On the recordJuly 20, 2017
1 year ago today, we lost a brother, a friend, and a colleague, someone who made a great impact on my home State of Hawaii and this country. My friend, Congressman Mark Takai, was someone who lived his entire life with a full heart committed to serving the people of Hawaii and his country. Always ready with a helping hand with creative new ideas and a hearty laugh, Mark was someone who was always on the move. I had the honor of serving with Mark all the way back in the Hawaii State Legislature, through our time serving together in the Hawaii Army National Guard and then, again, here in Congress where we both served on the Armed Services Committee. Mark, time and time again, made his decisions based on how best he could serve the people of Hawaii, and he took a lot of pictures along the way. Mark led by example with respect and with aloha understanding and passion building partnerships focused on seeing how he could get the job done. So on this day commemorating Mark, my heart is with his family: his wife, Sami; his kids, Matthew and Kaila; his parents, Naomi and Erik; our entire National Guard ``family,'' ``ohana,'' and the people of Hawaii as we remember Mark and honor his entire life and legacy of service. ____________________
