Republican · Hawaii's 2nd District · 2026
Brenton Awa
Awa was a wrestler at Kahuku High and in college, then briefly coached his old school's junior varsity team.
Biography
Brenton Awa wrestled at Kahuku High School and in college, then returned to coach Kahuku's junior varsity team.1 Raised in Kahaluʻu, he later became familiar to Hawaii viewers through work as a television reporter and news anchor before entering politics.1
Awa earned a communications and leadership degree at Clarion University in Pennsylvania.2 He began his television career in Honolulu as an intern before moving into reporting and anchoring.1 His later work included substitute teaching at Kahuku High School, and he was elected to Hawaii's Senate in 2022.1
His congressional campaign focuses on housing and directing more federal resources toward Hawaii residents, including proposals for more military housing and restrictions on corporate ownership of homes.3 Awa has also advocated changing the Native Hawaiian homestead program's ancestry requirements so more families can retain homes across generations, describing that as a top priority.4
Awa is the Republican challenger to Democratic incumbent Jill Tokuda in the Second District and says he intends to serve one term if elected.5 He argues that money directed toward overseas conflicts should instead help American families confronting disasters and local needs, putting federal spending priorities alongside housing at the center of his appeal.5
Record and controversies
State ethics finding
In December 2025, Hawaii's Ethics Commission upheld a finding that Awa used his state office, staff and work time to produce a video supporting then staffer Samantha DeCorte's campaign, and affirmed a $999.99 administrative fine.6 Awa argued that the video thanked a departing employee and explained her departure; the commission found its closing appeal promoted her election.6 After the ruling, he disputed its characterization and said he would not fight further.7
Public statements
During a March 2023 neighborhood board argument about an aquarium fishing bill, Awa told cultural leader Leialoha Rocky Kaluhiwa she “would have been hung” for not supporting a Hawaiian.8 He said she had attacked his family and credibility, denied his comments were violent and declined to apologize in May 2023.9 Separately, Civil Beat reported in September 2026 that Awa shared a Senate floor video offering a commendation to the man who assaulted a tourist after the tourist threw a rock at an endangered monk seal.4 This review did not verify Awa’s participation in the assault or a charge against him over it.