First-term congressman from Hawaii dies after battle with cancer

After a nine-month bout with pancreatic cancer, Iraqi war veteran and first-term U.S. Rep. Mark Takai, D-Hawaii, died yesterday. He was 49.

Takai served 20 years in the Hawaii House of Representatives, first winning elected office at age 27. He also served as a lieutenant colonel in the Hawaii Army National Guard, earning the Meritorious Service Medal for his time as the Base Operations Officer at Camp Patriot, Kuwait, during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2009. He won a seat in Congress in 2014, working for the last year and a half on the House Small Business and Armed Services committees.

Takai announced his diagnosis with pancreatic cancer in October 2015 and had surgery a month later. At first, he was optimistic he would make a full recovery, but in May he said he would not seek reelection in November because his cancer had spread. Takai died yesterday in his Honolulu home, surrounded by family.

Upon hearing of his passing, Takai’s colleagues in Congress had nothing but praise for his years of military service and his time in Washington, representing Hawaii with kindness and dedication.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, Takai’s only Hawaiian colleague in Congress, served with him in the Hawaii Army National Guard and the state Legislature before coming to Washington.

“No matter where he was, he always kept his service to Hawaii’s people at the forefront of his actions,” Gabbard said. “Mark’s smiling face and ready laugh will truly be missed, but the impact that he made through his life of service to the people of Hawaii will always be remembered.”

House Minority Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., echoed fond memories of Takai and said she’s heartbroken over his death.

“In his service to America and the people of Hawaii, Congressman Takai embodied our nation’s highest ideals. In his fight against cancer, Mark showed the courage and strength that defined the wonderful person he was,” Pelosi said in a statement. “Mark confronted his diagnosis with the spirit we all hope we would share when facing such an awful disease.”

Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said Takai added experience to the committee and his colleagues will miss his dedication to the U.S. military

Takai is survived by his wife, Sami, and children Matthew and Kaila.