Brenton Awa

Brenton Patrick Chokei Kawika Awa (born February 19, 1986) is an American politician and former television news anchor. He is a Republican member of the Hawaii Senate since 2022 representing District 23, which includes Kāne‘ohe, Kahalu‘u thru Lā‘ie, Kahuku to Mokulē‘ia, Schofield Barracks, and Kunia Camp.

In 2022, Awa achieved a "come-from-behind win" against 10-year incumbent Gil Riviere in the race to represent Senate District 23. As of 2024, Awa serves as Minority Leader of the Hawaii Senate.

Described as a maverick, unconventional, and hybrid Hawaiian, 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. Awa is the only Hawaii lawmaker with a "no gift" policy.

Early life and education

Brenton Awa was born on February 19, 1986 in Kaʻaʻawa on the island of Oahu. 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. As a senior, Awa led the Red Raiders to their first State Wrestling Championship in 18 years.

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

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.

Career

Media career

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.

In 2015, ABC affiliate KITV hired Awa as a reporter. Three years later, the station promoted Awa to morning anchor'','' 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." Awa sued the station over his firing. He then worked as a substitute teacher at Kahuku High School.

Political career

Awa was first elected to the Hawaii Senate in November 2022. On November 5, 2024, voters re-elected Awa to a four-year term in the Hawaii Senate. Leading up to the 2024 election, Awa notably pledged not to campaign or accept donations, in contrast to both his opponents.

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."

Awa brought the State and U.S. Army together to fix a decades-long water leak on Oahu's North Shore that had been causing a loss of more than one-million gallons of freshwater per month.

Awa established a first-of-its-kind, side-of-the-road public food tree project in his hometown of Kahalu'u by planting 70 ulu and mountain apple trees to feed the community. He would later plant 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 week's notice, Awa organized a team and hosted a homecoming concert attended by an estimated 12,000 fans of former Kahuku resident Iam Tongi, who went on to become Hawaii's first American Idol.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Awa, Brenton
1980s births
21st-century members of the Hawaii State Legislature
American television news anchors
Asian American and Pacific Islander state legislators in Hawaii
Asian conservatism in the United States
Clarion University of Pennsylvania alumni
Living people
Native Hawaiian politicians
People from Honolulu County, Hawaii
Republican Party Hawaii state senators