09-29-2025, 07:00 AM
His opening day remarks as Senate Minority Leader not withstanding, over the past 2 year I have called his office (and that of every legislator) on a couple of dozen of issues/bills and have only been able to get through to a live person in his office twice. From my own observations from a few in-person visits, and from those who spend a lot more time at the Capitol, he tends to stroll the building in sport team tank tops, board shorts and slippahs most oftentimes until just recently and blew off most hearings. Doesn't seem to have any respect for the body of the office he occupies which might be a plus to some (IMHO, I feel that one should at least provide a minimum of decorum to the office/constituents, and at the very least carry themselves in a manner that might reflect that they have been there before, but I digress). A look at his bill introductions reveal a very narrow theme throughout and proclivity for favoring one group over any others at all times. Again, might be seen as a plus by some.
His politics and actions (or lack thereof) seem to go over with most of his district and matter enough that he pulled a landslide win over the previous haole senator of the district who had switched parties because he wasn't conservative enough to keep getting elected as a republican and had the most unfortunate and dressing down experience of never having once entertained the idea that Awa could, or would indeed beat him in the election. He comes across to me as thinking he is the smartest one in the room, but as almost always happens, that is what hangs such a person eventually and comes at the worst possible time for them. But as is also commonly said, "We'll see."
His politics and actions (or lack thereof) seem to go over with most of his district and matter enough that he pulled a landslide win over the previous haole senator of the district who had switched parties because he wasn't conservative enough to keep getting elected as a republican and had the most unfortunate and dressing down experience of never having once entertained the idea that Awa could, or would indeed beat him in the election. He comes across to me as thinking he is the smartest one in the room, but as almost always happens, that is what hangs such a person eventually and comes at the worst possible time for them. But as is also commonly said, "We'll see."