Sylvia Luke
- House: 1998-2022
Bio
Sylvia Luke is a longtime legislator who served for many years as the chair of the House Finance Committee before her election to the office of lieutenant governor in 2022. A rising star in the Democratic Party she was just starting her reelection campaign in spring 2026 when she was ensnared in a long-running investigation, first by the feds then handed off to the state, into bribery and campaign finance violations. In April that year, Luke decided to take an unpaid leave from her elected position after the state Attorney General’s Office informed her she was a target of its bribery investigation. The probe stems from a 2022 FBI case that resulted in convictions of two lawmakers on bribery charges and the question of a third mystery lawmaker who the FBI recorded taking $35,000 from a lobbyist.
Born in South Korea, Luke immigrated to Honolulu with her family when she was 9 years old. The 58-year-old Luke was one of the highest-ranking Korean American officials in the U.S., her official bio says. She was elected to the state House in 1998 and was known for her sharp eye when it came to the state’s finances. Luke is an attorney who had a law practice for many years in Honolulu. As lieutenant governor, she made expanding preschool her primary initiative.
Job Description
The lieutenant governor acts as governor when the governor is absent from the state or is unable to exercise and discharge the powers and duties of office, according tot he Legislative Reference Bureau. The lieutenant governor is designated the Secretary of State for intergovernmental relations. The duties and functions of the Lieutenant Governor include recording all legislative and gubernatorial acts, certification of state documents,
administration of the State’s Time Share Commissioners of Deeds Program and maintenance of an official file of rules adopted by state departments. In addition, under the lieutenant governor issues orders for change of names, heads special task forces or projects, as delegated by the
governor, and serves as community liaison. The office maintains copies of the notices and agenda of public agency meetings for departments and agencies.
Influence
There are three categories of donations to legislators after they are elected that encourage a working relationship between the donor and the legislator. The three categories are: 1-Gifts, 2-Travel, 3-Behests.
|
Giver
|
Value
|
Date
|
Description
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Code.org | $1,695 | Nov 1, 2017 | airfare, lodging, ground transportation |
| U.S.-Japan Council | $1,133.08 | Nov 11, 2017 | lodging |
| State Innovation Exchange | $1,102.28 | Oct 8, 2017 | airfare stipend, lodging |
| Economic Security Project | $953.34 | Oct 17, 2017 | airfare, lodging, ground transportation |
Sponsored Travel
Officials are allowed to have their expenses paid for domestic and international travel that is related to their work including, for example, trips to conferences or to tour places facing issues similar to Hawai'i. There is no limit on the amount of travel expenses a official can accept. The trips are often funded by companies or organizations with interest in state policy.
|
Giver
|
Value
|
Date
|
Description
|
|---|---|---|---|
| NCSL | $1,377 | Jun 8, 2018 | Travel stipend from NCSL |
| WIG/CSG | $1,200 | Oct 6, 2018 | Travel stipend from WIG |
| WIG/CSG | $1,200 | Jun 23, 2018 | Travel stipend from WIG |
| Milbank Memorial Fund | $912 | Nov 16, 2018 | Travel stipend from Milbank Memorial Fund |
| SiX Legislator Conference | $200 | Nov 21, 2018 | Travel stipend from SiX |
Sponsored Travel
Officials are allowed to have their expenses paid for domestic and international travel that is related to their work including, for example, trips to conferences or to tour places facing issues similar to Hawai'i. There is no limit on the amount of travel expenses a official can accept. The trips are often funded by companies or organizations with interest in state policy.
|
Giver
|
Value
|
Date
|
Description
|
|---|---|---|---|
| NCSL | $1,897 | Nov 21, 2019 | Fines and Fees |
| Code.org | $1,403 | Sep 11, 2019 | CSEdCon 2019 |
| NCSL | $1,400 | Aug 4, 2019 | NCSL Legislative Summit |
| CSG | $1,089 | Dec 4, 2019 | CSG Marijuana Policy Academy |
| NCSL | $1,000 | May 11, 2019 | Travel stipened from NCSL |
| Milbank Memorial Fund | $861 | Nov 13, 2019 | RSG |
| Women in Government | $800 | Jun 13, 2019 | 2019 WIG Legislative Conference |
| OKPF | $700 | Aug 27, 2019 | 6th Overseas Korean Politicians Forum |
| National Foundation for Women Legislators | $582 | Aug 15, 2019 | Marijuana Policy Summit |
Sponsored Travel
Officials are allowed to have their expenses paid for domestic and international travel that is related to their work including, for example, trips to conferences or to tour places facing issues similar to Hawai'i. There is no limit on the amount of travel expenses a official can accept. The trips are often funded by companies or organizations with interest in state policy.
|
Giver
|
Value
|
Date
|
Description
|
|---|---|---|---|
| National Foundation for Women Legislators | $1,290 | Nov 7, 2021 | 2021 National Foundation for Women Legislators Annual Conference |
Sponsored Travel
Officials are allowed to have their expenses paid for domestic and international travel that is related to their work including, for example, trips to conferences or to tour places facing issues similar to Hawai'i. There is no limit on the amount of travel expenses a official can accept. The trips are often funded by companies or organizations with interest in state policy.
|
Giver
|
Value
|
Date
|
Description
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Overseas Korean Cooperation Center | $1,722 | Nov 15, 2023 | Airfare and logding expenses |
| The Hunt Institute | $1,213 | Dec 15, 2023 | Airfare and logding expenses |
| Education Commission of the States | $977 | Jul 14, 2023 | Flight and lodging expenses |
Sponsored Travel
Officials are allowed to have their expenses paid for domestic and international travel that is related to their work including, for example, trips to conferences or to tour places facing issues similar to Hawai'i. There is no limit on the amount of travel expenses a official can accept. The trips are often funded by companies or organizations with interest in state policy.
|
Giver
|
Value
|
Date
|
Description
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Taipei Economic and Cultural Office of Honolulu | $4,600 | Oct 12, 2024 | Airfare, lodging, ground transportation and meals |
| Asian Pacific Institute for Congressional Studies | $1,420 | May 14, 2024 | Airfaire and logding expenses |
| Overseas Korean Cooperation Center | $1,409.5 | Aug 23, 2024 | Airfare and lodging |
Sponsored Travel
Officials are allowed to have their expenses paid for domestic and international travel that is related to their work including, for example, trips to conferences or to tour places facing issues similar to Hawai'i. There is no limit on the amount of travel expenses a official can accept. The trips are often funded by companies or organizations with interest in state policy.
Previous Election (2022):