HONOLULU — Gov. Josh Green has appointed Croccifixio “Cross” Crabbe to serve the remainder of retired Sen. Maile Shimabukuro’s term. 

Shimabukuro, who served in the Legislature for 22 years, vacated the Senate District 22 (Ko Olina, Nanakuli, Maili, Waianae, Makaha and Makua) seat following the 2024 session.

Concerned about choosing a permanent replacement so close to the upcoming Democratic primary for the seat, Green previously said that he would appoint the winner of the primary rather than appoint a permanent replacement prior to the election.

At the time, Green said the law “did not contemplate the unusual and extenuating circumstances” concerning Shimabukuro’s vacated seat.

Green’s position drew a quick rebuke from Senate President Ron Kouchi.

“By not filling the vacant Senate District 22 seat until after the primary elections on Aug. 10, 2024, from names provided by the Democratic party, Gov. Green is taking away the ‘political power’ from the people of Senate District 22 and depriving them from having a senator from the Democratic party for over two months,” Kouchi said.

Under state law, the governor has 60 days of a seat becoming vacant to appoint a replacement from a list of three candidates submitted by the outgoing candidate’s party. However, that deadline — Wednesday — was just 11 days before the Aug. 10 primary.

“Making an appointment so close to the election may influence the outcome of the election,” Green said in a statement released Tuesday. “It is my constitutional obligation to support free and fair elections, and this was the only path to maintain that integrity.”

Crabbe, an office manager for state Rep. Cedric Gates, will serve the remainder of the term through Nov. 5. Green said he intends to propose legislation to extend the selection period to 120 days “to avoid instances where the selection could be within days of an election, ensuring that the voters’ choice is respected without any influence from filling a vacancy.”

Gates, who represents House District 45 (Makua, Makaha and Waianae), said he welcomed the governor’s decision to appoint his office manager and resume “urgently needed representation” for the Senate district.

Gates is vying with former state Rep. Stacelynn Eli for in next month’s Democratic Primary for Senate District 22. Crabbe is running against Desire De Soto, Philip Ganaban and Ranson Soares in the Democratic Primary for House District 45.

“It is critical for our residents to have a Senator who can effectively serve the community and address our constituents’ everyday concerns,” Gates said in a statement released shortly after Crabbe’s appointment was announced. “Our district has unfortunately been without Senate representation for nearly two months. During this period, many residents increasingly relied on my office for support and advocacy. It’s crucial to finally have a Senate counterpart to collaborate with as we advocate for the residents of the Leeward Coast.

“I believe Senator Cross Crabbe will effectively serve our Westside residents and take the necessary actions to address the challenges in our community,” he said. “I look forward to collaborating with Senator Crabbe during this interim period to advocate for the Leeward Coast and create a more thriving community for our residents.”

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at michael.tsai@charter.com.