Kessai Hesa Note (born August 7, 1950 in

Ailinglaplap Ailinglaplap or Ailinglapalap ( Marshallese: , ) is a coral atoll of 56 islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district of the Ralik Chain in the Marshall Islands. It is located northwest of Jaluit Atoll. Its total land area is on ...

) was President of the Marshall Islands from 2000 to 2008. Elected in 1979 alongside

Litokwa Tomeing Iroij Litokwa Tomeing (14 October 1939 – 12 October 2020) was the President of the Marshall Islands from January 2008 until October 2009. Biography Early and personal life Litokwa Tomeing was born on Wotje Atoll, in the Japanese-administered ...

, Note is one of the two longest-serving members of Nitijeļā. He was the Minister of Internal affairs from 1985 to 1986, and Minister of Transportation and communications from 1986 to 1987. Having served as Speaker of the Nitijeļā since 1988, he was elected President in 2000. Note is the first commoner, rather than an Iroijlaplap or traditional chief, to be elected to the Presidency.

Giff Johnson Giff Johnson is a Marshall Islands based editor and journalist. He is also author of the self-published book ''Don't Ever Whisper'' which tells of his late wife Darlene Keju's fight to share the Marshall Islanders plight with the rest of the wor ...

"Opposition Takes Control Of Marshall Islands Government"
, ''Pacific Magazine'', January 7, 2008. He is a member of the United Democratic Party, and was reelected by parliament in January 2004, receiving 20 votes, while Justin deBrum received 9. On January 7, 2008, following the November 2007 general election, he was defeated in his bid for re-election in a vote of Parliament, receiving 15 votes against 18 for

Note is of Japanese-Marshallese descent, having inherited his Japanese heritage from his paternal grandfather. Note's grandfather was a native of Niigata Prefecture, and settled in the Marshall Islands during the Japanese colonial era and married a Marshallese wife. Since January 2020, he has been the Minister of Justice.

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