Brenton Awa

Brenton Patrick Chokei Kawika Awa (born February 19, 1986) is an American politician and former television news anchor has served as the Minority Leader of the Hawaii Senate since 2024. A member of the Republican party, he has represented the 23rd district in the Hawaii Senate since 2022, which includes the communities of Kāne‘ohe, Kahalu‘u thru Lā‘ie, Kahuku to Mokulē‘ia, Schofield Barracks, and Kunia Camp on the island of O'ahu.

Awa is the Republican nominee for Hawaii's 2nd congressional district in the 2026 U.S. House elections, challenging Democratic incumbent nominee Jill Tokuda.

Early life and education Brenton Patrick Chokei Kawika Awa was born on February 19, 1986 in Kaʻaʻawa on the island of O'ahu. Awa was raised in Kahalu'u and would graduate from Kahuku High & Intermediate School in 2004. Awa would graduate from Pennsylvania Western University – Clarion (formerly Clarion University of Pennsylvania) while earning a degree in speech communication and leadership.

Awa would wrestle during his time at Kahuku and PennWest Clarion.

Awa was fired from KITV in July 2021 after punching a door in the newsroom, which he claims was due to an order that went against the fundamental ethics of journalism. Awa sued the station over his firing.

Political career Awa was first elected to the Hawaii Senate in November 2022, defeating incumbent Democrat Gil Riviere. Leading up to the 2024 election, Awa pledged not to campaign or accept donations. Awa was narrowly re-elected in November 2024, becoming the Senate minority leader.

During his first term, Awa vocalized support by introducing a bill to bar non-United States citizens from purchasing land in Hawaii to allow local residents to deal with the state's housing crisis. Concerns were raised about the legality of the bill and whether it may violate the Constitution.

In 2023, Awa worked with the state and the United States Army to fix a longstanding water leak on the North Shore of Oahu. He would also establish a side-of-the-road fruit tree project in his hometown of Kahalu'u by planting ʻulu and mountain apple trees for public use and consumption. He would establish a similar project in Haleʻiwa to restore coconut tree populations and eradicate invasive coconut rhinoceros beetles.

Awa would also be contacted to organize a public homecoming concert for former Kahuku resident Iam Tongi, who won American Idol's 21st season. During his first term as a senator, Awa cast more than 1,000 nay votes, being the sole nay on 10 percent of all bills passed during that time.

On March 8, 2023, an incident occurred at a virtual Kahalu'u Neighborhood Board meeting on banning commercial aquarium fishing where Awa said that Native Hawaiian cultural leader, Leialoha Rocky Kaluhiwa, "would have been hung” for criticizing his vote against the ban. Awa has said he has no intention to apologize following criticism.

The Hawaiʻi State Ethics Commission would allege in late 2024 that Awa violated the State Ethics Code's Fair Treatment Law following a video posted on his official Instagram account. The Commission claimed that Awa used taxpayer-funded facilities, platforms, and office time to show support for Samantha DeCorte, his then-office manager, following public complaints. They would cite the ending of the video as promotion for DeCorte: Getting Sam in as Waianae Senator would unlock our full potential in both communities to represent not just there, but represent the entire State of Hawaii. You guys know what to do. Aloha. Awa claimed that the video was a farewell for DeCorte that highlighted her contributions to his office's work and her reasons for departing. He was fined in late 2025 following a final ruling by the Commission.

Awa gained media popularity following his response to a video of a tourist being beaten after throwing a rock at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal on Maui. In a speech during a committee hearing, Awa would present a letter of recognition to the man who beat the tourist, whom he kept anonymous. Awa would nickname him the "Ambassador of Aloha," and suggested having the video be shown on flights to the state.

Awa would become the Republican nominee for Hawaii's 2nd congressional district in the 2026 U.S. House elections, running unopposed in the Republican primary election.