Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 1, Number 4, 1 Mei 1984 — from the Chairman's Desk [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

from the Chairman's Desk

By Joseph Kealoha OHA Chairman, Maui Trustee

This election year, the people of Hawaii will have an opportunity to se!ect 1 1 2 federal, state and county officials. In addition, individuals of Hawaiian ancestry will be able to vote for four of the nine Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The offices to be filled are President and Vice President; two U.S. Representatives; 13 State Senators; all 51 members of the State House; 13 members of the Board of Education; mayors, county councils and prosecuting attorneys of Honolulu, Hawaii and Kauai; and the four OHA Trustees. According to recent estimates, there are almost 100,000 people of Hawaiian ancestry eligible to vote this year. 1 want to urgeeach of you to register to vote — and then actually cast your ballot in BOTH the primary election (Sept. 22) and the general election (Nov. 6). Remember, your one vote ean make a difference. There are many examples of elections won or lost by only a very few votes. Don't rely on others to make the choices. The right to self-determination is a precious one. Don't throw it away. People in other parts of the world often are deprived of that right. In many countries there is nosuch thingas freeelections. In others, peopleare intimidated into staying away from the polls by threats of injury or death. So find out what the candidates stand for and support the ones you feel have your best interests at heart. OH A is a non-partisan agency. We neither promote the interests of any one political party nor support the candidates of any particular political organization. We are urging you to make informed decisions about the candidates and vote for the candidates of your ehoiee regardless of party affiliation. It is important to register and vote in the primar\ elections as well as the general and OH A elections because, in many cases, the real choices are made in the primary. You ean register for all three elections on the same voter registration form. It is quick and easy. Only people who failed to vote in any of the 1982 elections or who have moved since those elections need to register this year. The registration deadline for the primaries is Aug. 23. For the general and OHA elections. it is Oct. 9. You ean register at any OH A office on any island, at the Lieutenant Governor's office or at your county clerk's office. In addition, special registration booths will be set up at shopping centers throughout the islands. OHAand the Lieutenant Governor's office are launching a concerted effort to register voters of Hawaiian ancestry. To achieve that purpose, a special program is being developed to deputize members of Hawaiian organizations and other interested individuals as deputy voter registrars. Call the l.ieutenant Governor's office at 548-3415 for additional information. Your OHA staff has been deputized to register voters. Drop in and register with any of them during regular working hours.