Windward Oahu lawmaker faces strong challenge from political newcomer

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – In the race for state Senate District 23, incumbent Republican Sen. Brenton Awa faces a challenge from a political newcomer, Democrat Ben Shafer.
Both candidates have taken different paths leading up to the general election next Tuesday.
On any given day in Windward Oahu, you’ll find Awa working the land. There’s no sign waving or traditional pre-election campaign activities going on in his camp.
“The time has been spent on doing what people put me here in office to do which is these projects that you see,” said the former television news anchor turned state senator.
These projects Awa is referring to is caring for and cultivating breadfruit and mountain apple trees with hopes that it will bear fruit in the near future for Awa’s constituents to eat. He says he is not about being seen, but rather being on the down low and letting the fruits of his labor speak instead.
“I bet you when this place is all red and green and there’s fruits and there is sustenance here, where people can come and get it for free, that’s when they’re going to wonder how this happened,” said Awa.
Democrat Shafer is taking a more traditional approach. As a newcomer and relatively unknown, he has been sign-waving, walking the neighborhoods and mailing out brochures to help voters get to know him.
“Every place I go to, my first question will be, ‘How can I help you? You come to the office. How can I help you? What can I do for you?’” said Shafer.
Senate District 23 spans Kaneohe through the Windward Coast up the North Shore and ends in Kunia. It is the largest land mass of any district on Oahu with more than 56,000 residents.
Both candidates agree on one specific need that needs to be addressed: the mass exodus of Native Hawaiians who are now priced out of paradise.
“That’s one of the biggest problems right now is that so many of us are having to leave,” said Awa.
Shafer concurs. “It’s almost to the point where it is alarming about the amount of people leaving,” he said.
However, both candidates have different approaches to address this problem.
The incumbent senator said, “So what we do is what we think we can move forward, every year, I have been there so far, two times. We’ve come closer to getting a bill to prevent foreigners from buying homes.”
Shafer has a different solution.
“We need to bring the jobs here, number one. We need livable wages, jobs, then at the same time, we need to put housing up where they are able to afford and live comfortably where they aren’t spending every dollar they get to pay the rent,” Shafer said.
As the final days leading up to Election 2024 comes to a head, we asked both candidates one simple question: What is your pitch to people on why they should vote for you?
Shafer said, “My pitch is I love working with people. My pitch is I love working, and I want to see what and how we can help you.”
“I don’t have a pitch,” said Awa. “That’s the thing. Seeing, talking, we’re not about it. So many people, talk, talk, talk during campaigns. We’re about action.”
Both candidates are aware of the many other issues facing Senate District 23 that need to be addressed, like coastal erosion, rising insurance rates, and access to the windward coast and the North Shore.
The one thing that is very clear about this race that differs from so many others: both men have not bad-mouthed each other and instead have focused on their hopeful path to victory on election night.
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