Attorney Jason Economou (from left), state Rep. Troy Hashimoto and school teacher Justin Hughey have been selected by members of the Maui County Democratic Party to be considered for the vacate Senate District 5 seat that covers Central Maui. Gov. Josh Green has until Dec. 30 to choose one of the three candidates. Photo courtesy Maui County Democrats

Maui County Democratic Party officials have nominated a state representative, an attorney and an elementary teacher to fill the Senate District 5 seat left vacant by Gilbert Keith-Agaran, who stepped down on Oct. 31. 

Gov. Josh Green will now decide between Jason Economou, former government affairs director for the Realtors Association of Maui; Central Maui state House Rep. Troy Hashimoto; and Justin Hughey, former King Kamehameha III Elementary School teacher.

Members of the Maui County Democratic Party Committee’s Senate District 5 selection body, comprised of the party’s district officers who reside in the district, selected the three after a meeting at Iao Intermediate School and via Zoom Saturday and forwarded the names to the governor on Monday afternoon, according to a news release.

Senate District 5 encompasses House Districts 9 and 10, and includes Kahului, Puunene, Kahakuloa, Waihee, Waiehu, Puuohala, Wailuku and Waikapu. 

Keith-Agaran submitted his resignation on Aug. 30 to Green, Senate President Ronald Kouchi and the Maui County Democrats. 

Keith-Agaran told The Maui News at the time that he didn’t want questions over conflict of interest to be a “distraction” as his law firm prepared to represent clients in lawsuits over the Lahaina fire. 

The outgoing senator was first appointed to serve as the representative for House District 9 in 2009. He was appointed senator of District 5 in 2013, won the seat outright in 2014 and continued to win reelection until his retirement this year.

Green now has until Dec. 30 to make a selection to replace Keith-Agaran. 

“We are proud to send the names of three engaged Democrats for the Governor’s consideration,” Donna Domingo, acting chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Hawai’i, said in a news release.

Maui County Democratic Party Chairman Jared Sam Agtunong said Monday afternoon that there were four candidates, but one was disqualified as that candidate failed to meet the requirement to get 10 Democratic voters’ signatures from the district pledging their support for the candidate. 

Votes, which normally are taken to choose the top candidates, were taken anyway at the meeting to show Green the level of support each candidate received from the selection body. 

In a text Monday afternoon, Hashimoto said that Keith-Agaran leaves “big shoes to fill.” 

“But I believe my work and track record in the House shows that I am able to collaborate with our community and also my colleagues in the Legislature,” said Hashimoto, a 36-year-old Wailuku resident who holds the House District 8 seat that includes Kahakuloa, Waiehu, Wailuku and Waikapu.  

“I look at this step as a natural next step, but also as long-term commitment, because many times, it takes years for progress to be made on issues. I believe I am up to the challenge and I hope the Governor favorably considers my nomination.” 

Hashimoto, a 2005 King Kekaulike High School graduate, served as executive assistant to former Maui County Council Chairman Mike White from 2011 until 2018 when he was appointed by then-Gov. David Ige to fill the remainder of the term for the seat vacated by resigning Rep. Joe Souki. Hashimoto was elected in 2018 and reelected in 2020 and 2022. 

He also served as the Maui County Democratic Party chairman from 2013 to 2017.

Economou, who is also an attorney, said that now that he is not a lobbyist for the Realtors Association of Maui, where he worked with different politicians, he feels he can delve into politics freely.

“Service has always been a major core value of mine,” said the 37-year-old Paukukalo resident, who also served in the Peace Corps in Uganda. 

He said he has “immense respect” for Keith-Agaran, as the two worked together on the Maui Food Bank board. He said the former senator has a “really impressive mind.” 

“It just seemed like a great opportunity to go ahead and offer my service,” said Economou, who has worked in politics and public policy for years. 

He currently runs Economou Law & Consulting LLC, a boutique law firm specializing in government relations, public policy, mediation and corporate facilitation. 

Economou said he doesn’t really expect to be selected and thinks Hashimoto will be chosen, describing him as an “incredible” candidate.

“Public service and public office is definitely things that are on my radar and this just seemed like a good way to get involved with that process,” he said. 

Hughey, 47, of Wailuku, used to teach at King Kamehameha III Elementary School in Lahaina, which burned in the Aug. 8 fire. 

Students from the school were relocated temporarily to Princess Nahi’ena’ena Elementary in Lahaina, but Hughey had concerns about the health impacts of being close to the burn zones and now teaches at Kahului School.

Hughey said he put his name in the ring due to his concerns over massive failures in government from the Aug. 8 fires, the cost of living and the maintenance of schools. 

“The status quo is a massive failure,” he added.

Hughey recently authored a resolution entitled, “Supporting a just recovery from the Maui wildfires for the people of Lahaina,” that was adopted by the State Central Committee of the Democratic Party of Hawai’i.

The resolution calls for the governor and lawmakers to create a relief package for impacted residents and businesses using the state’s rainy day fund and to have the Legislature exempt from the state’s personal income tax any unemployment income received by impacted workers who have lost their jobs.

The former vice president of the Hawai’i State Teachers Association, Hughey has also previously been active with Na Hale O Maui, a nonprofit community land trust that provides affordable housing ownership to low- and moderate-income households. Hughey was the first beneficiary of the land trust. 

* Staff Writer Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews.com.

Attorney Jason Economou (from left), state Rep. Troy Hashimoto and school teacher Justin Hughey have been selected by members of the Maui County Democratic Party to be considered for the vacate Senate District 5 seat that covers Central Maui. Gov. Josh Green has until Dec. 30 to choose one of the three candidates. Photo courtesy Maui County Democrats Damaged railings and other debris are seen at King Kamehameha III Elementary School on Aug. 12, four days after a wildfire that destroyed the school and much of Lahaina town. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo Classrooms, playground space and a cafeteria are among the facilities planned for a temporary Kapalua campus for King Kamehameha III Elementary School students. Photo courtesy Department of Education

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