So, what is anybody's take on 2nd term Hawaii Senator Brenton Awa?
Fired from KITV for his anti-Covid vaccine ideals, then becoming a freshman Senator who went virtually unscathed by his "You would be hung for criticizing me" comment to a well-respected female Hawaiian leader, saying "I am never going to regret something that comes out of my mouth" to this week's speech as the now Senate minority leader, where he said some really smart good things that need to be dealt with, but just had to tap into that pulsating vein of divisive "red meat" tossing to appease his parties core diehards with the "mahu" comments...
So, up and coming Hawaiian republican superstar, or loudmouth arrogant punk?
The people definitely seem to love him. His view on term limits appeals to me. So much of what is wrong could be solved by preventing people from making a career out of holding office IMHO.
I beleive that if you ignore the sound bites and look at people in long form, in their own words, you get a truer sense of who they are.
01-20-2025, 01:33 AM (This post was last modified: 01-20-2025, 02:20 AM by HiloJulie.)
"I beleive that if you ignore the sound bites and look at people in long form, in their own words, you get a truer sense of who they are."
Well, respectfully agreeing while at the same time respectfully disagreeing here Punatang.
In as much as I can understand EVERYONE says something stupid, dumb, unintended, or in the heat of the battle, MOST would take a step back and say, well, "I was wrong." Even if there is no apology to whatever was said to whomever, at least one could admit what they said was inappropriate, wrong etc.
But, when Awa told the Leialoha Rocky Kaluhiwa, over a bill being considered to ban forms of aquarium fishing, which died, due to Awa's vote, invoking the Hawaiian Kingdom rules and justice system, that she "would have been hung for not supporting a Hawaiian," he did not acknowledge it as a stupid statement, or said so out of the heat of the battle, no, he doubled down on it.
So, sound bite or not, he thinks anyone who disrespects a Hawaiian should be hung. But then he further adds: “The governor is from Pennsylvania. I’m native from this place and I’ll leave it at that.” “There are different perceptions. Our mentality is our governor should never be not from here.”
And then the whole "mahu" take. For what? He's pandering. To his minority of the minority base. In the context used, the comment, nor himself made it funny. He tried but failed at making it funny.
And it was a sound bite he knew all too well that would resonate with that minority base. And that's why he said it.
I think the guy has GREAT potential. He's good looking, articulate, and smart.
Just really stupid at times. And too damn stupid to realize it. But for now, I'll chalk it up to youth.
When claiming Hawaiians should be hung and anything dealing with "mahu's" puts a Hawaiian resident into a good job, home, feeds their family and keeps them from being victims of crime and reduces their taxes, I'm all ears.
In the meantime, his "sound bites" will erase anything good he clearly shows he can be and do.
So, in sum, I think he could be the Governor of Hawaii someday. He just needs to realize that in order to do so, he needs to pander to the other 80ish percentile of the electorate.
Including being disrespected as a Hawaiian at times and those "mahu" voters!
Brenton Awa caters to certain voters in Kaneohe, possibly those who serve in the KMCB. Voter skepticism and populist feelings likely propelled him to success in his local races.
If the Republicans think he can run for a Congressional seat, then he needs to clarify his positions vs. Trump's. Does the man even have position papers on tariffs, SNAP, Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security? How about birthright citizenship?
Ed Case is my Congressman. He is a lock for this seat, as he answers emails on important issues, and votes accordingly. Anyone want to make the case for or against Jill Tokuda? As an independent, I have voted for some Republicans, such as Duke Aiona.
We definitely "get the government we deserve" around here. Need a lot more civics and logical thinking classes in our schools. I don't see how anyone gets elected or re-elected as a populist while never addressing the cost of food, housing, electricity, or gas. Except that voters are gullible or dumb.
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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."
And then his announcement of going after Tokuda's seat - while his chances of doing that are slim to none, in the oft chance, this "thug" would no doubt fit in well in with the DC GOP.
While he showed his bank account with less than $700, Awa said he has 10 days to pay the fine, which is about half of his paycheck.
Ahhh. The circle of life young Simba. Breton is fined for breaking government enacted campaign laws (of which he is a part so presumably should understand?) and must pay the fine with his government issued, taxpayer sponsored paycheck.
Love the quote from him, “stepping outside lines drawn by people in power when residents like us don’t fit in.” Here’s another quote that might pretty much sum up the situation, attributed to almost everyone on planet earth, “he should know better.”
Love the quote from him,“stepping outside lines drawn by people in power when residents like us don’t fit in.""
I researched the law Brenton was charged with, known as "Hawaii's Fair Treatment" and found that it was rooted in the initial creation of the State ethics code and subsequent amendments.
The foundation of the creation of the State's ethics code was done during the 1968 State Constitutional Convention, the first one held after Hawaii became the 50th State. It was codified into law as Act 163 during the 1972 State legislative session and has since been revised and adopted as HRS§84-13.
Brenton was born in 1986.
So Brenton complaining of "lines drawn by people in power" and all that mush mash, occurred 18 years before he was born and was enacted into law 14 years before he was born.
As for only having $700.00 in his bank, I in now way am going to question how he spends his money, but consider that he is drawing a salary of $74,160 a year ($35.65 per hour based on a 40 hour work week) and from what I can tell is married with one child. Imagine being a single mother of 2 or 3 kids earning $14.00 an hour working at WalMart on a 28 to 32 hour work week. And then take away her SNAP benefits.
