Hawaii Democrat hasn't been to DC in months, still working as airline pilot

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A congressman who ran on a promise of giving constituents full-time representation has been absent from the Capitol for most of this year, according to a new report. 

Rep. Kai Kahele, D-Hawaii, has rarely shown up for work in Washington, D.C., this year, only casting five votes in person over the course of three days in January, according to an analysis from the Honolulu Civil Beat. 

The rest of his 120 votes were cast by proxy, which means a colleague voted on his behalf while he stayed back in Hawaii. 

Rep. Kai Kahele, D-Hawaii, is a pilot in the military as well as for Hawaiian Airlines. (Courtesy of Kai Kahele for Congress)

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has permitted proxy voting since the start of the pandemic, whereas in-person voting is still required in the Senate. 

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Kahele, a combat veteran, apparently never gave up his job as a Hawaiian Airlines pilot where, according to the Civil Beat, he earned $120,000 in 2020, the year he was elected to Congress. His salary as a member of congress is $174,000. 

His failure to show up for work in Congress has coincided with Kahele reportedly mulling a run for governor in 2022, though he has not made any formal announcement. 

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Rep.-elect Kai Kahele of Hawaii's Second Congressional District arrives in Washington for congressional orientation in November 2020. (Marisa Schultz/Fox News)

Kahele defended his proxy voting from Hawaii, citing legitimate COVID-19 concerns regarding new variants and living in a "multi-generational home." 

In a lengthy formal statement to Fox News late Tuesday, his office criticized "intentionally misleading and inaccurate reports about Congressman Kahele’s continued commitment to his work in Washington, DC." 

The statement said Kahele is "deeply concerned" for the health of his family and sought to "limit his exposure" to COVID-19 by cutting "cross-country travel."

"The Congressman is concerned for the health and safety of the communities with whom he interacts," Kahele's office said. "He is also deeply concerned about the health and safety of members of his own family because he lives in a multi-generational home. Unfortunately, variants of COVID-19 continue to spread. Just last week members of leadership in the U.S. House and White House contracted the virus. 

"To limit his exposure to COVID-19 and the potential to spread the virus, our office has tried to reduce Rep. Kahele’s cross-country travel while ensuring he fulfills all of his responsibilities in Congress."

With proxy voting, Kahele has "not missed a single vote this year," his office added. 

As for the pilot income, Kahele's office said he flies for Hawaiian Airlines only on occasion to maintain his pilot certification and within the limits of House ethics rules, which capped annual outside income at $29,895 in 2022.

"The Congressman’s outside employment is in accordance with rules set by the U.S. House Committee on Ethics," the congressman's office said.

"In 2022, Congressman Kahele has flown three flights for a total of 14.2 flying hours and has earned $2,861.90. In 2021, the Congressman’s outside earned income totaled $29,151.79."

By still working as a qualified U.S. commercial air transport pilot, Kahele "brings a unique perspective" to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and "strengthens the voices of all pilots, cabin crews and air cargo operators," the office argued. 

Kahele's absence from Washington is a sharp turn for the progressive Democrat who entered Congress in 2021 with stated intentions of moving his wife and three daughters to D.C. to avoid the grueling 13-hour commute every week from his hometown of Hilo.

During an interview with Fox News during freshman orientation in late 2020, Kahele said he envisioned hosting barbecues, going to church and playing baseball with fellow lawmakers in the hope that friendships can give way to bipartisanship. 

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"I've always had the ability to bring people together," Kahele said of his intentions of building relationships in D.C.

The freshman lawmaker succeeded Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, in Congress. He was a state senator when he announced he'd primary challenge the popular Gabbard just after she announced her 2020 presidential run. Kahele said the people of Hawaii needed full-time representation. 

Kai Kahele, D-Hawaii, with his wife Maria and their three daughters.  (Courtesy of Kai Kahele for Congress)

Kahele has voted by proxy more than most of his House colleagues this year, according to the Civil Beat, being absent for all but five votes. The most absent members of Congress were Democratic Reps. Albio Sires of New Jersey, Lucille Roybal-Allard of California and Al Lawson of Florida, who have missed every vote in the House in 2022.

Kahele made history in 2020 as just the second Native Hawaiian elected to Congress to represent the Aloha State since it became the 50th state in 1959. A former state senator and military pilot combat veteran, he identifies himself as a progressive, supporting the Green New Deal and "Medicare-for-all."