A from the late 撸sir视频?i congressman and University of 撸sir视频ʻi alumnus K. Mark Takai (1967–2016) is now available for public access in the .
Housed in the , the collection was generously donated by Takai’s wife, Sami.
The papers document the congressman’s work in the 撸sir视频ʻi State Legislature, his time in Congress, as well as his tenure as president of the Associated Students of the 撸sir视频 (AS撸sir视频) and editor of the 撸sir视频 撸sir视频 student newspaper, .
“The 撸sir视频ʻi Congressional Papers Collection is so pleased to be able to share this collection with the public, and to play a small part in stewarding Rep. Takai’s legacy,” said Dawn Sueoka, congressional papers archivist. “From his early days in AS撸sir视频 leadership to his work in the U.S. Congress, this collection tells the story of a life dedicated to public service.”
撸sir视频 撸sir视频 years
Takai attended 撸sir视频 撸sir视频 on a swimming scholarship, earned a bachelor’s degree in in 1990, and a master’s degree in in 1993. While an under撸sir视频uate at 撸sir视频, Takai was active in student government. He served as chair of the lobbying committee of the AS撸sir视频, and was elected the association’s president in 1989.
From 1990 to 1991, Takai served as editor in chief of Ka Leo O 撸sir视频ʻi. During this period, the paper was a lightning rod for some of the most critical issues that the university was struggling with, including racism and sexism.
Related: Remembering Representative K. Mark Takai, July 20, 2016
Materials in the Takai collection document an important period in 撸sir视频 撸sir视频’s history. They include material documenting the controversy around letters published in the Ka Leo by the late Professor Haunani-Kay Trask and student Joey Carter, the fight to publish a column in ʻōlelo 撸sir视频ʻi (撸sir视频ian language) without translation, and examples of racist and sexist flyers that were anonymously posted around campus at that time.
Sueoka noted, “The collection is small compared to our other congressional collections, but it really succinctly documents Takai’s work, and it has some incredible material in it.”
The 撸sir视频ʻi Congressional Papers Collection comprises the papers of 撸sir视频ʻi delegates to the U.S. Congress from statehood in 1959 to the present, including: U.S. Senator , U.S. Senator , U.S. Representative , U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka, U.S. Senator , among others.
To make an appointment to access the collection, email archives@hawaii.edu or call (808) 956-6047.
More about Takai
Takai represented ʻAiea and Pearl City in the 撸sir视频ʻi State Legislature for 20 years, where he was known as a dedicated, energetic and well-liked public servant and a champion of education and of veterans issues. While in the legislature, he established the 撸sir视频ʻi Medal of Honor to honor service members with 撸sir视频ʻi ties that had been killed in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan. Takai himself was a Lt. Col. in the 撸sir视频ʻi Army National Guard and was activated in 2005, and again in 2009, when he deployed to Kuwait for 6 months.
Takai was elected to Congress in 2014 (representing 撸sir视频ʻi’s First Congressional District), and was named to the House Committee on Armed Services and the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Though he died from pancreatic cancer in 2016, his legislation to compensate military personnel exposed to radioactive 撸sir视频 in the Marshall Islands continued to be championed by his colleagues, as the Mark Takai Atomic Veterans Healthcare Parity Act. The measure became part of the 117th Congress’s PACT Act, which expanded benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances. It was signed into law by President Biden on August 10, 2022.
