Representative William Paul Jarrett

William Paul Jarrett (August 22, 1877 – November 10, 1929) was a sheriff and congressional delegate representing the Territory of Hawaii and served as a Representative from Hawaii in the United States Congress from 1923 to 1927. Of Native Hawaiian descent, he was born on August 22, 1877, in Honolulu on the island of Oahu, in the then-Kingdom of Hawaii. His father was William Haalilo Jarrett and his mother was Emma Kaoo Stevens. Jarrett grew up in Honolulu and attended Saint Louis School, a prominent Catholic institution that educated many future leaders of the islands.

Jarrett’s early adult life was rooted in public service and local law enforcement. He became one of the earliest leaders of the Hawaii Democratic Party at a time when the political landscape of the islands was evolving under American territorial rule. His rise in territorial politics paralleled his advancement in law enforcement, where he gained a reputation as a capable and influential official.

Jarrett began his law enforcement career as deputy sheriff of the City and County of Honolulu, serving in that position from 1906 to 1908. He was then elected sheriff of Honolulu, a post he held until 1914. His responsibilities included maintaining public order in the rapidly changing capital city during an era of economic expansion and increasing integration of Hawaii into the broader American political and economic system. In 1914 he was appointed High Sheriff of the Territory of Hawaii, the chief law enforcement officer for the territory, and he served in that capacity from 1914 to 1922. In this role, he oversaw territorial prisons and coordinated law enforcement across the islands, further consolidating his prominence in territorial affairs.

Building on his law enforcement career and party leadership, Jarrett entered national politics as a member of the Democratic Party. He was elected as a territorial delegate to the United States House of Representatives, serving two terms from March 4, 1923, to March 3, 1927. As a member of the House of Representatives, William Paul Jarrett participated in the democratic process and represented the interests of his constituents in the Territory of Hawaii during a significant period in American history. He won elections in November 1922 and 1924, becoming one of the early Asian American and Pacific Islander figures in Congress, and contributed to the legislative process on issues affecting Hawaii’s political status, economic development, and the welfare of its diverse population. Although territorial delegates could not vote on final passage of legislation, Jarrett worked within the committee system and on the House floor to advocate for the territory. He lost his bid for re-election in 1926, ending his congressional service on March 3, 1927.

In his personal life, Jarrett married Mary Heanu Kalanienohoikawaiohilo Kekaiulaokala Clark, with whom he had six children. His family ties and Native Hawaiian heritage helped root his public career in the local community and culture of the islands, even as he operated within the broader framework of American territorial governance and national politics.

William Paul Jarrett died on November 10, 1929. He was interred at Diamond Head Memorial Park in Honolulu, reflecting his lifelong connection to the city and island where he was born and built his career. His legacy in Hawaii was later commemorated by the establishment of William P. Jarrett Middle School in 1955, named in his honor, recognizing his contributions as a law enforcement leader, early Democratic Party figure, and congressional delegate representing the Territory of Hawaii.