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Brenton Awa

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Brenton Awa
Awa in 2025
Minority Leader of the Hawaii Senate
Incumbent
Assumed office
November 8, 2024
Preceded byKurt Fevella
Member of the Hawaii Senate
from the 23rd district
Incumbent
Assumed office
November 8, 2022
Preceded byGil Riviere
Personal details
Born (1986-02-19) February 19, 1986 (age 39)
Kaʻaʻawa, Hawaii, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Rozlynd
​
(m. 2010)​
Children1
EducationClarion University (BA)

Brenton Patrick Chokei Kawika Awa (born February 19, 1986)[1] is an American politician and former television news anchor. As of 2024, Awa serves as Minority Leader[2] of the Hawaii Senate. On November 8, 2022, Awa pulled off a "come from behind win"[3] against a 10 year incumbent in the race to represent District 23 which includes Kaneohe, Koolauloa, and the North Shore of Oahu.[4]

Described as a maverick, unconventional,[5] and hybrid Hawaiian,[6] Awa stands out in Hawaii's 76 member legislature as a minority of one. Awa cast more than 1,000 no votes over his first two legislative sessions, and was the sole no vote on 10% of all bills passed during that time, unparalleled in recent history.[5] Awa is the only Hawaii lawmaker with a "no gift" policy.[citation needed]

Early life and education

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Brenton Awa was born on February 19, 1986 in Kaʻaʻawa on the island of Oahu.[7] He was raised in Kahalu'u and is a 2004 graduate of Kahuku High & Intermediate School where he was a stand-out high school wrestler.[8] As a senior,[9] Awa led the Red Raiders to their first State Wrestling Championship in 18 years.[10][11]

Awa would later go on to wrestle for Clarion University of Pennsylvania while earning a degree in Speech Communication & Leadership.[12][13]

Awa briefly returned to his alma mater in 2008 as head coach of Kahuku High School's junior varsity wrestling team which ended up winning the OIA Championship that season.[citation needed]

Career

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Media career

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Awa began his career in television news with a seven month long unpaid internship for KGMB9 News in January 2009. Awa was the CBS station's last intern prior to its merger with then NBC affiliate KHNL. Following the CBS/NBC merger, Awa landed his first paid role in television news as an associate producer, making $12 an hour. Awa went on to be promoted to video-journalist.[citation needed]

In 2015, ABC affiliate KITV [14] hired Awa as a reporter. Three years later, the station promoted Awa to morning anchor,[15] followed by another promotion to evening anchor a year later. Awa was fired from KITV in July 2021 after allegedly "punching a newsroom door in frustration over what he said were orders to ignore fundamental journalism ethics."[16] Awa sued the station over his firing.[16] He then worked as a substitute teacher at Kahuku High School.[17]

Political career

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Awa was first elected to the Hawaii Senate in November 2022.[18][19] On November 5, 2024, voters re-elected Awa to a four year term in the Hawaii Senate.[20] Leading up to the election, Awa pledged to win on merit, not money, and refused to accept donations[21] despite two candidates who raised nearly $300k to challenge in their respective campaigns.[22][23]

In his first term, Awa promoted policies to prevent foreigners from purchasing land in Hawaii, in an effort to keep local residents from being "priced out of paradise."[24][25][26][27][28] Awa helped protect Waiahole farmers[29] from losing their state leased properties.[30][31] Awa brought the State and U.S. Army together to fix a decades long water leak[32] on Oahu's North Shore that had been causing a loss of more than one-million gallons of freshwater per month.[33] Awa established a first of its kind, side-of-the-road public food tree project[34] in his hometown of Kahalu'u by planting 70 ulu and mountain apple trees to feed the community.[35] He would later plant[36] a similar project in Haleʻiwa to restore the area's decimated coconut tree population. In May 2023, after a call from producers of American Idol, and with a weeks notice, the Senator organized a team and hosted a homecoming concert,[37] attended by an estimated 12,000 fans of former Kahuku resident Iam Tongi who went on to become Hawaii's first American Idol.[38]

References

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  1. ^ Nakaso, Dan (January 25, 2023). "Freshman lawmakers aim to rebuild Hawaii's GOP". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  2. ^ Blog, The Sunshine (January 19, 2025). "The Sunshine Blog: What Has Gotten Into Sen. Brenton Awa?". Honolulu Civil Beat. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
  3. ^ Dowd, Eddie (November 10, 2022). "Former TV anchor defeats incumbent in state Senate race". Hawaii News Now. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
  4. ^ "Legislative Members". capitolwebsite.azurewebsites.net. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
  5. ^ a b Gomes, Andrew (June 10, 2024). "First-term state lawmaker Sen. Brenton Awa stands out as unconventional". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  6. ^ Huff, Daryl (January 17, 2025). "Senator defends 'mahu' remarks in one of two controversies on Legislature's opening day". Hawaii News Now. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  7. ^ "Senator Awa bio".
  8. ^ "Brenton Awa". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  9. ^ "Honolulu Star-Bulletin Sports". archives.starbulletin.com. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  10. ^ "Honolulu Star-Bulletin Sports". archives.starbulletin.com. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  11. ^ "Wrestling - Sports - Hawaii High School Athletic Association (HHSAA)". hhsaa.org. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  12. ^ "2006-2007 Clarion University". armdrag.com. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  13. ^ "ArchivesSpace Public Interface | Clarion University Archives | 2005-2006 Clarion Wrestling Media Guide". as-clarion.klnpa.org. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  14. ^ Blair, Chad. "Brenton Awa Running For Hawaii State Senate". Honolulu Civil Beat. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  15. ^ "ON THE MOVE – DECEMBER 2018 | NATAS SF/NorCal". emmysf.tv. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  16. ^ a b Nakaso, Dan (January 25, 2023). "Freshman lawmakers aim to rebuild Hawaii's GOP". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
  17. ^ Lovell, Blaze (September 27, 2022). "Former TV Anchor And Longtime Activist Face Off In Rural Oahu Senate Race". Honolulu Civil Beat. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
  18. ^ "Brenton Awa". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  19. ^ Blair, Chad (January 1, 2023). "A Conversation With Hawaii's Newest GOP State Senator". Honolulu Civil Beat. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  20. ^ "Reelected state Sen. Brenton Awa slated to become minority leader". Hawai'i Public Radio. November 7, 2024. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
  21. ^ "These 2 Senate races could flip seats in the state Legislature". Hawai'i Public Radio. October 22, 2024. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
  22. ^ "Disclosure Report". csc.hawaii.gov. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
  23. ^ "Disclosure Report". csc.hawaii.gov. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
  24. ^ "New Hawaii bill would ban foreigners from buying land on the Islands". ABC News. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  25. ^ Martinez, Jolanie (February 7, 2024). "Crowds gather to testify on bill that would ban foreigners from buying property in Hawaii". Hawaii News Now. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  26. ^ Consillio, Kristen (February 6, 2024). "Legislative bills aim to ban foreigners from buying property in Hawaii". KITV Island News. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  27. ^ "Should foreigners be banned from purchasing land in Hawaii?". KHON2. February 6, 2024. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  28. ^ Farrell, James. "Here's Why Some Hawaii Lawmakers Want To Ban Foreigners From Purchasing Land". Forbes. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  29. ^ "Ownership of historic Waiāhole Valley up for debate after proposed 600% rent increase". Hawai'i Public Radio. March 23, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  30. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  31. ^ Consillio, Kristen (January 27, 2023). "Waiahole families facing huge rent hikes as farmers fight to keep local agriculture alive". KITV Island News. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  32. ^ Honoré, Marcel (July 6, 2024). "Long-Term Lease, Water Deal Saves The North Shore's Airfield From Closure". Honolulu Civil Beat. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  33. ^ "Decade long water leak being fixed after millions of gallons wasted". KHON2. October 2, 2023. Archived from the original on December 5, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  34. ^ Naktin, Eric (December 16, 2023). "Kahalu'u community members unite and plant a foundation for future food sources". KITV Island News. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  35. ^ Martinez, Jolanie (December 17, 2023). "Small project to plant fruit trees along highway seen as big step toward sustainability". Hawaii News Now. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  36. ^ "Project aims to fight invasive beetle".
  37. ^ "Iam Tongi makes it to Top 3 of 'American Idol'". KHON2. May 15, 2023. Archived from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  38. ^ "Iam Tongi Concert Preps".
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Hawaii Senate
Preceded by Minority Leader of the Hawaii Senate
2024–present 		Incumbent
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