Kai 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 byTulsi Gabbard
Succeeded byJill Tokuda
Member of the Hawaii Senate
from the 1st district
In office
February 17, 2016 – December 16, 2020
Preceded byGil Kahele
Succeeded byLaura Acasio
Personal details
Born (1974-03-28) March 28, 1974 (age 50)
Miloli'i, Hawai'i, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseMaria Fe Day
Children3
Parent
EducationHawaii Community College
University of Hawaii, Hilo
University of Hawaii, Manoa (BA)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Air Force
Years of service2001–present
RankLieutenant Colonel
UnitHawaii Air National Guard
Battles/warsIraq War
War in Afghanistan
AwardsAir 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, 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[1][2] and the son of the late Hawaii Senate member Gil Kahele.

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.[3] He won the general election and became the second Native Hawaiian to serve as a member of Congress representing Hawaii since statehood,[4] after Daniel Akaka.[5]

After one term in Congress, Kahele ran for governor in 2022. He was defeated in the Democratic primary by Lieutenant Governor Josh Green.

  1. ^ "Kaiali'i Kahele". Hawaii Legislature. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
  2. ^ "Kaiali'i Kahele". Ballotpedia. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
  3. ^ "Democrats Kai Kahele and Ed Case cruising to general election for Congress". Star Advertiser. 9 August 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  4. ^ "Kai Kahele wins Hawaii House seat vacated by Tulsi Gabbard". NBC News. 5 November 2020. Retrieved 2020-11-06.
  5. ^ "Native Hawaiian heads to Congress". Te Ao Māori News. 6 November 2020. Retrieved September 25, 2021.