Representative Mark Takai - Contact Information

Kyle Mark Takai (July 1, 1967 – July 20, 2016) was an American politician from the state of Hawaii who served as a Representative from Hawaii in the United States Congress from 2015 to 2016. A member of the Democratic Party, he represented Hawaii’s 1st congressional district for one term in the U.S. House of Representatives, contributing to the legislative process during a significant period in American history and participating in the democratic process on behalf of his constituents. Before his service in Congress, he was a long‑time member of the Hawaii House of Representatives, in which he served from 1994 to 2014.

Takai was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on July 1, 1967, and was a lifelong resident of the city. He attended public schools in Honolulu and went on to the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and later a Master of Public Health. During his time at the university, he was active in student government and served as president of the Associated Students of the University of Hawaii, an early indication of his interest in public service and leadership. His academic training in political science and public health would later inform his legislative priorities at both the state and federal levels.

Takai began his political career shortly after completing his education. In 1994 he was elected to the Hawaii House of Representatives, where he served continuously until 2014. Over two decades in the state legislature, he represented a district in Honolulu and became known for his work on issues including education, veterans’ affairs, and public health. He held various leadership and committee roles, including service on committees related to higher education and finance, and he was involved in efforts to support military families and improve educational opportunities in Hawaii. His long tenure in the Hawaii House of Representatives established him as a prominent Democratic figure in state politics and laid the groundwork for his later congressional career.

In addition to his legislative work, Takai had a parallel career in the military. A native of Honolulu, he served in the Hawaii Army National Guard, ultimately attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel. He took part in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2009, deploying while still an active member of the Hawaii House of Representatives. His military service, including his deployment to the Middle East, deepened his engagement with national security and veterans’ issues and informed his advocacy on behalf of service members and their families. He continued his Guard service through his political career, and his dual roles as legislator and officer were a distinctive feature of his public life.

Takai sought federal office in 2014, running for the open seat in Hawaii’s 1st congressional district. He became the Democratic Party nominee for the U.S. House in the 2014 elections and, in the general election, defeated former Congressman Charles Djou to win the seat. He took office on January 3, 2015, joining the 114th Congress. As a member of the House of Representatives, Mark Takai participated in the democratic process and represented the interests of his urban Honolulu‑area constituents during a period marked by debates over national security, health care, and economic policy. In Congress, he continued to focus on issues related to veterans, the military, education, and the well‑being of Hawaii’s families, drawing on his experience in the state legislature and the National Guard.

Takai’s tenure in Congress was cut short by serious illness. In 2015 he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and his treatment limited some of his official activities even as he continued to serve. In May 2016 he announced that he would not seek reelection due to ill health, signaling the end of his brief but active period of congressional service. He remained in office while undergoing treatment, maintaining his commitment to his constituents and to the legislative responsibilities of his position for as long as his health allowed.

Kyle Mark Takai died from cancer in Honolulu on July 20, 2016, at the age of 49, two months after announcing that he would not run for another term. At the time of his death, he was still serving as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and as a lieutenant colonel in the Hawaii Army National Guard. His passing brought to a close a career that spanned more than two decades of elected service in the Hawaii House of Representatives and one term in the United States Congress, as well as distinguished military service during Operation Iraqi Freedom.