23 Facts About Mark Takai

Kyle Mark Takai was an American politician from the state of Hawaii who served in the United States House of Representatives, representing, from 2015 to 2016.

Mark Takai served in the Hawaii House of Representatives from 1994 to 2014.

Mark Takai became the Democratic Party nominee for the US House in the 2014 elections, defeating former Congressman Charles Djou to win the seat.

Mark Takai announced in May 2016 that he would not seek reelection due to ill health; he died from cancer two months later.

Mark Takai received his diploma from Pearl City High School in 1985, where he was a four-time high school swimming champion and a high school All-American swimmer.

Mark Takai received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

At the university, Mark Takai was a Western Athletic Conference champion swimmer, president of the Associated Students of the University of Hawaii, and editor-in-chief of the campus newspaper.

Mark Takai was a member of the 1998 class of the Pacific Century Fellows.

Mark Takai was first elected to the Hawaii House of Representatives in 1994, representing the 34th house district of Pearl City, near Pearl Harbor.

Mark Takai was reelected eight times before shifting to represent the 33rd house district of Aiea in 2012.

Mark Takai chaired the House Committee on Culture and the Arts from 1997 to 2000.

Mark Takai left his 20-year tenure as a state representative to become the Democratic nominee for the United States House of Representatives for in the 2014 elections, after incumbent Colleen Hanabusa's decision to run for the United States Senate.

Mark Takai was commissioned as first lieutenant in the Hawaii Army National Guard on July 19,1999, and worked as the Preventive Medical Officer.

Mark Takai was the Division Chief for Soldiers Services and a School Liaison for the HIARNG.

Mark Takai later became a lieutenant colonel on May 14,2013.

Mark Takai served as the President of the Hawaii National Guard Association and the President of the National Guard Association-Hawaii Insurance, Inc.

Mark Takai was called to active duty for six months and served as the Hawaii Army National Guard Deputy State Surgeon.

Mark Takai later served as the Company Commander of Charlie Company, 29th Brigade Support Battalion from November 2006 to May 2008.

Mark Takai was posted abroad during Operation Iraqi Freedom as the Base Operations Officer at Camp Patriot, Kuwait, from February 2009 to September 2009.

Mark Takai was diagnosed with a small tumor on his pancreas in late October 2015.

Mark Takai died two months later at his home in Aiea.

Mark Takai was survived by his wife, Sami, and their two children.

In 2018, Mark Takai was posthumously inducted into the Hawaii Swimming Hall of Fame.