The laulau was the kau kau on the fourth floor of the Cannon House Office Building Friday evening in Washington, D.C., where U.S. Rep. Mark Takai led an Aloha Friday pau hana.

Just across Independence Avenue, House and Senate leadership was consumed with finding a way to fund the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

But that didn’t stop Takai’s office from sharing Kalua pork, lomilimi salmon, pipikaula and poi.

Congressman Mark Takai loads up his plate.

Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Guests included U.S. Reps. Mike Honda (D-Calif.), Mark Takano (D-Calif.) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.)

The 1st Congressional District congressman decided to institute the Aloha Friday practice shortly after his arrival in the nation’s capital.

Takai’s staff was decked out in appropriate aloha wear, and lei were plentiful. All that was missing was the Bud Lite.

Earlier in the day, as the House chamber was in chaos after a three-week funding bill for DHS failed to pass, Takai looked rather serene, wearing maile lei above his business suit.

Takai guyz.

Cory Lum/Civil Beat