Gil Kahele

Gilbert Kahele[1] (May 15, 1942 – January 26, 2016) was an American politician and a Democratic member of the Hawaii Senate from January 16, 2011, representing District 1. He was appointed by Governor Neil Abercrombie to fill the vacancy caused by the appointment of Russell S. Kokubun as Hawaii Commissioner of Agriculture. Kahele died in office on January 26, 2016 after being hospitalized one week prior.[2]

Gil Kahele
Member of the Hawaii Senate
from the 1st district
In office
January 16, 2013 – January 26, 2016
Preceded byMalama Solomon
Succeeded byKai Kahele
Member of the Hawaii Senate
from the 2nd district
In office
January 11, 2011 – January 16, 2013
Preceded byRussell S. Kokubun
Succeeded byRussell Ruderman
Personal details
Born
Gilbert Kahele

(1942-05-15)May 15, 1942
Milolii, Hawaii
DiedJanuary 26, 2016(2016-01-26) (aged 73)
Honolulu, Hawaii
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)
Linda Haggberg
​
(m. 1971)​
Children2 (including Kai)
EducationLaney College (AS)
Websitesenatorkahele.com
Military service
Branch/service United States Marine Corps
Years of service1960–1964

Early life and education

The son of Peter and Rebecca Kahele, both of Hawaiian descent, Gilbert was the third of six children. Kahele was born in a grass shack in Kalihi, just south of the Hawaiian fishing village of Miloliʻi in South Kona.

Kahele attended Hilo High School, played on the Vikings football team, and graduated in 1960. Kahele served in the United States Marine Corps for four years in the engineering troop responsible for refrigeration. After the military, Kahele graduated with an Associate degree in Science in 1967 from Laney College in Oakland, California.

Career

Kahele moved back to Hawaiʻi where he began a civil service career that would last 33 years. He got a job with the Federal Government at Naval Station Wahiawa as a refrigeration mechanic. For the next 25 years, Gil drove from Hilo on Saddle Road to his job at the Pohakuloa Training Area, from which he retired in 2000 as the Director of Public Works.

Governor Neil Abercrombie selected Kahele to represent Senate District Two on Hawaiʻi Island after Senator Russell S. Kokubun resigned his seat to take a position in Abercrombie's cabinet in January 2011.[3] Kahele was unopposed for both the August 11, 2012 Democratic primary and the November 6, 2012 general election.[4][5]

Personal life

He married United Airlines stewardess Linda Haggberg in October of 1971, and the couple lived in Wahiawa. In 1976, the couple moved to Hilo. They had two children, Kai and Noelani.

Kahele died early on January 26, 2016, after a short illness which caused him to miss the 2016 Hawaii State Legislature's opening day.[6] His son, Kai, won the special election to succeed him.

References
  1. "Gilbert Kahele's Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  2. "Big Isle Sen. Gil Kahele, 73, dies". Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
  3. "From Miloliʻi to the Hawaiʻi State Senate". Senator Kahele. Archived from the original on August 10, 2012.
  4. "Hawaii General 2012 - State of Hawaii - Statewide November 6, 2012" (PDF). Honolulu, Hawaii: Hawaii Office of Elections. p. 1. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  5. "Primary Election 2012 - State of Hawaii - Statewide August 11, 2012" (PDF). Honolulu, Hawaii: Hawaii Office of Elections. p. 1. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  6. "Senator Kahele dies (1942-2016)". Hawaii 24/7. January 26, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
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