Kai Kahele facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kai Kahele
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Hawaii's 2nd district |
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| In office January 3, 2021 – January 3, 2023 |
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| Preceded by | Tulsi Gabbard |
| Succeeded by | Jill Tokuda |
| Member of the Hawaii Senate from the 1st district |
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| In office February 17, 2016 – December 16, 2020 |
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| Preceded by | Gil Kahele |
| Succeeded by | Laura Acasio |
| Member of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees | |
| Assumed office December 5, 2024 |
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| Preceded by | Mililani Trask |
| Constituency | Hawaiʻi Island |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 28, 1974 Miloli'i, Hawai'i, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Maria Fe Day |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent |
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| Education | Hawaii Community College University of Hawaii, Hilo University of Hawaii, Manoa (BA) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 2001–present |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Unit | Hawaii Air National Guard |
| Battles/wars | Iraq War War in Afghanistan |
| Awards | Air Medal Armed Forces Reserve Medal Combat Readiness Medal Commendation Medal Meritorious Service Medal National Defense Service Medal |
Kaialiʻi Kahele (born March 28, 1974) is an American politician, teacher, and commercial pilot. He served as a U.S. representative for Hawaii's 2nd congressional district from 2021 to 2023. Before that, he was a member of the Hawaii Senate from 2016 to 2020. In 2024, he was elected to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees. Kahele is a member of the Democratic Party. His father, Gil Kahele, also served in the Hawaii Senate.
In 2019, Kahele decided to run for the U.S. House of Representatives. He won the election in 2020. This made him the second Native Hawaiian to represent Hawaii in Congress since Hawaii became a state. After one term in Congress, Kahele ran for governor of Hawaii in 2022. He was not successful in that election. However, he made a comeback in 2024 by winning a seat on the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board.
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Early Life and Education
Kai Kahele is a Native Hawaiian person. His family comes from the small fishing village of Miloliʻi in South Kona, Hawaii. He was born there on March 28, 1974. His parents are Linda Haggberg and Gil Kahele. He went to Hilo High School. Later, he studied at Hawaiʻi Community College and the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. In 1998, he earned a degree in education from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
Career Highlights
Military Service and Aviation
Kai Kahele is both a military and a civilian pilot. He is an officer in the Hawaii Air National Guard. He currently holds the rank of lieutenant colonel. He serves with the 201st Air Mobility Operations Squadron at Hickam Air Force Base. Kahele is a combat veteran. He has been deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan since 2005. He flew 108 combat missions. He has logged over 3,000 hours of military flight time. He commanded C-17 cargo plane missions.
Kahele has received many awards for his service. These include the Meritorious Service Medal and the Air Medal. He was also named Pacific Air Forces Guard Officer of the Year. Besides his military flying, Kahele also works as a civilian pilot for Hawaiian Airlines. He has also taught at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo.
Serving in the Hawaii State Senate
Kahele was chosen to serve in the Hawaii Senate for the 1st district. This happened on February 16, 2016, after his father passed away. He won the election in 2016 and again in 2018. In the Senate, Kahele became the Majority Floor Leader in 2019. He also chaired the Senate Committee on Water and Land. He worked on committees for Ways and Means, Hawaiian Affairs, and Higher Education.
Kahele focused on improving the University of Hawaiʻi System. He believed the system needed changes. He also supported a program to create a bachelor's degree in commercial aviation. This program started at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo in 2019. Other important issues for him included redeveloping Banyan Drive and funding research for rat lungworm disease. On December 16, 2020, Kahele left the Hawaii Senate. He was preparing to become a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Representing Hawaii in the U.S. House
In January 2019, Kahele announced he would run for the United States House of Representatives. He won the primary election on August 8, 2020. He then won the general election by a large margin. As a U.S. Representative, Kahele voted to impeach President Donald Trump a second time. He stated that Trump had broken his oath of office.
During his time in Congress, Kahele also continued his work as a commercial pilot. In early 2022, he decided to run for governor of Hawaii. He then left Congress to focus on his campaign.
Committee Work in Congress
While in the U.S. House, Kahele served on two important committees:
- Committee on Armed Services: This committee deals with military matters and national defense.
- He was part of subcommittees for Tactical Air and Land Forces and Readiness.
- Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: This committee handles issues related to transportation and public works.
- He was part of subcommittees for Aviation and Highways and Transit.
Congressional Groups
Kahele was also a member of special groups in Congress. These groups are called caucuses. They bring together members who share similar interests or goals.
- Congressional Progressive Caucus: A group of lawmakers who support progressive policies.
- Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus: A group focused on equal rights for LGBTQ+ individuals.
Personal Life
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When he was in college, Kai Kahele played on the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa's Rainbow Warriors NCAA Division I Men's volleyball team. In 1997, his teammates voted him "most inspirational teammate." He lives in Hilo, on Hawai‘i Island, with his wife and their daughters. Hilo has been his home his entire life.
See also
- List of Asian Americans and Pacific Islands Americans in the United States Congress
