Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 9, 1 September 1988 — About Elections [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

About Elections

By Clarence F. T. Ching Trustee, O'ahu

The appearance of political signs and signholders on our streets and the large number of political fundraisers, political ads and polls in the newspapers and on TV tell us that the season of elections is upon us. While elections seem

to eome and go with boring regularity for some seats, especially for those held by incumbents in Congress, the contests for other seats are exciting. Just as mueh as every vote may be important in winning an eleehon, every legislator elected may be important in transforming bills into law. Although we Hawaiians have experienced success in getting a number of bills through the system in the last eouple of years (Escheat of Kuleana in 1987 and Right to Sue in 1988), many bills that we wanted and supported failed to make it through. There are important bills waiting in the wings that are expected to be introduced and acted upon.

The most important bill expected in the 1988 legislature is one that will approve the proposed Ceded Lands Entitlement Settlement that is now being worked out between OHA and the Governor. If the legislature approves the settlement, it will acknowledge the state's breach of the Ceded Lands Trust that OHA has been trying to address unsuccessfully in the courts. It will also restore the Trust's integrity. To help set the stage for the 1989 legislature, OHA is attempting to unify all Hawaiians by having them ratify the adoption of the Single Beneficiary Class Definition by referendum (plebiscite). The

success of Hawaiian unity will lead to the election of legislators who are sensitive to Hawaiian needs and who sympathize with us in the loss of our lands and sovereignty by the illegal overthrow of our Queen and the irregular annexation of Hawaii to the U.S. In turn, the attainment of these two goals are expected to arm OHA's trustees and staff with the clout necessary to lobby successfully for the Ceded Lands Settlement.

Onee peaee is made with the State, its support through the legislature and governor as major components of state government will be significant in furthering our goals in Washington D.C. when we knoek on the fed's door for reparations and/or restitution. By holding the referendum (plebiscite), the trustees of OHA are recognizing the right and privilege of the people to be self-determining and self-governing. It should be our right as Hawaiians to decide who we want to be. Among other things, 1 believe that the right of referendum was always there. lt was among those powers held by the people and reserved by them when they adopted the state constitution. What is missing is a procedure to allow that right and the rights of initiative and recall to be exercised.

As an aside, it is interjesting that one of the Hawaiian groups favoririg sovereignty and the Hawaiian nation has included initiative, referendum (plebiscite) and recall in its constitution, yet is calling on OHA's beneficiaries not to vote on the OHA "plebiscite." A failure to vote on OHA's referendum will be a waiver of your right to be part of the process to decide who we are. Parts of the preamble to the Hawaii State Constitution read: We reserve the right to control our destiny, . . . (and)

We reaffirm our belief in a government of the people, by the people and for the people, . . . lf it is true that only 48 percent of eligible Hawaii residents are registered to vote, then it is possible that there are only 48 percent of eligible Hawaiians, more or less, who are registered to vote in the OHA elections. If so, it is not an indication of a people who are involved in their own governance, it is a symptom of a distrusting and disenfranchised people.

Hawaiians must do better. If we are to be recognized and respected as a people, we have to stand up and take on the yoke of responsibility. We must register to vote. And we must vote. But who should we vote for? A responsible voter will look at the outside and inside colors of the candidate. We have to be aware of the "coconuts," those who are brown on the outside and white on the inside. And we must recognize those who are colored differently on the outside but who are brown on the inside. Above all else, make sure that your candidate is brown on the inside.

Other questions to ask are: Has the candidate been active in his community? How has the candidate represented the people of his community? What is the candidate's position on issues in general? On humanitarian issues? On Hawaiian issues? Will my candidate be open to my concerns? Is my candidate rational, reasonable and fair? What is my candidate's educational, philosophical and business background? What are the sources of his campaign funds? What groups have endorsed the candidate? What are the important issues and positions of the groups endorsing the candidate? Are those issues and positions in sync with mine? For OHA trustees — The general questions asked of other candidates above must also be asked. In addition, to evaluate OHA incumbents,

other questions must be asked. These are questions that should be asked of other candidates you are considering voting for from some point in the future. Has the trustee participated in other Hawaiian community events and activities? Has the trustee promoted Hawaiian culture in alh-0f . its different aspects? Has the trustee exhibited leadership ability? Has the trustee expressed his views in the available media? Has the trustee advocated for important humanitarian and Hawaiian issues? Is the trustee principled? What is the trustee's record of attendance at meetinqs?

Is the trustee committed to do all things necessary of a trustee — placing OHA, at times, above family, personal business, even one's regular means of livelihood? Is the trustee a good example of your ideal Hawaiian? Is the trustee honest? Has the trustee asked the important questions? Does the trustee have vision? Has the. trustee made important contributions in solving Hawaiian problems and in guiding the future direction of the Hawaiian nation? Does the trustee have the necessary good health and stamina to endure the physical and mental hardships of being a trustee? Does the trustee exhibit dignity? Is the trustee respected by the other trustees? Is the trustee easy to work with?

Finding answers to the questions above may be difficult. Check out this and past issues of Ka Wai Ola O OHA. Talk to people you respect who haveworked with the trustees. Talk or write to the trustee yourself. Ask me. But hewa'-e. Be careful not to let differences of personality or style cloud your analysis. The ehoiee to vote and to be part of the process is yours. You are the most important part of the system. Your vote along with the collective vote of others will determine the future of our Hawaiian nation.