This is the first in a series of interviews and shared meals with Hawai‘i notables— and thankfully, Hawai‘i state Sen. Brenton Awa’s colorless lunch didn’t keep him from saying some colorful things.

Photo: Courtesy of Naka Nathaniel

It was supposed to be a cordial Friday meal in Awa’s office at the Hawai‘i State Capitol, but a prominent sign on the senator’s office door, pointing to his no-gifts policy, took me by surprise. His staff wouldn’t let me bring him lunch as planned. However, ‘Olelo No‘eau No. 211 says, “A‘ohe u‘i hele wale o Kohala,” or “a person from Kohala can’t arrive empty-handed.” Coming from Waimea, I had a jar of spiced mac nuts with me, from our ‘ohana tree.

I wish Awa had let me bring him lunch because our meals couldn’t have been more incongruent. I had stopped at Cooke Street Market for a flamboyantly colored salmon poke bowl. For Awa? He had quite possibly the saddest meal I’ve ever seen: a microwaved tray of beige Banquet Salisbury steak and mashed potatoes.

As we ate, Awa, a former KITV news anchor, and I discussed his approach to getting attention. In January, he upstaged the opening ceremonies of this year’s legislative session with a speech that went viral and was reported in the news. In the speech, the Kahuku native sharply criticized Gov. Josh Green, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi, and the Honolulu City Council’s recent 64% pay raise and made a transgender comment that angered the LGBTQ community.

Yet, Awa knows attention in the media or social platforms doesn’t necessarily translate to votes.

Awa knew he had to gain people’s attention if he had any hope of accomplishing anything, since, as a member of the Republican minority, he certainly didn’t have the votes to pass legislation, or the leverage to get his way. “We got to bring in people who know nothing,” says Awa, reflecting on the speech. “We got to give them something digestible, and [the speech] was a digestible thing for them.”

Awa tells me he was blessed with communication skills at a time when attention is more important than dollars in a campaign chest. “For the time we live in right now, communication to the masses and being able to know what [TV] producers think and how to manipulate—no, that’s the wrong word …” As he sought a gentler word, I cut him off and said that no, manipulation was the right word.

Yet, Awa knows attention in the media or social platforms doesn’t necessarily translate to votes. Despite having more than 70,000 Instagram followers, he narrowly won reelection to O‘ahu’s 23rd district last year.

Awa’s stirring speech gained even more attention after being posted on the Mean Hawai‘i Instagram account. Mark Talaeai, who runs the popular local news account with more than 400,000 followers, lost handily when he ran for a House seat in 2022.

“I know that social doesn’t work for campaigns,” Awa says. “We don’t care [that social media audiences don’t vote] because one day, we hope they will.”

So what’s his path? When asked about higher office, he quickly ruled out running for governor, but the possibility of running for Congress, lieutenant governor or mayor wasn’t as quickly dismissed. However, Awa, pointing to his graying hair, said the job he has now is killing him. “At the end of the day, this is not my passion. I am good at this, but it’s not a passion,” he says.

“The news gave me a light saber, and I came in here and have been able to use it,” said Awa. “We go after all of the people who don’t believe in the government—all the people like me.”

I really wish Awa had let me treat him to a better meal. He took three bites of his mashed potatoes and left the rest untouched. The kūkākūkā was certainly more colorful than his kaukau, and he conceded that I could leave the nuts with his staff.