Hawaii GOP names candidate for open state Senate seat

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Following the June retirement of state Sen. Michelle Kidani, the Hawaii Republican Party has selected Kelly Kitashima to run for the District 18 Senate seat representing Mililani, Waipahu, Waikele, and Waipio.

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Kitashima previously ran for Honolulu City Council in 2018 and in a 2020 special election.

“We had a selection committee which included our senators and leadership in the House, as well as some of our partner leadership, and we thought that Kelly was exactly the candidate that went to the top,” said Shirlene Ostrov, Hawaii Republican Party chair. “We love that she is Oahu born and raised, and a mom that brings executive leadership over 24 years, and so we’re excited for this kind of leadership in the Senate.”

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The announcement comes days after Gov. Josh Green appointed Danielle Bass to fill the seat until the general election on Nov. 3.

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