Photo of Brenton Awa

Senate District 23
Kāne‘ohe, Kahalu‘u thru Lā‘ie, Kahuku to Mokulē‘ia, Schofield Barracks, Kunia Camp
Room: 203
Phone/Fax: 808-586-7330
senawa@capitol.hawaii.gov

Brenton Awa is a leader, blessed to have been given the opportunity to work for the people of District 23 in the State Senate (Kāne‘ohe, Kahalu‘u through Lā‘ie, Kahuku through Mokulē‘ia, Schofield Barracks, Kunia Camp).

Born in Ka‘a‘awa, raised in Kahalu‘u, and a graduate of Kahuku High School, Awa is committed to putting the needs of local people over politics, while representing them with the values embraced in the country.

Awa is currently the youngest elected State Senator at age 36. The Senator’s top priority is to make sure locals can afford to continue living in Hawaii, while also helping those who’ve been forced to leave, return.

Awa has deep roots in Ko‘olauloa and Ko‘olaupoko. The father of three currently lives in Kahalu‘u.

Prior to being elected in November of 2022, Awa had spent nearly a decade working as a TV News Anchor and Reporter for local ABC affiliate KITV4 Island News. Awa started his broadcast career in 2009 as the last intern for then KGMB9 News prior to being one of the first new hires at Hawaii News Now following the KGMB/KHNL/KFVE merger.

Awa also worked for the Department of Education as a substitute teacher within the Windward District and helped students at Kahuku High School create a weekly news broadcast, while also restoring the school’s agricultural farm. Awa, a former D1 collegiate wrestler, returned to Kahuku High School in 2008 and led the Junior Varsity Wrestling team to an undefeated season and an OIA title in his only stint as head coach.
EDUCATION:
• St. Ann’s Pre-K
• Kapunahala Elementary School
• King Intermediate School
• Kahuku High School – Class of 2004
• Clarion University of Pennsylvania – B.S. Speech Communication, Leadership

HAWAII STATE SENATE:
   2023 Committee Member of:
    • Agriculture and Environment
    • Commerce and Consumer Protection
    • Government Operations
    • Health and Human Services
    • Housing, Judiciary
    • Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs
    • Transportation and Culture and the Arts.

KITV4 ISLAND NEWS (ABC):
• Journalist, former evening News Anchor, Reporter, Producer

HAWAII NEWS NOW:
• Former Video-journalist, Editor, Associate Producer

SPECTRUM, OC16:
• Sports Commentator, High School Athletics

HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION:
• Former Substitute Teacher (Primary – Kahuku High & Intermediate School)
• Former Head Coach, Kahuku Junior Varsity Wrestling

DISASTER RECOVERY:
• Former Project Manager, large scale disaster recovery projects across the U.S.

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2026 Committee Member of
 Measures Introduced in 2026
Measure and Title
SB1
RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL LANDS.
SB2 SD1
RELATING TO TREES.
SB242 SD2
RELATING TO FOREIGN OWNERSHIP OF AGRICULTURAL LAND.
SB1005
RELATING TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS.
SB1006
RELATING TO PROPERTY.
SB1007
RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.
SB1237
RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES.
SB1238
PROPOSING TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII TO MAKE INCUMBENT LEGISLATORS TEMPORARILY INELIGIBLE FOR SERVICE BASED ON THE SIZE OF THE NATIVE HAWAIIAN POPULATION.
SB1239
RELATING TO WATER CONSERVATION.
SB1240
RELATING TO ELECTIONS.
SB1241
RELATING TO GENERAL EXCISE TAX EXEMPTION.
SB1582 HD1
RELATING TO THE COCONUT TREE.
SB1583
RELATING TO LEGISLATORS.
SB1593
RELATING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE.
SB1594
PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE III, SECTION 4, OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION TO ESTABLISH LEGISLATIVE TERM LIMITS.
SB1595
RELATING TO THE MEDICAL USE OF CANNABIS.
SB1607
RELATING TO GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF JUSTIFICATION.
SB2819
RELATING TO HOUSING.
SB2820
PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE XVI, SECTION 3.5, OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII TO ESTABLISH SALARY INCREASE LIMITS FOR JUSTICES AND JUDGES OF ALL STATE COURTS, MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE, DEPARTMENT HEADS OR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND THE DEPUTIES OR ASSISTANTS TO DEPARTMENT HEADS OF THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS.
SB2821
RELATING TO ELECTIONS.
SB2822
RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF THE LEGISLATIVE ANALYST.
SB2823
RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS.
SB3195
RELATING TO DRUGS FOR WEIGHT LOSS.
SB3242
RELATING TO ENCAMPMENTS.
SB3287
RELATING TO ENCAMPMENTS.
SB3317
RELATING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIVE HAWAIIAN FILM AND MEDIA INDUSTRY.
SB3335
RELATING TO CREATING A LOCAL HOUSING MARKET.
SB3336
RELATING TO INTEGRATED SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT.
SB3337
RELATING TO TAXATION.
SCR12
URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO PROVIDE OWNER-OCCUPANTS WITH COMPARABLY EQUIVALENT TAX DEDUCTIONS AFFORDED TO BUSINESS ENTITIES FOR EXPENSES RELATED TO PROPERTY OWNERSHIP.
SCR13
REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A PERFORMANCE AUDIT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.
SCR15
REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A PERFORMANCE AUDIT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS’ PAPER LEASE SYSTEM.
SCR16
REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT AN AUDIT OF THE MONEYS APPROPRIATED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS PURSUANT TO ACT 279, SESSION LAWS OF HAWAII 2022.
SR1
AMENDING RULE 16 OF THE RULES OF THE SENATE OF THE THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, REGULAR SESSION OF 2026, OF THE STATE OF HAWAII.
SR2
AMENDING RULE 16 OF THE RULES OF THE SENATE OF THE THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, REGULAR SESSION OF 2026, OF THE STATE OF HAWAII.
SR4
URGING THE SENATE TO ESTABLISH AN INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEE PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 21, HAWAII REVISED STATUTES, TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF A 2022 CASH OR CHECK PAYMENT FROM AN UNKNOWN INDIVIDUAL TO AN “INFLUENTIAL LEGISLATOR” FOR THE PURPOSE OF INFLUENCING AN EXISTING POLITICAL CAMPAIGN, AND TO EXAMINE POSSIBLE VIOLATIONS OF STATE LAW, STATE ETHICS CODE, AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE PROVISIONS.
SR5
URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO PROVIDE OWNER-OCCUPANTS WITH COMPARABLY EQUIVALENT TAX DEDUCTIONS AFFORDED TO BUSINESS ENTITIES FOR EXPENSES RELATED TO PROPERTY OWNERSHIP.
SR6
REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A PERFORMANCE AUDIT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.
SR13
REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A PERFORMANCE AUDIT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS’ PAPER LEASE SYSTEM.
SR14
REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT AN AUDIT OF THE MONEYS APPROPRIATED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS PURSUANT TO ACT 279, SESSION LAWS OF HAWAII 2022.