Elle Cochran
Elle Cochran | |
|---|---|
Cochran in 2024 | |
| Member of the Hawaii House of Representatives from the 14th district | |
| Assumed office November 8, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Redistricted |
| Member of the Maui County Council for West Maui | |
| In office 2011–2018 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1964 or 1965 (age 60–61)[1] |
| Party | Democratic (2022–2026) Republican (2026–present) |
| Spouse | Wayne A. Cochran |
Eleanora Kellett Cochran is an American politician and a Republican member of the Hawaii House of Representatives. She represents District 14, West Maui which includes the areas of Wai'ehu, Waihe'e, Kahakuloa, Honokahua, Kahana, Mahinahina Camp, Ka'anapali, Lahaina, Lahainaluna, Olowalu and portions of Ma'alaea. She won the seat in the 2022 election as the nominee of the Democratic Party, in which she beat out Republican opponent Kelly Armstrong and Aloha ʻĀina Party member Leonard Nakoa.[2]
Career
Cochran was a Maui County councilmember for 8 years, from 2011 to 2018.[3][4] In 2018, she ran for Mayor of Maui County and lost to Mike Victorino.[3]
During the 2025 legislative session, Cochran notably missed 51 of 60 Hawaii House of Representatives floor sessions, an 85% absence rate, and 1,202 votes.[5][6]
On March 16, 2026, she changed her party identification from Democrat to Republican, citing a need for "stronger advocacy" and "a louder voice".[7]
She is the founder of the Save Honolua Coalition. She serves as Dame Commander, Royal Order of the Crown, for Owana Salazar. She has also earned certification as a court mediator.
Personal life
Her husband, Wayne, owns the Maui Surfboards store in Honokowai.[8] In 1993, she attempted to rob a group of tourists in Lahaina Cannery Mall at gunpoint, resulting in a felony conviction.[3][9] She has a black belt in Taekwondo.[10]
See also
References
- ^ "Candidate Q&A: Maui Mayor — Elle Cochran". Honolulu Civil Beat. 8 October 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
- ^ "Elle Cochran". Ballotpedia.
- ^ a b c "The End of an Era for Elle Cochran". 19 November 2018.
- ^ "Vote Elle Cochran". Archived from the original on 2022-10-29.
- ^ Perry, Brian (2025-06-03). "West Maui Rep. Cochran absent from 85% of House floor sessions, still collected nearly $23,000 in per diem | Maui Now". Maui Now. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
- ^ Leonard, Richard Wiens, Matthew (2025-10-26). "Who Votes And Who Doesn't At The Hawaiʻi Legislature". Honolulu Civil Beat. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "'Stronger advocacy': Maui lawmaker switches to Republican Party, citing wildfire response". 2026-03-17. Retrieved 2026-03-17.
- ^ "Elle Cochran running for State House seat".
- ^ Shafer, Jacob (September 30, 2010). "Will Elle Cochran's Checkered Past Affect Her Future?". Maui Time Weekly. Archived from the original on June 12, 2023.
- ^ "Legislative Members".