Kai Kahele
Kaialiʻi Kahele (born March 28, 1974) is an American politician, educator, and commercial pilot who served as the U.S. representative for Hawaii's 2nd congressional district from 2021 to 2023. From 2016 to 2020, he served in the Hawaii Senate from the 1st District. Kahele is a member of the Democratic Party and the son of the late Hawaii Senate member Gil Kahele.
Kai Kahele | |
|---|---|
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Hawaii's 2nd district | |
| In office January 3, 2021 – January 3, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Tulsi Gabbard |
| Succeeded by | Jill Tokuda |
| Member of the Hawaii Senate from the 1st district | |
| In office February 17, 2016 – December 16, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Gil Kahele |
| Succeeded by | Laura Acasio |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 28, 1974 Miloli'i, Hawai'i, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Maria Fe Day |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent |
|
| 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 |
In January 2019, Kahele announced he would challenge Tulsi Gabbard in Hawaii's 2nd congressional district in 2020, but Gabbard dropped out of the race to focus on her campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination. Kahele won the congressional nomination on August 8, 2020. He won the general election and became the second Native Hawaiian to serve as a member of Congress representing Hawaii since statehood, after Daniel Akaka.
After one term in Congress, Kahele ran for governor in 2022. He was defeated in the Democratic primary by Lieutenant Governor Josh Green.