American, and she had kept a pretty low profile. [citation needed], From 1987 to 1992, she was Chair of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Committee. Hirono was nothing if not inventive about saving her pennies. These days, many sites post her net worth is around $3 million but compared to 2018's record, possibly more. Leighton was already divorced from his first wife and had a daughter named Malia. if(document.querySelector("#google_image_div")){ Thus the family was separated, with three-year-old Wayne staying behind with his grandparents and Laura returning to Honolulu on her own with Mazie and Roy in March 1955. [74], Also in 2021, it was announced that Hirono would receive Japan's Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star for her "significant contributions in strengthening bilateral relations and promoting legislative exchanges between Japan and the United States". }); Who is Mazie Hironos husband and what role does he play in her success? Hirono is stepmother to Oshimas daughter Malia. }); Maize is his second wife with an exciting love story. [61] MSNBC reporter Kyle Griffin filmed Hirono's speech and posted it on Twitter. Party. I have to remind myself that shes a cancer survivor, he said.He also reportedly mentioned that people have a tendency to underestimate his wife. pg.acq.push(function() { reporters on a platform technologically tailored to meet the needs of the modern reader. From left: Sen. Mazie Hirono participates in a reenacted swearing-in with her husband, Leighton Kim Oshima.