Since we last wrote about this, all signs are pointing to U.S. Congressman Kai Kahele entering the race to become the next Governor of Hawaii. If the 47-year-old Hawaiian Airlines pilot does run, polling indicates he just might have a good chance at winning. Kai Kahele is an active A-330 wide-body pilot who, according to the airline, can still be found on “occasional flights.” In fact, he piloted a flight your editors were on, just before Covid.
We should know all the details by next week in this fluid, fast-changing situation.
Why is Beat of Hawaii writing about this?
We are looking at this strictly from a travel perspective. This is in no way an endorsement.
Would this Hawaiian Airlines pilot make a good Hawaii governor? Honestly we don’t know. But it certainly begs the question of what it might mean for Hawaii in relation to the visitor industry. Hawaii is at a critical point in reevaluating tourism and how it’ll work going forward.
Kai certainly brings significant travel experience, as well as being Native Hawaiian, and a decorated war veteran, to his gubernatorial resume. His run, however, isn’t without multiple controversies. Among other things, he’d been absent from Congress for most of this year’s term, citing the Covid voting policy as the reason. That while at the same time seen piloting HA flights and out in public. More on that below.
This election comes with Hawaii facing these critical tourism issues:
1. Visitor destination management and marketing plans. The state wants to educate and attract island visitors in changing ways. Protecting the environment and quality of life here remain crucial, among other things.
2. Soaring visitor taxes and fees. You’ve complained countless times in your comments. There’s the sense among many that we are biting the hand that feeds us with sky-high taxes on visitors. Some say that aloha has gone missing, while others disagree.
3. Undeniable over-tourism. From our perspective on the ground, this is a very real issue. Hawaii is still preparing to exceed all prior visitor numbers, first domestically this year, then internationally, especially as soon as Japan tourism returns to normal.
4. Visitor alienation. Many express they aren’t sure how welcome they are in Hawaii by the locals who live here.
Governor Ige and Lt. Gov. Josh Green had no tourism background.
Hawaii Governor Ige is term-limited and will leave office via this November’s election. Ige worked for Hawaiian Telcom in various engineering positions for nearly two decades. He became governor after years in the state senate, where his legislative career was largely focused on the state’s IT and telecom initiatives.
Lt. Governor Josh Green, an Emergency Room physician too, is also running for Hawaii Governor and has been considered the front-runner to replace Ige, until Kahele showed up on the scene. Green has been mired in controversy and conflict with Governor Ige for years, largely as it relates to Covid policy.
Others are already lining up for Kahele’s job.
In the meanwhile, others are already posturing to assume Kahele’s job in Congress. Honolulu’s Council Chairperson, Tommy Waters, is said to be “seriously considering” running to replace Kahele. He said “I am still strongly considering running should the seat be open.” Both Kahele and Waters are Native Hawaiian. But it doesn’t end there, as others are also planning to try for the not yet officially vacated Congressional seat. That includes State Senator Jill Tokuda.
Controversy.
The U.S. Congressman’s representative told Civil Beat in a recent article about whether Kahele has given up on Congress, that Kai is an “an active member of the airline union, the ALPA Pilots Union, and is a certified commercial pilot and active member of Hawaiian Airlines. He does still fly occasional Hawaiian Airlines’ flights to maintain his certification.” The pilot reported that he earned about $120k from the airline in the most recent 2020 financial disclosure. How much he made before being elected, however, isn’t an issue, so long as he follows the $29K cap on outside income now that he is in Congress.
We have never heard of a commercial pilot earning less than $29k, even for part-time work. Since we have quite a lot of pilots here, however, please let us know your thoughts.
Also, Kahele was finally seen in Washington this week after being noticeably absent. He said that although he’d been absent from DC, he hadn’t missed any voting opportunities.
Kai is the second Native Hawaiian to serve as a voting member of Congress.
The first was Daniel Akaka. Kai is from the town of Milolii on the Big Island and has a BA from UH Manoa.
He’s both a Hawaiian Airlines pilot and a military pilot and remains a lieutenant colonel in the state’s Air National Guard. Kai is a decorated combat veteran, too, who served in both Iraq, and Afghanistan, flying 108 combat sorties.
Please share your thoughts with us.
Updated 4/29/22.
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While I think Kai is out, Waters would be a horrible replacement. His style on Council is to regulate, over-regulate, everything and raise taxes. He seems to think he knows better than businesses on how to run their businesses. He’s an activist legislator who has never walked in the shoes of those he regulates. Tokuda has more experience, state-wide name recognition and understands DC is not City Council.
Josh Green will be getting my vote unless some Conservative/Republican runs. Green has been at odds with Ige for the last few years, which judging how Ige handled Covid, makes him a better choice for Governor in my opinion. I only hope the new Truth Ministry arm of the Department of Homeland Security doesn’t see this and censor it. Lol. I’m looking forward to some better leadership in the future. By the way, I have a fool-proof way of limiting tourism….limit flights to Hawaii. It’s an awfully long swim to get here otherwise.
I identify as a Libertarian, though around here it’s more a state of mind than a party. I think Ige has been
unfairly demonized – he didn’t issue that false missile alarm personally. The man is not slick, granted, but he is an engineer.
Presumably sufficient brain matter. Hawaii is a surprisingly vicious place, politically. I knew 99.9 % of voters would be Democrats – coming here in 2015, and I thought that was refreshing because there would be no need for me to stay hyper alert, like I had been in California. I could relax and snooze. Turns out, not so much…
Don’t vote for people like Green, he’s an attention seeker. Don’t need to validate that. COVID was a learning experience, in
Hawaii as well as everywhere else.
I
Uncertain when the word local is used what it really means- to me it used to be a person who lives in Hawaii ,who lived simply and cared for the environment but now the term to me refers to aggressive entitled people driving big gas guzzling trucks with an overwhelming sense of entitlement—visitors,you are welcome-no Kai should not be Governor
-zero respect for him
He sounds like a person who has not only deep roots in Hawaii, and first-hand knowledge of tourism, but also has a very impressive resume with having both military and now legislative experience. As to open secret/rumors, that sort of thing doesn’t exactly spell scandal these days, even if it is true. He might just feel he can accomplish more for his state as an executive than as a legislator.
Nope! A vote for Kahele is just another vote for continuing with the same bad policies of Ige and the rest of Hawaii’s Democrat party. Nothing will change in Hawaii as long as the plantation mentality exists.
He will certainly never get my vote! To maintain a plum part-time pilot gig while voting on legislation that benefits his employer (Hawaiian Airlines) is unconscionable. And to not be physically present in DC, after blasting Tulsi Gabbard for the exact same thing back when he was running for the seat?!? He’s a typical hypocritical politician.
Mahalo Beat of Hawai’i for this article. The American system of elections is always exciting!
If Congressman Kahele decides to run for Governor of Hawai’i, He’s definitely getting my vote!
This era of COVID has been a game changer for everyone. I don’t believe that shaming people for being absent from Washington is important. To each his own.
We need a fresh, young, intelligent Governor with strong ties to Hawai’i. Kai’s all that and a Veteran war hero too. My family’s all in on Kahele for Governor!
Aloha and blessings Jeff and Rob. Stay safe and keep up the great work 🙏🏼🌺
Hi Pam.
Thanks for your friendship and this comment. It is interesting to see the varying comments about him. We have no opinion on his running, and we don’t endorse candidates in any event. It will definitely be interesting to watch this unfold. There should be an announcement this week.
Aloha.
I’m not a resident of Hawaii but am a yearly visitor. Isn’t by virtue of the fact that he is a pilot for Hawaiian Airlines, that it would be a conflict of interest? Hawaii is totally dependent on tourism & I’m not certain it would be fair to all the other carriers that fly to Hawaii.
2. Soaring visitor taxes and fees.
3. Undeniable over-tourism.
Cognitive dissonance. If you want less tourists, then tax and fee the ʻōpala out of them, and you you will get less of them. But if you lower taxes and fees, you will get more tourists.
OT – We are flying to LIH tomorrow on SWA from SLC via OAK. Looking forward to mask free airports and airplanes (and Costco …).
No, he won’t, and here’s why.
He has or is still stretching his ability to make money beyond his Congressional salary, by flying for the airline. Thus, he is double-dipping and that’s against the House rules.
How is he able to fly while serving in Congress? That’s because he has taken advantage of the House shutdown rules, & decided to stay home in Hawaii & vote via proxy. House rules state that a US Congressman must be present to vote on legislation, though Speaker Pelosi has bastardized that rule. So, if a House member is staying put in their home then that doesn’t give them the oppty to go out of the home & work another job. If he’s healthy enough & feels safe enough to fly, then he is healthy & safe enough to go to DC. #DISAPPOINTED
what do we know about his stance on important issues? really that’s all that matters!
Kai Kahele is not to be trusted. He is a hypocrite with Covid protocols and has continually sold out to appease the vultures that exploit Hawaii for mainland and foreign investors. His campaign is about image only with very little practical results that protect HI and the full time residents here.
Please continue to expose his corrupt and selfish ways to ride his Father’s name in politics and bury his political career once and for all.
Kai may have first hand knowledge of Tourism, though from Locals are saying even, hanging out for the last year taking a $174,000.00 Congressional Salary, while staying home. Speakerelosi had her Caucus stay home and campaign, given the miserable performance by Biden, and just elicited their Votes along Party Lines. The Democrat Congressional Offices for the most part have notes on the doors, ‘Not To Clean’…………a good job if you can get it, hence the 2-3 lining up. It’s too bad the Stae lost Tulsi Gabbard, she was an asset to her Constituency and the Nation.
As a BI constituent I wish he’d be representing the people of our/his district instead of logging pilot hours. Lots of missed opportunities for Congressional funding while he is making extra bucks.
Didn’t take him long to forget where he’s from…Miloli’i nor Ka’u have seen any benefit from Kahele’s congressional seat.
Once this gets out..no way:)
foxnews.com/politics/hawaii-democrat-washington-dc-still-working-airline-pilot
Too bad Kai has not listened to his constituents. When we have contacted his Congressional office to voice concerns over fiscal/economic policies before Congress he voted against our interests. Sad he is not in person in DC to attend hearings and interact with other lawmakers and stakeholders. My wife and I live full time on Kauai and have been disappointed in Kai’s voting record. He is not the one we need as Governor in Honolulu. Out of touch.
It’s an open secret in D.C. that Kai’s been cheating on his wife with a lobbyist, and last last year the wife found out and demanded he never set foot in DC again. The Gubernatorial run is simply to mask the reason he’s leaving DC after one term and giving up his Senator in waiting slot. He should have just manned up and split from his wife or return home and not run for anything.
I hope not. He’s adovocated for shutting down Hawaii again and adding more covid protocols.
Mahalo Rob and Jeff for this article!
Oh my goodness yes!! Kai is intelligent, articulate, a Veteran, local and would be a breath of fresh air for sure.
Our current Lt Gov has to have his hand held to go shishi.
I’d proudly cast my vote for the future Gov Kahele! 🌺
Blessings to all
Aloha
Hi Pam.
Thanks. We appreciate your levity too!
Aloha.
Actually Kai is the third Native Hawaiian to serve in Congress. The first was Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana‘ole.
He served as a non-voting from Hawai‘i to the House of Representatives in Congress from 1902 until his death in 1922.
The reason Kai has been absent from his representing his Constituents, is Speaker Pelosi advised all her Caucus to stay home, Campaign for Re-Election, and she would control the Vote! The Democrat Offices all have ‘No Cleaning’ on the doors so now enters, nice gig if you can get it $174K/Annum for roughly 120 days in DC, this before Pelosi instituted a 20%+ Raise for Congress, while constituents and the opposition are all looking at the worst self-inflicted inflation in 41 years!
Kai has a poor reputation here on his home island. He was appointed into his position then won an election as the incumbent. Controversy included photos of him hugging buddies without a mask at the height of the pandemic at a large gathering that exceeded the mandated limit at that time. His response was immature and defensive. I hoped he would be mentored by his more seasoned colleagues and step up to his responsibilities, but he has not. AWOL and unearned illusions of grandeur sums him up.
A person can be appointed to the Senate but not the US House of Representatives. The Constitution clearly states that all member must be elected.
The fact that the state’s LG moaned and groaned over the CoVid issues of any and all kinds being especially concerned over the “case numbers” yet he knew full well that a simple phone call to DC would have gotten him all of the help he and the state needed in the form of the US Navy’s west coast based hospital ship that had more than enough capacity to deal with any case surges. But what did he do? How about he served up a giant nothing burger. Time for change Hawaii voters!
Hawaii needs leaders that put the people & Aina First and not their Agenda…We need someone in the Office that can not be paid off by the billionaires that are trying to claim and own the Hawaiians as their own…We need someone that is not afraid of speaking up and not just following everyone else…Someone that is not Politically Correct and not afraid to speak their mind…
Who do you have in mind? I second the opinion that Lt. Gov. Green exploited the Covid crisis (airtime) and our initial terror like so many others. He is an ER doctor, not a job creator or a partnership maker with Japan? and IT industry – to employ and keep our young here. Like MR. Non-science, “say anything” Dr. Fauci…..
This is coming from a kupuna who ran and didn’t walk to get my Pfizer shots and boosters due to age and underlying conditions – which apply for most of us…..