Brenton Awa
American politician From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Brenton Patrick Chokei Kawika Awa (born February 19, 1986)[1] 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.[2]
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Brenton Awa | |
|---|---|
Awa in 2025 | |
| Minority Leader of the Hawaii Senate | |
| Assumed office November 8, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Kurt Fevella |
| Member of the Hawaii Senate from the 23rd district | |
| Assumed office November 8, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Gil Riviere |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 19, 1986 Kaʻaʻawa, Hawaii, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Clarion University (BA) |
In 2022, Awa achieved a "come-from-behind win" against 10-year incumbent Gil Riviere in the race to represent Senate District 23.[3] As of 2024, Awa serves as Minority Leader of the Hawaii Senate.[4]
Described as a maverick, unconventional,[5] and hybrid Hawaiian,[6] 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
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
Summarize
Perspective
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.[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
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 2024 election, Awa notably pledged not to campaign or accept donations, in contrast to both his opponents.[21]
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."[22][23][24][25][26]
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.[27]
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.[28][29] He would later plant a similar project in Haleʻiwa to restore the area's decimated coconut tree population.[30]
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.[31][32]
References
External links
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