Kailani JTG Hoenig (the artist formerly known as JT), needs little introduction to the sailing community. On the water since they were young, Kai had been involved with the DYC for the majority of their life. Kai was born September 9, 2007 in Rochester, NY. They moved to Duluth when they were 1 ½ years old where they lived until August 2024 when they moved away to go to school at University of North Carolina School of the Arts to major in Theatrical Technical Production. We lost Kai that October of 2024.
Kai’s passions were sailing, robotics, theater, photography, indoor rock climbing, and trying to stay on their One Wheel. Most of all, Kai loved spending time with family, cousins, friends, and Sailors, especially on and around the water. Kai was a peer counselor, cheerleader for everyone they met, and you could count on them to tackle any task, except cleaning their room. Kai was known to commute on their bike to rowing or climbing, and then upgraded to the ‘One Wheel’ to beat the hills of Duluth. When they needed to get to the other end of the harbor to work at Barkers Island Marina, Kai would take their dingy down the bay.
Kai was a member of the 4230 TopperBots robotics team at Marshall and helped build the 2024 award winning robot. The team was excited when they advanced to the World Championships in Houston, making it to the final rounds of the competition.
Kai Hoenig was a lifelong member of the Duluth Yacht Club from the adventurous age of two (even attending Board Meetings). While racing with DYC, Kai loved being a member of the WindWalker crew, where three generations of family raced together. In addition, Kai was honored to be a Bonafide Original crew member of the Olson 40 sailboat, Screaming O, and was proud of the offshore nautical miles they logged on Lake Superior. Kai started as a regular crew with the “O” program at age 7, when the skipper dubbed them the “Chief Snack-tician” and quickly earned their nickname “JT Blackbeard”. Over time, Kai became a well-rounded, knowledgeable, keel boat sailor, and was known by the crew as a “downwind trimming machine”. The Screaming O gave Kai the opportunity, in Kai’s words, to “foolishly” race the Trans Superior Yacht Race twice: at age 15 in 2021, and at age 17 in 2023. Kai was one of the kindest people on the water and would be the first to volunteer when work needed to be done. Whether it was climbing the mast to install a new wind vane, diagnosing gremlins in the autopilot, or getting sails on deck when the rest of the crew was too sick from sea state (and the night before) Kai was always there.
Kai bravely acknowledged their gender dysphoria and chose to live a life authentic to themself. As common with people in the transgender community, Kai also struggled with depression and ultimately lost their battle with the disorder. If you or anyone you know is affected by depression – please seek help, there is support for you! Call/Text 988.
Kai Hoenig Charity 