The Congresswoman Patsy T. Mink Commission was established by the Hawaii Legislature (Act 92, SLH 2006) in July 2006 to honor and recognize former Hawaii representative Patsy T. Mink (1927-2002), who for nearly fifty years served the people of Hawaii in the Hawaii territorial house (1956-58), Hawaii territorial senate (1958-59), Hawaii state senate (1962-64), Honolulu City Council (1983-87), and United States House of Representatives (1965-77; 1990-2002).

With her election in 1964, Congresswoman Mink became the first woman of color and the first Asian American woman to serve in the United States Congress, where she became a leader on issues involving women’s rights, education, child care, peace, the environment, welfare, and civil rights.  Throughout her career in public service, she dedicated considerable time and staff resources to constituent concerns, including the rights of Native Hawaiians and the preservation of the state’s historical and cultural resources.

The Congresswoman Patsy T. Mink Commission is attached to the Governors Office and receives administrative support from the Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS).  It is a temporary commission slated to disband before December 31, 2009.

The Commission’s fourteen members represent various groups and interests and are appointed by the governor, speaker of the house of representatives, president of the senate, Maui county council, Honolulu city council, Kauai county council, and Hawaii county council.