Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 7, Number 11, 1 Nowemapa 1990 — Stand and be counted, exercise your vote [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Stand and be counted, exercise your vote

by A. Frenchy DeSoto, T rustee-at-large

In the October issue of Ka Wai Ola, I shared with you a basic evaluation of my involvement in our community. In this evaluation, I shared some of the steps that went into the preparation of eventual selfdetermination. Prepara-

tion yesterday for today and now tomorrow. The Constitutional Convention of 1978 began a process that has tremendous and significant implieations for tomorrow. The 1978 Constitutional Convention committee of the whole report #13 says: "The establishment of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs was intended to grant rights of self-determination and self-govern-anee to Hawaiians. OHA was designated to further the cause of self-government. OHA was envisioned to be a stepping stone to the eventual evolution of a self-government. All Hawaiians have

unique legal status, and the establishment of OHA was seen as a beginning for Hawaiians, with powers of regulation over their internal and social problems." Never before have we po'e Hawai'i been able to have a forum to address our specific issues, until now. Never in too long a time has the Hawaiian vote been courted and solicited as it is today. You hear prospective candidates profess to have nothing but the best interest of the Hawaiian at heart. Promises of the return of Kaho'olawe, protection of the Home Lands, sovereignty, fills the mouths of prospective candidates. Stand tough, Hawaiian. If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, in all probability, it is a duck. Stand and be counted, exercise your right to vote. Numbers is the game, stand and be counted. What our Hawaiian community needs, is people with visionary mana. People who are stuck in their own self-glorification is not what we need. We need people who have proven themselves, by their commitment, sacrifice, honesty and integrity. The ehoiee is eventually yours, chose wisely, and then vote.

I share your dreams of working to build or rebuild the wall of moral righteousness so that our children will be able to have a home, jobs and remain here in the land of their ancestors. We are able to manage our own resources and determine our destiny for ourselves. We must prepare for tomorrow, today. I eall upon the kupuna. More than ever. We need the kupuna's patience and aloha to carry the stones of righteousness in the preparation for tomorrow. Kupuna, the backbone of building for the future, acknowledge the unquestionable truth that all Hawaiians descend from Hawaiians. Kupuna are the pomaikai of today and yesterday, fully eommitted to the building for tomorrow. Kupuna realize that power for the sake of power is useless unless, done in the name of Iesu Christo, moe 'uhane nothing without the divine guidance and spirituality that is an intricate part of kupuna values. The future is not only promising, but very exciting, slow and long in coming, but almost upon us. Mai e na kupuna, na makua, na 'opio a pau, mai hana pono a pau. Mahalo.