Political Quotes

“Aloha, Mr. President. REMEMBERING MARK TAKAI Mr. President, I rise in memory of our friend and our colleague, Congressman Mark Takai. In June, Mark passed away after a courageous fight with pancreatic cancer. He leaves behind a legacy as a champion swimmer, a National Guard officer, and a public servant. Most importantly, Mark was a family man and friend to many. Over the years, I have affectionately called Mark my younger brother. Mark was elected to the Hawaii State legislature in 1994, the same year I won my race to be our State's Lieutenant Governor. I came to count on Mark as one of my closest allies throughout my time in State government and here in Congress. I will continue to be a champion for the causes he believed in, particularly the fight to keep the promises we made to our Nation's veterans. Mark always remembered personal details and would go the extra mile to give back to others. Knowing how much we all missed food from home, he hosted potlucks for his staff and others in the delegation. They often included one of my favorites--his mother Naomi's famous beef stew. Whenever his mother made a batch of her famous stew, Mark, always thoughtful, made sure he saved some for me. In return, when I made Portuguese bean soup and Korean kimchi, he got some too. Mark embodied the aloha spirit of kindness and generosity and would bring a bit of Hawaii wherever he went.…”