# Brenton Awa

Brenton Awa is a Hawaiian politician and former television news anchor. As of 2024, Awa serves as Minority Leader of the Hawaii Senate. On November 8, 2022, Awa pulled off a "come from behind win" against a 10 year incumbent in the race to represent District 23 which includes Kaneohe, Koolauloa, and the North Shore of Oahu.
On November 5, 2024, voters re-elected Awa to a four year term in the Hawaii Senate. Leading up to the election, Awa pledged to win on merit, not money, and refused to accept donations despite two candidates who raised nearly $300k to challenge in their respective campaigns.
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." The senator helped protect Waiahole farmers from losing their state leased properties. 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 Haleiwa, 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, attended by an estimated 12,000 fans of former Kahuku resident Iam Tongi who went on to become Hawaii's first American Idol.
Described as a maverick, unconventional, and hybrid Hawaiian, Awa stands out in Hawaii's 76 member legislature as a minority of one. The Senator 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

Brenton 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 left KITV in July 2021.
Awa was elected to the Hawaii Senate in November 2022.