Kai Kahele

Kaiali'i Kahele was born in Hilo, Hawaii. He became a member of the Hawaii Air National Guard in 1999 and served as a pilot in Iraq and Afghanistan. Following deployment, Kahele continued to serve as a lieutenant colonel. Kahele has also worked as a teacher, nonprofit executive, and commercial pilot. Kahele represented  Hawaii's 2nd Congressional District in Congress from 2021 to 2023. He previously served in the Hawaii Senate. In 2024, he was elected as a trustee to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, with fellow board members electing him as chair.