Elwin Ahu, a former state judge who serves as senior pastor at New Hope Metro, announced Thursday that he would run in the Republican primary for lieutenant governor.
Ahu has never campaigned for political office before, but said he was motivated by what he sees as the erosion of respect for the state Constitution. He said government leaders are no longer grateful for divine guidance or mindful of Hawaiian heritage.
"I look at the Constitution as something that is foundational for our state. The heart and spirit behind it has kind of been lost by our leaders today, mainly the fairness and the honesty," said Ahu, 59, who lives in Nuuanu. "The Constitution stands all for the ability for the people to have a say as to what’s going on in government, and I think our governmental leaders have really lost touch with that.
"I’ve waited on the sidelines for a long time just watching all of this stuff unfold. And I thought, you know, I think it’s time that I step into this."
Ahu said he was disappointed with how the state Legislature handled gay marriage during the special session last fall. Ahu was among the pastors who helped organize opposition to the gay marriage bill.
Ahu is friends with former Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona, the likely Republican candidate for governor. Gov. Neil Abercrombie and state Sen. David Ige are contending for the Democratic primary for governor. Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui is running in the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor.
David Chang, state GOP chairman, who had been considered a potential candidate for lieutenant governor, said Thursday he would not run. "He has great name recognition and with him and Duke as a team I truly believe they can win," he said of Ahu in an email.
Ahu graduated from Kamehameha Schools, Graceland University in Iowa and the University of Hawaii at Manoa law school. He served as a legal aid attorney, public defender and private attorney before being selected by then-Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald T.Y. Moon in 1994 as a District Court judge. Ahu was appointed by then-Gov. Ben Cayetano in 1997 as a Circuit Court judge.
Ahu stepped down from the bench in 1999 to become executive pastor of New Hope Christian Fellowship.
Ahu and his wife, Joy, have two sons. His sister, Lei Ahu Isa, is a former state lawmaker and school board member.
