State Senate Minority Leader Fred Hemmings kept his leadership post yesterday after it became apparent there were not enough votes in the four-member GOP caucus to remove him.

Hemmings, R-25th (Kailua, Waimanalo, Hawai'i Kai), held off a challenge from state Sen. Sam Slom, R-8th (Kahala, Hawai'i Kai), and state Sen. Gordon Trimble, R-12th (Waikiki, Ala Moana, Downtown).

Hemmings met yesterday with Slom, Trimble and state Sen. Paul Whalen, R-3rd (Kohala, Kona, Ka'u). Slom and Trimble made it clear they would support Whalen for minority leader.

But Whalen declined, and Trimble and Slom, realizing they did not have enough votes, decided not to call for a vote on Hemmings' leadership.