Awa seeks one term in Congress: ‘I don’t care’ about world policies
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Hawaii News Now interviewed U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda and state Sen. Brenton Awa, candidates for Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District, about the Iran war, aid to Israel and immigration enforcement.
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Awa said he is seeking only one term in Congress.
“I only want to go for two years, one term, and the reason is, is because I don’t care about all of those world policies and all the votes that’ll have to be taken. I’ll have to care when I am taking it,” Awa said.
Spending on Israel and Iran
Awa said he wants money spent on the Iran war and support for Israel to instead go to American families dealing with disaster.
“But my biggest focus, if we’re going to send billions of dollars to Israel or another country, my only concern is why isn’t that money coming to Hawaii,” Awa said.
Tokuda said ending the war is the best way to reduce energy costs. She opposes aid to Israel because of its treatment of Palestinians.
“It’s a genocide,” Tokuda said.
“When you take a look at the weapons they are using, it was our weapons, which is why I voted against funding weapons sales to Israel for now, because that is blood on our hands,” Tokuda said.
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Immigration enforcement
On immigration enforcement, Awa does not oppose mass deportation but said he believes ICE has been too violent.
“The idea is good. The way they go and carry it out, and I don’t know,” Awa said. “I’m not there on the ground, so I don’t know, but other than what I see, through you guys, the media. But when you see people dying, there is no way that that should ever happen.”
Tokuda said there will be pressure to fix immigration laws after the election.
“We absolutely have to pass some kind of meaningful bipartisan immigration reform that protects our borders, that creates legal pathways to citizenship and doesn’t result in Americans getting executed in our streets,” Tokuda said.
Awa’s political odds
Awa acknowledges the odds are stacked against him in a district that has never elected a Republican, and GOP voters have been discouraged by President Trump’s unpopularity.
Awa did not have to give up his Senate seat to run for Congress and has two years remaining on his term.
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