Sylvia Luke

Sylvia Luke
Born	Chang Eun Jung 15 12, 1967
Birthplace	Seoul, South Korea
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, attorney
Known for	First South Korean-born politician elected to statewide office in the United States
Education	University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (BA) University of San Francisco (JD)
Children	1

Sylvia Eun Jung Luke (née Chang; born December 15, 1967), born Chang Eun Jung (Template:Lang), is an American politician and attorney serving as the 16th lieutenant governor of Hawaii since December 5, 2022. A member of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, she previously served in the Hawaii House of Representatives for 24 years, representing the 26th district from 1998 to 2012 and the 25th district from 2012 to 2022. Born in Seoul, South Korea, Luke immigrated to Hawaii and built a career in law and public service that made her one of the most prominent figures in Hawaiian state politics. Her election as lieutenant governor in 2022, on a ticket with Governor Josh Green, made her the first South Korean-born politician elected to a statewide office in the United States. During her long tenure in the state legislature, Luke served in key leadership positions, including as chair of the powerful House Finance Committee, and was involved in shaping major budgetary and policy decisions for the state. In 2026, she became the subject of public scrutiny related to campaign finance reporting and questions about political donations linked to a federal investigation.

Early Life

Sylvia Luke was born Chang Eun Jung on December 15, 1967, in Seoul, South Korea. She later immigrated to the United States and settled in Hawaii, where she would spend the majority of her life. Details about her family's immigration, her upbringing in South Korea, and her early years in Hawaii remain limited in publicly available records. Luke adopted her married surname and became deeply rooted in the Hawaiian community, eventually pursuing careers in both law and politics.

As an immigrant from South Korea, Luke's trajectory from Seoul to the highest levels of Hawaiian state government represents a significant chapter in the broader story of Korean American political participation in the United States. Her background informed much of her legislative work and public identity throughout her career.

Education

Luke pursued her undergraduate education at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. She subsequently attended the University of San Francisco School of Law, where she obtained her Juris Doctor (JD) degree. Her legal education provided the foundation for her career as an attorney before and during her time in public office.

Career

Hawaii House of Representatives (1998–2022)

Sylvia Luke entered electoral politics in 1998, when she won election to the Hawaii House of Representatives representing the 26th district. She succeeded Quentin Kawānanakoa in the seat. Luke won reelection consistently throughout her tenure, running successfully in the 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2010 election cycles in the 26th district.

Following redistricting in 2012, Luke transitioned to representing the newly drawn 25th district, where she continued to serve until her election as lieutenant governor in 2022.

Over the course of her 24 years in the Hawaii House, Luke rose through the ranks of the Democratic caucus to assume prominent leadership positions. She served as the chair of the House Finance Committee, one of the most influential positions in the state legislature, which gave her significant authority over the state budget and fiscal policy. Her long tenure and committee leadership made her one of the most powerful members of the Hawaii state legislature during her time in office.

2022 Lieutenant Governor Campaign

In 2022, Luke ran for lieutenant governor of Hawaii. She competed in the Democratic primary election held on August 13, 2022, securing the party's nomination. Luke ran alongside gubernatorial candidate Josh Green, who was then serving as the incumbent lieutenant governor. The Green-Luke ticket went on to win the general election on November 8, 2022, with Hawaii voters choosing Green and Luke by a substantial margin over their Republican opponents.

Luke's election was historically significant. She became the first South Korean-born politician to be elected to a statewide office anywhere in the United States, a milestone that drew attention both in Hawaii and nationally. She took office on December 5, 2022, succeeding Josh Green, who vacated the lieutenant governor position upon being inaugurated as governor.

Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii (2022–present)

As lieutenant governor, Luke serves under Governor Josh Green. The lieutenant governor of Hawaii serves as first in the line of succession to the governor and presides over the Hawaii State Senate. Luke has been involved in various policy initiatives during her tenure, including efforts related to early childhood education and child care accessibility. In 2026, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported on rising child care costs affecting Hawaiian families, with a photograph depicting students at Linapuni Elementary School's new public preschool classroom attributed to the Office of Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, indicating her office's involvement in early education initiatives.

Campaign Finance Controversies (2026)

In February 2026, Luke became the subject of significant public scrutiny related to campaign finance matters and a federal investigation. On February 10, 2026, Luke publicly acknowledged that she may be the "influential state legislator" referenced in a federal case. According to Hawaii News Now, Luke stated she may be the elected official suspected of taking $35,000 in an FBI operation that had consumed Hawaii politics.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported on February 11, 2026, that the Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission announced it would investigate whether Luke violated state law when she failed to report $16,000 in campaign contributions.

Honolulu Civil Beat reported in February 2026 that Luke had accepted thousands of dollars from a lobbyist linked to an individual named Cullen. According to the report, at a dinner in January 2022, Luke received two $5,000 campaign contributions during a meeting with two men and a woman at a restaurant. A subsequent Hawaii News Now report revealed that the donor who made a campaign contribution to Luke was already under federal investigation at the time, having allegedly overbilled a medical testing company by $7 million.

In mid-February 2026, Honolulu Civil Beat published an editorial arguing that Governor Green should appoint an independent prosecutor in what it described as a bribery case, stating it was in Luke's best interest to have an independent inquiry to maintain public trust in the findings.

On February 23, 2026, Luke released a campaign video on her social media platforms addressing the controversy. KHON2 reported that in the video, Luke stated, "I want you to hear the facts," and sought to clarify what she described as ongoing allegations of financial impropriety. Hawaii News Now reported on February 24, 2026, that Luke addressed what she characterized as campaign finance report errors, describing the discrepancies as an "innocent mistake."

As of February 2026, the investigations and public discourse surrounding these matters remain ongoing.

Personal Life

Sylvia Luke has one child. She resides in Hawaii. Additional details about her personal life, including information about her spouse, are not extensively documented in publicly available sources.

Luke's identity as a South Korean immigrant has been a notable aspect of her public persona. Her birth name, Chang Eun Jung (장은정), reflects her Korean heritage, and she adopted the name Sylvia Luke over the course of her life in the United States. Her election as lieutenant governor represented a milestone for Korean Americans in U.S. politics, as she became the first person born in South Korea to hold a statewide elected office in the country.

Recognition

Luke's election as lieutenant governor in 2022 was recognized as a historic achievement. She became the first South Korean-born individual to win a statewide election in the United States, a distinction noted in media coverage of the 2022 Hawaii general election. Her 24-year tenure in the Hawaii House of Representatives, spanning from 1998 to 2022, made her one of the longer-serving members of that body during her era, and her role as chair of the House Finance Committee placed her among the most influential legislators in the state.

Her candidacy and election drew attention from Korean American communities and organizations across the United States as a milestone in Asian American political representation. Luke's career trajectory — from immigrant to one of the highest-ranking officials in Hawaii state government — has been cited in discussions about the growing political participation and influence of Korean Americans in U.S. politics.