Gov. Green fills leeward senate seat

HONOLULU (KHON2) — An open senate seat has been filled after Sen. Maile Shimabukuro vacated the leeward post on May 31.

Gov. Green, in a news release Tuesday, stated that Croccifixio Makani Crabbe will serve the remainder of the term for District 22.

“Making an appointment so close to the election may influence the outcome of the election,” said Governor Green in the news release. “It is my constitutional obligation to support free and fair elections, and this was the only path to maintain that integrity.”

Crabbe is a member of the Democratic Party of Hawaii.

He works for Representative Cedric Gates (District 45), who provided this statement on Crabbeʻs appointment.

“The residents of Senate District 22 urgently needed representation and I’m pleased to hear Governor Green has come to a decision to fill the Senate vacancy. It is critical for our residents to have a Senator who can effectively serve the community and address our constituents’ everyday concerns.

Our district has unfortunately been without Senate representation for nearly two months. During this period, many residents increasingly relied on my office for support and advocacy. It’s crucial to finally have a Senate counterpart to collaborate with as we advocate for the residents of the Leeward Coast.

I believe Senator Cross Crabbe will effectively serve our Westside residents and take the necessary actions to address the challenges in our community. I look forward to collaborating with Senator Crabbe during this interim period to advocate for the Leeward Coast and create a more thriving community for our residents.”