HONOLULU — Amid growing concern over his potential role in representing victims of the Maui wildfires, State Sen. Gilbert Keith-Agaran announced on Wednesday his retirement from the Senate, effective Oct. 31, 2023.

“It has been an honor to represent my friends and family in my Central Maui communities in the State Senate and the State House of Representatives,” Keith-Agaran said. “And it has been an honor to serve with my Senate colleagues, both past and present, the Senate staff and the people who have worked for me during the time I’ve been privileged to serve.

“I believe that this decision best serves the interests of the Maui people, especially given what they have gone through over the last three weeks, and what they continue to experience,” he continued. “As we know, the Maui community—including members of my extended clan who lived and worked in West Maui—have suffered tremendous losses, including losing loved ones. Some, to this day, are still not identified or found. The choice for me has always been and will always be my family and community, and this decision is consistent with that overriding value.” 

Keith-Agaran sent a letter of resignation to Gov. Josh Green, Senate President Ron Kouchi, Hawaii Democratic Party Chair Dennis Jung, and Maui Democratic Party Chair Stephanie Ohigashi.

Keith-Agaran is a partner with Takatani Agaran Jorgensen & Wildman, which is partnering with Morgan & Morgan in a class-action suit against Hawaiian Electric Co. for its alleged role in causing and exacerbating the wildfires.

Keith-Agaran was appointed to fill the seat of representative for House District 9 after the death of Rep. Bob Nakasone in 2009. He served in that position until 2013 when he replaced Shan Tsutsui (who became lieutenant governor) as senator for District 5.

Keith-Agaran has served as vice-chair of the powerful Senate Committee on Ways and Means since 2019. He previously chaired both the House and Senate judiciary committees.

“Although not privy to the reasons for his decision, Senator Keith-Agaran’s reasons must have been thoughtfully and carefully considered,” Kouchi said in a statement released Wednesday afternoon. “Senator Keith-Agaran is a brilliant legislator whose integrity is beyond reproach and his leadership, experience, and calming influence will be sorely missed in the Senate.”