George “Keoki” Kai was born and raised in Hilo and attended Saint Joseph Elementary and graduated from Waiakea High School. He attended the University of the Pacific in Stockton California from 1991-1995 and studied Communication with an emphasis on Public Relations. Kai worked with Effective Planning and Innovative Communication (EPIC) that partners with the Department of Human Services/Child Protective Services being a recorder and facilitator for Ohana Conferencing cases. Kai was also a Department of Education Substitute Teacher for 4 years and was the School Community Council Chair and Vice-Chair at Pahoa Elementary for two years, respectively. He volunteered as a high school girls basketball coach at St; Joseph High and Middle School, Kai also volunteered and helped coordinate the Pahoa Pantry and Soup Kitchen that fed and gave away food to many of the homeless and lower-income residents of Puna. He was a Caregiver for his grandmother who lived with him while suffering from dementia and his next-door neighbor’s mother while his neighbor lived on the mainland.