Andria Tupola


Andria Tupola is an American politician and former Republican member of the Hawaii House of Representatives from 2014 to 2018, representing District 43. In 2015, she served as the minority floor leader for one year. She served as the State House Minority Leader making her the first Samoan woman to serve in that position. In 2018, she was the Republican nominee for Governor of Hawaii. She garnered 33% of the vote and lost to incumbent Democrat David Ige.

Early life

Tupola was born at Kahuku hospital to Bode Uale and Beth Parker on the island of Oʻahu. Her father was the first Samoan judge in the United States of America and a third generation immigrant from Samoa. Her mother is the daughter of the Grandmaster of Kenpo Karate, Ed Parker, and was named mother of the year in 2004. The Parker family has roots in the Waimea and Kohala area especially at the Parker Ranch on Hawaii Island.

Education

Tupola is a 1998 graduate of Kamehameha Schools in Kapālama, Honolulu. In 2005, she earned her bachelor's degree in music education from Brigham Young University. She served a year and a half mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Venezuela. She earned her M.A. in music education in from the University of Hawaii, Manoa in 2011, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D in music education there with an anticipated graduation date of 2020.

Elections

In 2014, Tupola was unopposed for the Republican primary in District 43, winning with 771 votes. In the general election, she faced incumbent Democrat Karen Awana and won with 56% of the vote, unseating the only incumbent in the 2014 general election.
In 2016, Tupola was unopposed for the Republican primary in District 43, winning with 747 votes. In the general election, she faced Stacelynn Eli, a former employee of Karen Awana. Tupola won by 65% with 3,859 votes.
In 2018, she ran as a candidate in the election for Governor of Hawaii. On August 11, 2018 she won the Republican primary receiving 53.0% of the vote, 17,282 votes. Other candidates John Carroll and Ray L'Heureux received 33.7% and 8.8% respectively. She garnered 33% of the vote in the 2018 General election with 131,719 votes. She was the youngest candidate and only native woman running for governor as a Republican in the 2018 cycle.