George R. Ariyoshi, Hawaii's former governor and the first person of Asian descent to serve as a U.S. state governor, died Sunday night at age 100, current Hawaii Governor Josh Green announced Monday.

Ariyoshi died peacefully while surrounded by family, according to Green's statement. The Democrat served as Hawaii's governor for three terms from 1974 to 1986, though sources differ on the exact start date with one indicating 1973.

Ariyoshi's tenure as governor coincided with the Democratic Party's rise to power in Hawaii. He came from humble beginnings, rising out of a challenging district in Honolulu to reach the state's highest office.

During his time in office, Ariyoshi worked to diversify Hawaii's economy, which was heavily dependent on tourism. His efforts focused on expanding the state's economic base beyond its traditional reliance on the tourism industry.

Ariyoshi's historic role as the nation's first Asian American governor broke significant barriers in American politics during the 1970s and 1980s. His long tenure in office spanned more than a decade of Hawaii's political development.