MEDIA RELEASE

Speaker Joseph M. Souki has announced that Rep. Karen Awana has resigned her position as Majority Floor Leader of the Hawaii House of Representatives.

Awana submitted a letter Friday resigning her position to the Speaker’s Office stating that she was grateful for the opportunity to serve on the House leadership team, however under the circumstances she did not want to distract from the important work of the body.

Her offer of resignation was accepted by Speaker Souki.

“I appreciate all that Rep. Awana has done for the House and after much consideration I have accepted her resignation so that she may focus on rectifying her situation. It is my hope that we can move ahead so that we may name her Chair of the newly created Committee on Culture and the Arts & International Affairs in the upcoming legislative session,” Souki said.