Elle Cochran

Elle Cochran
Cochran in 2024
Member of the Hawaii House of Representatives
from the 14th district
In office
November 8, 2022 – November 3, 2026
Preceded byRedistricted
Succeeded byPāʻele Kiakona
Member of the Maui County Council for West Maui
In office
2011–2018
Personal details
Born1964 or 1965 (age 61–62)
Wailuku, Hawaii
PartyRepublican (2026–present)
Democratic (2022–2026)
SpouseWayne A. Cochran

Eleanora Kellett Cochran is an American politician who served in the Hawaii House of Representatives representing the 14th district, 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 Democratic nominee, but defected to the Republican Party in 2026. She lost her seat to Green Party candidate Pāʻele Kiakona in the 2026 general election.

Career

Cochran (right) and Mele Carroll (left) in November 2011.

Cochran was a Maui County councilmember for 8 years, from 2011 to 2018. In 2018, she ran for Mayor of Maui County and lost to Mike Victorino.

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.

On March 16, 2026, she changed her party identification from Democrat to Republican, citing a need for "stronger advocacy and a louder voice" following the Maui wildfires.

Cochran lost her seat in the Hawaiʻi House of Representatives to Green party candidate Pāʻele Kiakona in the 2026 general election.

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.[citation needed]

Personal life

Her husband, Wayne, owns the Maui Surfboards store in Honokowai. In 1993, she attempted to rob a group of tourists in Lahaina Cannery Mall at gunpoint, resulting in a felony conviction. She has a black belt in Taekwondo.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Candidate Q&A: Maui Mayor — Elle Cochran". Honolulu Civil Beat. October 8, 2018. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 "The End of an Era for Elle Cochran". November 19, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Vote Elle Cochran". Archived from the original on October 29, 2022.
  4. ↑ Perry, Brian (June 3, 2025). "West Maui Rep. Cochran absent from 85% of House floor sessions, still collected nearly $23,000 in per diem | Maui Now". Maui Now. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
  5. ↑ Wiens, Richard; Leonard, Matthew (October 26, 2025). "Who Votes And Who Doesn't At The Hawaiʻi Legislature". Honolulu Civil Beat. Retrieved March 22, 2026.
  6. ↑ "'Stronger advocacy': Maui lawmaker switches to Republican Party, citing wildfire response". Hawaii News Now. March 17, 2026. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  7. ↑ Gomes, Andrew (November 4, 2026). "Green Party candidate edges ahead in state House race". Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
  8. ↑ "Elle Cochran running for State House seat".
  9. ↑ 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.
  10. ↑ "Legislative Members".