HILO — The Hawaii Republican Party says it has expelled a candidate for state House District 2 after it became aware of his racist views.
HILO — The Hawaii Republican Party says it has expelled a candidate for state House District 2 after it became aware of his racist views.
Bryan Feste, who is running as a Republican for the Hilo seat, said that he wants an “all white nation” and shared campaign material that states he is “pro white” and uses derogatory language for Jewish and black Americans.
State Party Chairwoman Shirlene Ostrov said she had met the 29-year-old candidate before but was not aware of his views until she saw some of the fliers. Feste said he moved to Hawaii three years ago to be with his parents in Hawaiian Paradise Park.
“The Hawaii Republican Party values the rich diversity of our great state,” Ostrov said, after noting Feste had been expelled.
She said the nature of the state’s primary elections means the party can’t stop him from running as a Republican or “representing outrageous and disgusting views that in no way, shape or form represent or express the views of Hawaii Republicans.”
Feste said he was already considering dropping out of the race, but his name will appear on the ballot for the Aug. 11 primary. The deadline to withdraw was June 8. Ballots were mailed this week to absentee voters.
Also running as a Republican for the seat is Grace Manipol-Larson.
The seat is held by Rep. Chris Todd, a Democrat, who faces a primary challenge from Terri Napeahi.
The district covers Hilo, Keaukaha, Panaewa and Waiakea.
Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
Basic bad newspaper habit: run a picture of a different person under a headline. Inattentive readers, and people who don’t read the text at all, will now associate “racist candidate” with Ms. Ostrov. If you don’t have a picture of Feste, run no picture, or change the headline to “Party Chairwoman Cleans Up after Candidate”.
Totally agree, and i hope the paper prints a clarification.
Ostrov is a racist.
Shirlene Ostrov should be commended for excising this Feste(ring) pustulence from the rear end of the Republican Party.
West Hawaii Today, the picture you posted for this story is wrong. I think an apology is in order if you place a picture of the “party chairwoman” under that scandalous heading. You should’ve found a photo of Bryan Feste instead or don’t post a picture at all.
Yes, it was the picture they chose. If you Google her name there are many good pics of her. They picked her in a uniform in order to portray her as a “Republican war monger”. Sublimial fake news.
For sure this guy is a racist for wanting an “all white” nation.
But, don’t forget that Hawaii Democrats have continually supported an “all Polynesian-Hawaiian” nation and separate school system.
This lolo must be Bryan’s friend what a idiot.
And your point is? Apparently, in your world only Caucasians can be racist.