Nearly two months after the retirement and death of Rep. Gene Ward, Gov. Josh Green has named a successor to finish out Ward's term.
Green announced Wednesday that Joe Gedeon will represent House District 18 (Portlock, Hawai‘i Kai and Kalama Valley) through Nov. 3, 2026, the end of Ward's final term. As Hawai‘i Representatives are not term-limited, he is free to run for re-election for subsequent terms.
Gedeon was selected from three nominees advanced by the Hawai‘i Republican Party. He co-founded the graphic design and installation company JPG Hawaii and the advertising company JPG Media, according to the gubernatorial announcement, and was the youngest president of the Waikīkī Rotary Club in 2016.
Gedeon is a graduate of Henry J. Kaiser High School and Kap‘iolani Community College, and went to ITT Technical Institute in San Diego. He lives in Hawai‘i Kai with his family.
“I appreciate the willingness of Joe Gedeon and the other nominees to step up and work hard to fill the huge void left by such a lifelong and passionate public servant as Gene Ward,” Green said in a statement. “We believe one human being cannot truly replace another, but we hope as Gene’s successor, Joe will bring the same caring dedication that made his predecessor so valuable to his community.”
Gedeon said in his own statement that he hopes to carry on "the values [Ward] championed: community, accountability and unwavering commitment to the people he served."
Ward represented the House's 16th District from 1990 to 1998, and the current 18 District (previously called the 17th District) from 2006 until he retired on March 31 following a series of health problems, including a pneumonia diagnosis. Four days later, he died at the age of 82.
