Pacific Islanders Elected to the Legislature

The NPIEN Utah Chapter Chapter reported that Verona Sagato-Mauga was elected to the Utah House of Representatives. They also stated that Representative Sagato-Mauga is the first Pacific Islander/Samoan female ever elected to a State legislative office. Other than Representatives for the United States Territories, the only other State Legislator other than Hawaii that we are aware of was Idaho State Senator Edgar Malepeai. Representative Jake Fitisemanu was also elected to the Utah State Legislature. Was Jake also one of the first in Utah? David Tangipa (Tongan) was elected as a California State Assemblymember, a first. In the State of Hawaii, there were three Pacific Islander US Congressmembers, Daniel Akaka (Hawaiian), Tulsi Gabbard (Samoan), and Kai Kahele (Hawaiian), also a State Senator. His father Gil Kahele was also a Hawaii State Senator. A historic time!