Hawaii RNC members pay their way to represent state: ‘It’s not a cheap hobby’

SANTA BARBARA, California — Hawaii’s Republican National Committee members pay thousands of dollars out of pocket, burn vacation days, and still show up to winter meetings to prove their loyalty to the party and the president. 

Unlike some states that receive funding, Hawaii’s RNC delegation must cover the cost of quarterly trips to the mainland to get face time with RNC officials and keep its state’s issues top of mind. 

Hawaii RNC Committeewoman Shirlene Ostrov at the RNC Winter Meeting in Santa Barbara, California, on Jan. 23, 2026. (Barnini Chakraborty/Washington Examiner)

At this week’s RNC winter meeting in Santa Barbara, Hawaii’s chairperson, alongside multiple committee members, spent close to $2,000 each on plane tickets, hotel stays, food, transportation, and incidentals. 

“It is not a cheap