{"id":2550468,"date":"2026-01-24T08:31:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-24T13:31:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hawaii-rnc-members-pay-their-way-to-represent-state-its-not-a-cheap-hobby-5\/"},"modified":"2026-01-24T08:32:22","modified_gmt":"2026-01-24T13:32:22","slug":"hawaii-rnc-members-pay-their-way-to-represent-state-its-not-a-cheap-hobby-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hawaii-rnc-members-pay-their-way-to-represent-state-its-not-a-cheap-hobby-5\/","title":{"rendered":"Hawaii RNC members pay their way to represent state: &#8216;It&#8217;s not a cheap hobby&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhawaii-rnc-members-pay-their-way-to-represent-state-its-not-a-cheap-hobby-5%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2550468&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Hawaii&#8217;s Republican National Committee members routinely pay thousands of dollars out of pocket and use personal vacation days to attend quarterly RNC meetings-about $2,000 each for the recent winter meeting in Santa Barbara-as the state doesn&#8217;t have its travel covered. Committee members like Shirlene Ostrov, Laura Nakanelua, and Scott Smart describe the role as a volunteer &#8220;labor of love&#8221; that &#8220;is not a cheap hobby,&#8221; but say attending is essential to keep Hawaii visible to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/top-dem-recruit-for-missouri-senate-bows-out\/\" title=\"Top Dem Recruit for Missouri Senate Bows Out\">national party leaders<\/a>. Showing up and serving on committees helps the state secure resources and influence party priorities, even though Hawaii isn&#8217;t a swing state. With the RNC planning a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >national convention ahead<\/a> of the midterms, members expect costs to rise further; some have offered financial help, but leaders like Nakanelua are wary of accepting assistance. members see the personal expense and time commitment as necessary to ensure Hawaii&#8217;s interests are represented nationally.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Hawaii RNC members pay their way to represent state: &lsquo;It&rsquo;s not a cheap hobby&rsquo;<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2482452\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>SANTA BARBARA, California<\/strong> &mdash; Hawaii&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/republican-national-committee\/\">Republican National Committee<\/a> members pay thousands of dollars out of pocket, burn vacation days, and still show up to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4432057\/rnc-takes-first-step-toward-greenlighting-trump-midterm-convention\/\">winter meetings<\/a> to prove their loyalty to the party and the president.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Unlike some states that receive funding, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/hawaii\/\">Hawaii&rsquo;s<\/a> RNC delegation must cover the cost of quarterly trips to the mainland to get face time with RNC officials and keep its state&rsquo;s issues top of mind.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4432001\/trump-administration-messaging-ice-at-odds-public-support\/\">Trump administration messaging on ICE at odds with public support<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4432316\/rnc-regroups-recalibrates-midterm-election-fight\/\">RNC regroups and recalibrates for midterm election fight<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4432057\/rnc-takes-first-step-toward-greenlighting-trump-midterm-convention\/\">RNC takes first step toward greenlighting Trump&#8217;s midterm convention<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hawaii RNC Committeewoman Shirlene Ostrov at the RNC Winter Meeting in Santa Barbara, California, on Jan. 23, 2026. (Barnini Chakraborty\/Washington Examiner)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>At this week&rsquo;s RNC winter&nbsp;meeting in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/california\/\">Santa Barbara<\/a>, Hawaii&rsquo;s chairperson, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hawaii-rnc-members-pay-their-way-to-represent-state-its-not-a-cheap-hobby\/\" title=\"... their way to represent ...: &#039;It&#039;s not a ...&#039;\">alongside multiple <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/san-francisco-public-schools-renaming-plan-rife-with-historical-errors\/\" title=\"San Francisco Public Schools Renaming Plan \u2018Rife With Historical Errors\u2019\">committee members<\/a><\/a>, spent close to $2,000 each on plane tickets, hotel stays, food, transportation, and incidentals.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It is not a cheap hobby,&rdquo; Hawaii committeewoman Shirlene Ostrov told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>, adding that &ldquo;people forget that this is 100% volunteer. You&rsquo;re all on your own with the cost.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>While a handful of state party chairmen and chairwomen do have their travel paid for, Hawaii is not among them.&nbsp;Typically, there are at least three meetings per year. This year, the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4432057\/rnc-takes-first-step-toward-greenlighting-trump-midterm-convention\/\">RNC is moving forward with plans for a national convention<\/a> ahead of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2026-election\/\">midterm elections<\/a>, which will likely add even more zeroes to the final cost for Aloha State committee members.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I was properly informed that if I wanted to serve as committeewoman, it would be something that I paid for myself, and I had to be prepared,&rdquo; Laura Nakanelua told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. &ldquo;It wasn&rsquo;t going to be cheap. And I&rsquo;m not a wealthy person, per se, but I was a working person, and so my husband and I talked about it and realized in advance the cost that it would incur.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Not only does she travel on her own dime, but Nakanelua also uses up her vacation days at work to attend RNC events.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I&nbsp;had to really balance those leave days as well, getting permission from the company, making sure that I cleared the decks before I came here for a full four or five days to get that work done,&rdquo; she added.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hawaii RNC committee members Laura Nakanelua and Scott Smart at the 2026 Winter Meeting in Santa Barbara, California. (Barnini Chakraborty\/Washington Examiner)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Committeeman Scott Smart, a veteran who came to Santa Barbara with his wife, told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that it was worth it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s part of what we can give back to the party,&rdquo; Smart said. &ldquo;Not&nbsp;everyone has the resources or the time because, you know, flying back and forth is time-consuming as well.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Smart agreed it is a labor of love.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a way to make sure that Hawaii is represented nationally because otherwise, you know, sometimes we feel we&rsquo;re isolated,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re different. No one cares about us. This way, we&rsquo;re out in front of everybody else in the country and our leadership in the party, and that&rsquo;s important to us. We can bring back what we do here, back to our folks at home, who don&rsquo;t have the opportunity to make these kinds of trips, and let them know, &lsquo;This is what the national party&nbsp;is doing. This is how they&rsquo;re going to help us. Here&rsquo;s what we&rsquo;re going to do, you know, keeping in step with what&rsquo;s going on nationally.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Nakanelua said even though Hawaii isn&rsquo;t a swing state, showing up to every meeting, working with leadership, and getting involved in committees helps the state in the long run.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Our chair is on the Grassroots Committee, or soon to be, and engaging in those committees gets us the resources,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;If&nbsp;you rattle cages and make the ask and state your case, we do get support from the RNC that has been monumental over the years.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4432057\/rnc-takes-first-step-toward-greenlighting-trump-midterm-convention\/\">RNC TAKES FIRST STEP TOWARD GREENLIGHTING TRUMP&rsquo;S MIDTERM CONVENTION<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A few years ago, the RNC gave the state arm a budget of up to $50,000 to &ldquo;hold the state of Hawaii accountable for not having followed the laws of our state when it came to auditing the elections,&rdquo; she said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Nakanelua said some people have offered to help cover travel costs, but she&rsquo;s not comfortable saying &lsquo;yes,&rsquo; even though it would lessen the stress.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hawaii RNC members fund their costly travel<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2646,"featured_media":2550469,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/HAWAII_795368-e1769226427748.jpeg?w=512","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[33926,34036,10364,32085,6915],"class_list":["post-2550468","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-campaign-finance","tag-delegates","tag-hawaii","tag-republican-party","tag-rnc"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/HAWAII_795368-e1769226427748.jpeg?w=512","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2550468","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2646"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2550468"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2550468\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2550472,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2550468\/revisions\/2550472"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2550469"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2550468"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2550468"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2550468"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}