Wednesday, May 3, 2023
Town Hall coming up to discuss how to preserve Kamehameha Highway in Windward Oahu (KITV4)
Originally published by KITV4; click here to read the article on kitv.com.
By Diane Ako | April 28, 2023 | Updated April 28, 2023
A years-old problem gets another look from the community in the near future. Elected officials from Windward Oahu are hosting a town hall to discuss what to do about the erosion on Kamehameha Highway.
Wednesday, April 26, 2023
Committee endorses Hawaii attorney general nominee (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)
Originally published by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser; click here to read the article on staradvertiser.com.
By Dan Nakaso | April 13, 2023
The lone vote against recommending Anne Lopez’s confirmation by the full Senate came from Sen. Brenton Awa, who disagrees with Lopez’s position that the U.S. Constitution prohibits Hawaii from barring real estate sales to people and companies from out of state.
Tuesday, April 25, 2023
Some Government Reform Measures Are Emerging From The Darkness (Honolulu Civil Beat)
Originally published by Honolulu Civil Beat; click here to read the column on civilbeat.org.
By The Sunshine Editorial Board | April 21, 2023
Republican Brenton Awa is a Senate conferee on HB 727, even though he voted against the bill on its third reading during session. Awa said he had been told that senators that vote “no” can’t serve on a conference committee, which is a reason many vote “WR” – with reservations, which amounts to a yes vote. Turns out, he said, that that is not the case.
Monday, April 17, 2023
Honolulu inflation shrinks to 3.3% (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)
Originally published by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser; click here to read the article on staradvertiser.com.
By Dave Segal | April 13, 2023
Honolulu consumers may be finding prices more affordable as inflation continues to ease under the weight of the Federal Reserve’s aggressive campaign to increase interest rates.
Wednesday, April 5, 2023
Senator’s social post questioning switched votes misrepresents the facts, lawmakers say (Hawaii News Now)
Originally published by Hawaii News Now; click here to read the article on hawaiinewsnow.com.
By Jolanie Martinez | April 4, 2023 | Updated April 5, 2023
Senator Awa’s social media post caused hundreds of people to comment, questioning the legislative process.
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
Ownership of historic Waiāhole Valley up for debate after proposed 600% rent increase (Hawaiʻi Public Radio)
Originally published by Hawaiʻi Public Radio; click here to read the article on hawaiipublicradio.org.
By Kuʻuwehi Hiraishi | March 23, 2023
Rent lease negotiations between the state and nearly 100 tenants in Waiāhole Valley are sparking conversations about the future of this rural, agricultural community.
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
In Kahaluu, a giant tree that fell into the stream has residents worried about the next big rain (Hawaii News Now)
Originally published by Hawaii News Now; click here to read the article on hawaiinewsnow.com.
By Jolanie Martinez | March 12, 2023
State Sen. Brenton Awa said the Department of Land and Natural Resources confirmed that the tree is on private property, but there is a statute that allows the city to go into the stream and remove the tree.
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
Plenty Of Legislators Support Term Limits. So Why Won't They Let The Public Vote On Them? (Honolulu Civil Beat)
Originally published by Honolulu Civil Beat; click here to read the article on civilbeat.org.
By Richard Wiens | March 12, 2023
Civil Beat surveyed many of Hawaii’s 76 lawmakers or researched their positions on term limits.
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
Illegal hikers in Hawaii may have to pay for their own rescues, after many are saved from this popular hike (USA Today)
Originally published by USA Today; click here to read the article on usatoday.com.
By Kathleen Wong | March 10, 2023 | Updated March 10, 2023
The bill just passed its first reading and has crossed over to the House, according to Senator Brenton Awa, who represents Kaneohe, the area where the trail is located.
“When you go into the wilderness, there’s responsibility that comes with it,” he said. “I would never go into another state and expect to be saved by anybody…”
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
Waiahole Valley tenants get reprieves over rent (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)
Originally published by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser; click here to read the article on staradvertiser.com.
By Andrew Gomes | March 10, 2023
A state agency trying to increase ground-lease rents in Waiahole Valley for about 100 residential and farm tenants with decades-old low rates made several moves Thursday to defuse the tense situation where some fear evictions.
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
Big changes coming to popular North Shore beach (KHON2)
Originally published by KHON2; click here to read the article on khon2.com.
By Jenn Boneza | March 7, 2023 | March 8, 2023
According to the plan, the re-alignment project would have space for up to 90 cars to park on the makai side close to the ocean
Sen. Brenton Awa, (R) Kahuku to Mokuleia said it’s been a long time coming.
“It’s something that we on the North Shore know needs to happen. Because when there’s traffic, it’s hours of our lives are wasted. Families cannot pick up their kids from school,” Awa explained.
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
Advocates look to change the name of iconic Hawaii landmark (KHON2)
Originally published by KHON2; click here to read the article on khon2.com.
By Sam Spangler | March 5, 2023 | March 5, 2023
“We been battling that for a long time because that’s not Chinaman’s Hat this is Mokolii,” Hawaiian educator and activist Calvin Hoe said. “That’s how we grew up. This is Mokolii…”
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
Bid to make every day ‘Aloha Friday’ in Hawaii Senate chamber fizzles (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)
Originally published by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser; click here to read the article on staradvertiser.com.
By Andrew Gomes | March 4, 2023
An effort to exhibit more aloha spirit in one chamber of Hawaii’s Legislature didn’t go over well on “Aloha Friday…”
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
Bill would require officers to stop, report excessive force (Spectrum News)
Originally published by Spectrum News; click here to read the article on spectrumlocalnews.com.
By Michael Tsai | February 27, 2023
Sens. Karl Rhoads, Mike Gabbard and Brandon Elefante voted in favor of recommending the bill without amendments. Sen. Brenton Awa was the lone dissenting vote.
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
Lawmakers unreceptive to moratorium on Waiahole Valley rent increases (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)
Originally published by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser; click here to read the article on staradvertiser.com.
By Andrew Gomes | February 26, 2023
A legislative committee has declined to support a five-year block on the state raising ground-lease rents for about 100 residential and farm tenants in Waiahole Valley, where tension exists over potential evictions.
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
Hawaii Senator Votes ‘No’ Then ‘Yes’ To Legalize Marijuana (Honolulu Civil Beat)
Originally published by Honolulu Civil Beat; click here to read the article on civilbeat.org.
By Blaze Lovell | February 16, 2023
At a joint hearing, Republican Sen. Brenton Awa first voted “no” then voted “yes” on a bill that would legalize marijuana in Hawaii.
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
New Tax Credit Proposed For Selling Homes To Hawaii Residents (Honolulu Civil Beat)
Originally published by Honolulu Civil Beat; click here to read the article on civilbeat.org.
By Alex Melendez | February 13, 2023
Sen. Brenton Awa is proposing a new tax credit for people who sell their homes to Hawaii residents who may often find themselves fighting out-of-state homebuyers for housing.
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
New bill proposes an outright ban to riding in truck beds (KHON2)
Originally published by KHON2; click here to read the article on khon2.com.
By Jenn Boneza | February 9, 2023 | Updated February 9, 2023
Senate Bill 1410 passed its second reading, with only one senator opposing: Sen. Brenton Awa.
“As a local from the country, we don’t want the government stepping into our business,” Awa explained. “I know this one is about safety, but as a responsible driver, you’ve got your license. Your family, whoever’s riding in the back, there’s already rules, follow it, keep people safe…”
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
Kamehameha Highway collapse in Hauula elicits concerns (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)
Originally published by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser; click here to read the article on staradvertiser.com.
By Mark Ladao and Rosemarie Bernardo | February 8, 2023
A portion of Kamehameha Highway in Hauula collapsed, prompting more discussion about what to do about the ocean erosion and sea level rise affecting the highway and nearby communities.
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
Affordable housing proposal that would go after non-residents deemed unconstitutional (Hawaii News Now)
Originally published by Hawaii News Now; click here to read the article on hawaiinewsnow.com.
By Chelsea Davis | February 7, 2023
Senate Bill 34 was deferred and deemed unconstitutional on Tuesday.
Senator Awa’s idea was to go after the Hawaii Real Property Tax Act. That means 7.25% of any profit made by nonresidents on Hawaii real estate must go to the state. Awa wanted 75% of the profit to go to the state instead.
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
Freshman lawmakers aim to rebuild Hawaii’s GOP (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)
Originally published by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser; click here to read the article on staradvertiser.com.
By Dan Nakaso | January 25, 2023
Freshman state Sen. Brenton Awa — who is embroiled in a stalemate with the Senate’s only other Republican over who will lead their two-member caucus — wants to reinvigorate and rebrand Hawaii’s Republican Party by helping disenfranchised, working-class families in his rural district on the Windward side of Oahu.
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
Proposal aims to tackle Hawaii’s affordable housing crisis by targeting non-residents (Hawaii News Now)
Originally published by Hawaii News Now; click here to read the article on hawaiinewsnow.com.
By Chelsea Davis | January 18, 2023 | Updated January 19, 2023
Day one of the new Hawaii State Legislature means fresh faces and innovative ideas.
One idea includes tackling Hawaii’s affordable housing crisis by going after non-residents.
“The problem that we’ve seen over the pandemic was the home prices went up $400,000,” said Minority Floor Leader Sen. Brenton Awa.
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
Meet some of the fresh faces at the Hawaiʻi State Legislature (Hawaiʻi Public Radio)
Originally published by Hawaiʻi Public Radio; click here to read the article on hawaiipublicradio.org.
By Sabrina Bodon | January 17, 2023
Former television anchor Sen. Brenton Awa doesn’t quite see himself as a first-term lawmaker. He’s been in these halls reporting in the past, and he’s placed himself in the shoes of a lawmaker during his campaign.
The Republican Awa unseated Democrat Gil Riviere to represent District 32, which encompasses the north and east sides of Oʻahu.
He continues to report in a different way. Even last week, Awa used his Instagram platform to publish a story on rents rising in Waiahole.
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
Hawaii bill proposed to offer backpay to those terminated over vaccine mandates (KITV4)
Originally published by KITV4; click here to read the article on kitv.com.
By Shanila Kabir | January 16, 2023 | Updated January 18, 2023
More than 1,400 state jobs were lost from July 2021 to June 2022. However, state legislators said how many of those jobs are COVID-19 related is still unconfirmed.
"A number of things happened during the pandemic where you had a majority of people seeing things one way and a minority of voices that were so weak. Now that we're in office, we're going to make sure they're represented," Awa said.
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
Efforts underway to address worsening erosion on Kamehameha Highway (Hawaii News Now)
Originally published by Hawaii News Now; click here to read the article on hawaiinewsnow.com.
By Eddie Dowd | January 11, 2023
Concern mounts as residents say cracks on Kamehameha Highway in Hauula are only getting worse.
In 2020, the state Department of Transportation spent $2 million on emergency repairs to stabilize and support the ocean side of Kamehameha Highway after a section of road fell into the water.
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
A Conversation With Hawaii’s Newest GOP State Senator (Honolulu Civil Beat)
Originally published by Honolulu Civil Beat; click here to read the article on civilbeat.org.
By Chad Blair | January 1, 2023
Brenton Awa won’t officially be sworn in as a Hawaii state senator until Jan. 18, but — like many state senators and representatives — he’s already on the job and working from an office at the Capitol.
A former news anchor for KITV, he narrowly defeated Democratic incumbent Gil Riviere to win the District 23 seat (Kaneohe, Kahaluu thru Laie, Kahuku to Mokuleia, Schofield Barracks and Kunia Camp) in November.
Awa, 36, is the youngest state senator and one of only two Republicans in the 25-member chamber.