Jackie Young (politician)

Jacqueline Eurn Hai Young (May 20, 1934 – February 10, 2019) was an American politician and civil rights activist.

Young was born in Honolulu, Hawaii Territory. She was a third generation American of Korean descent.

She was a lifelong feminist and advocate for projects and issues that inspire social change and healthy communities. She was a legislator in the Hawai’i House of Representatives from 1990 to 1994, and was its first woman Vice-Speaker. [1]

She later became Director of the Hawai’i Office of Affirmative Action, Campaign Manager for Protect Our Constitution (supporting marriage equality), and Chief Staff Officer for the American Cancer Society.

She continuously maintained her political and civic involvement , and  served on many governmental and non-governmental boards and commissions, including the Defense Advisory Commission on Women in The Services (DACOWITZ).[2]  She was an educator, serving 10 years as an adjunct professor, and an invited speaker to international, national and local conferences as a speaker or panelist, on social justice and political issues. She also produced, appeared on and narrated a six part television series called “Sound Off”, and appeared and narrated 125 half hour broadcasts on Olelo TV.

At the time of her death, she was Chair of the Hawaii Judicial Selection Commission and was on the board of the Hawaii American Civil Liberties Union.