Kai Marcus

**Kaialiʻi ʻEnoka** "**Kai**" **Marcus** (born 14 March 1976) is a Hawaiian politician who has served as as minister of agriculture, fisheries, and food in the second Kanazawa ministry and as minister of the environment in the first Kanazawa ministry from 2018 until 2021. He has additionally served as a member of the House of Representatives for Maui since 2014, as mayor of Maui from 2008 until 2014, and as a member of the Maui Island Council from 2004 until 2008. He is a member of the Hawaii National Party, and was previously an independent politician until 2014.

Born in Hana, Maui to a Native Hawaiian family, Marcus attended boarding school at Kamehameha Schools – Kapālama, graduating in 1994. Afterwards, he returned to Maui and enrolled at Maui College, receiving a bachelor's degree in political science in 1998. After graduating, Marcus found employment at a non-profit organization in Maui, and remained there until beginning his political career in 2004. Marcus entered elected politics in 2004, when he was elected to the Maui Island Council as an independent. After being reelected in 2006, he was elected mayor of Maui in 2008, becoming the youngest person to serve in the office. Marcus was reelected to second and third terms as mayor in 2010 and 2012, until opting not to run for a fourth term in order to enter national politics.

In 2014, he was included as a Hawaii National Party candidate in Maui for the 2014 general election, and was elected to the House of Representatives. Upon taking his seat in parliament, Marcus focused his legislating on Hawaiian affairs. Following the 2018 general election, he was nominated by Kenzie Kanazawa to serve as minister of the environment in her cabinet, and was appointed by Queen Keʻalohilani. Following the appointment of the second Kanazawa ministry, Marcus was appointed to serve as minister of agriculture, fisheries, and food.

## Early life and education

Marcus was born on 14 March 1976 in Hana, on the island of Maui, to parents Hauʻoli (born 1950) and Luika Marcus (née *Kalawaiʻa*; born 1951). Both of his parents are Native Hawaiian. Hauʻoli worked in the restaurant industry, while Luika was a bartender and waitress. The family was working-class. Marcus is the second of three children and only son; his sisters include Kawai (born 1974) and Moani (born 1980).

Marcus began his education in 1981, attending boarding school at Kamehameha Schools – Kapālama in Honolulu. Due to their Native Hawaiian ancestry, Marcus and his sisters received admittance to the school and studied on full scholarships. While at the school, he was classmates and friends with fellow politician ʻAukai Freitas. Marcus began high school in 1990, where he was elected class president and was chosen by his classmates as "Most Likely to Become Prime Minister" at the end of their senior year. He graduated from the school in 1994, afterwards returning to Maui and enrolling at Maui College, receiving a bachelor's degree in political science in 1998.

## Early career

After graduating with his bachelor's degree in 1998, Marcus began working at the nonprofit organization the Maui Hawaiian Scholastic Fund, as a junior policy coordinator. The organization's mission was the raise money for scholarships for Native Hawaiian students from Maui. In 2003, he became a senior policy coordinator, before leaving the company in order to enter politics in 2004.

## Political career

### Maui politics

Marcus began his political career in 2004, after standing as an independent candidate in the 2004 election to the Maui Island Council. He ultimately was elected to the council, taking office on 14 June 2004. While an island councilman, Marcus focused on Native Hawaiian affairs and environmental issues. He was later reelected in 2006.

In 2008, Marcus declared his candidacy for mayor of Maui in the 2008 Maui elections. Standing as an independent, he went on to receive 50.3% of the vote in the first round, being elected outright and not needing to advance to a run-off election. Upon his election, he became the youngest person to serve as mayor of Maui, aged 32. As mayor, Marcus spearheaded initiatives to increase environmental protections on Maui and strengthen Maui public schools. Marcus was reelected as mayor in 2010 and 2012.

### Parliamentary career

Marcus entered national politics in 2014, after he was selected by the Hawaii National Party to be a candidate on their party list in Maui for the 2014 general election. He subsequently registered with the HNP for the first time, having previously been an independent politician.

He was ultimately elected to the House of Representatives, and took his seat on 14 July 2014. Upon taking his seat in parliament, Marcus focused his legislating on Native Hawaiian affairs. He was later reelected in the 2018 election.

### Environment minister

In the aftermath of the 2018 election, the Hawaii National Party lost their parliamentary majority. Due to the loss, David Chang resigned as party leader and a leadership election was called. Marcus did not run in the election, but endorsed the candidacy of Kenzie Kanazawa, who went on to win the election.

Following the conclusion of the leadership election, Kanazawa negotiated a coalition agreement with the Hui Pū ʻAna political party. The Hawaiian media reported that Marcus was under consideration for a ministerial nomination, and was rumored to prefer being nominated to serve as minister of Hawaiian affairs. Kanazawa later nominated him as minister of the environment in the Kanazawa ministry. He was appointed by Queen Keʻalohilani on 18 September 2018. As environment minister, Marcus was responsible for overseeing environmental policy, natural environment protections, and wildlife conservation. He left the position upon the dissolution of the ministry on 30 April 2021.

### Agriculture minister

Following the appointment of the second Kanazawa ministry, Marcus was appointed to serve as minister of agriculture, fisheries, and food. In the position, Marcus is responsible for overseeing agricultural policy, farm and fishery regulations, agricultural research, and food production, security, and quality.

## Personal life

Marcus began a relationship with Hawaiian nonprofit employee Celia Mahelona in 2002. They later became engaged in 2004, and married the following year. Marcus and Mahelona have three children together: Kēhaulani (born 2007), Alapaʻi (born 2009), and Kauʻi (born 2011).

Marcus is a Christian, and is fluent in both English and Hawaiian. He and his family reside in Kahului, Maui, while Marcus also rents an apartment in Honolulu for government business.