Honorific-Prefix: | His Excellency |
Kunio Lemari | |
Order: | President of the Marshall Islands |
Term Start: | 20 December 1996 |
Term End: | 14 January 1997 |
Predecessor: | Amata Kabua |
Successor: | Imata Kabua |
Birth Date: | 29 November 1942 |
Birth Place: | Jaluit Atoll, South Seas Mandate |
Death Place: | Majuro, Marshall Islands |
Spouse: | Helisa A. Kaious (m.1967, div.1985) Christina Lemari (m.1987, until his death in 2008) |
Children: | 8 |
Party: | Aelon̄ Kein Ad United Democratic Party |
Kunio David Lemari[1] (29 November 1942[2] - 28 March 2008) was a Marshallese politician. He was the Minister of Justice from 1985 to 1987. He served as the acting President of the Marshall Islands from 20 December 1996 to 14 January 1997. He assumed office upon the death of the previous President, Amata Kabua, having previously served as the country's Minister of Transportation and Communications.[3]
Lemari was of Japanese descent from his maternal grandfather,[4] and was survived by brothers Rellong Lemari (Senator from Lae Atoll) and Johnny Lemari (Mayor of Kwajalein Atoll); wife, Christina Lemari; Imata Kabua; sons Harald (Joanne), Wesley (Lynn), Ranni and Dixon Lemari; daughters Evangeline (Quincy Calep), Dianne, Kimberlynn (Michael Vredenburg), and Lyla; numerous nephews, nieces, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
On 28 March 2008, Lemari died in Majuro due to complications from diabetes.