Mark Takai (July 1, 1967 – July 20, 2016) was an American politician from the state of Hawaii. He was a congressman of the United States House of Representatives, representing Hawaii's 1st congressional district, as a Democrat. He previously served in the Hawaii House of Representatives, from 1994 until 2014.

Takai was from Aiea, Hawaii. He served in the Hawaii Army National Guard as a Lieutenant Colonel and took part in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2009.

Takai became the Democratic Party nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2014 elections. He defeated former Congressman Charles Djou to win the seat. Takai stated that he would not seek reelection in 2016 because he had pancreatic cancer. He died from the disease on July 20, 2016.

Early life and education

Takai received his diploma from Pearl City High School in 1985. He was a four-time high school swimming champion and a high school All-American swimmer. Takai received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and his Master of Public Health degree from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. While at the University, 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.

Hawaii House of Representatives (1994–2014)

Takai hailed from the 33rd House and 34th House Districts representing the communities of Aiea, Hawaii and Pearl City, near Pearl Harbor. He was first elected in 1994 and won re-election nine more times (1994 through 2012).

Takai was the Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans, Military, the Committee on International Affairs, and the Committee on Culture and the Arts. He was a member of the Committee on Education and the Committee on Higher Education. During the 2005 and 2006 sessions, Takai served as Vice Speaker of the House. He served as Chairman of the House Committee on Higher Education (2003 to 2004 sessions) and as Vice Chairman (1995 to 2002 sessions). Additionally, he was Chairman of the House Committee on Culture and the Arts (1997 to 2000 sessions).

U.S. House of Representatives (2015–2016)

Takai became the Democratic nominee for the United States House of Representatives for Hawaii's 1st congressional district in the 2014 elections, following incumbent Colleen Hanabusa's decision to run for the United States Senate.[7] He won that election with 51.2% of the vote, defeating Republican former Congressman Charles Djou.

In November 2015, he introduced the Atomic Veterans Healthcare Parity Act, extending federal compensation to those made sick by involvement in cleanup operations after bomb tests on Pacific islands.

• Committee on Armed Services
  • Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces
  • Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
• Committee on Small Business
  • Subcommittee on Agriculture, Energy and Trade
  • Subcommittee on Contracting and Workforce (Ranking Member)

Military service

Mark Takai was a lieutenant colonel of the Hawaii Army National Guard. Takai was commissioned a First Lieutenant in the Hawaii Army National Guard (HIARNG) on July 19, 1999, and worked as the Preventive Medical Officer. He was the Division Chief for Soldiers Services and a School Liaison for the HIARNG. Additionally, Takai served as the President of the Hawaii National Guard Association and the President of the National Guard Association-Hawaii Insurance, Inc.

Takai served in Operation Iraqi Freedom as the Base Operations Officer (Camp Mayor) at Camp Patriot, Kuwait, from February 2009 to September 2009. He served as the Company Commander of Charlie Company (Medical), 29th Brigade Support Battalion from November 2006 to May 2008. Takai also was called to active duty for six months (May to November 2005) and served as the Hawaii Army National Guard Deputy State Surgeon.

Among his numerous awards and decorations, Takai received the Meritorious Service Medal from the United States Army in 2009, the Distinguished Service Medal from the National Guard Association of the United States in 2011, and the Hawaii Distinguished Service Order in 2012.

Takai's official date of rank as Lieutenant Colonel was May 14, 2013.

Illness and death

On May 19, 2016, Takai announced that he would not seek reelection because he was suffering from pancreatic cancer, but vowed to serve out his term. Takai died on July 20, 2016, at his home in Honolulu.