Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 7, Number 11, 1 November 1990 — Why vote in the OHA, general election? [ARTICLE]

Why vote in the OHA, general election?

Winona Rubin Director, State Dept. of Human Services Eaeh election year an appeal goes out to all citizens to register and vote on election day. In recent years we have seen tied races and those in whieh the election was won by a handful of votes, so we realize the importance of a single vote in determining a win or lose outcome. But, how many of us have considered the other hidden messages ( kaona ) we transmit through voting, particularly the important impact of Hawaiians as voters in this election? Eaeh Hawaiian who chooses not to vote expresses the following messages: 1) I agree with the stereotype — I'm too dumb and lazy to vote, even though 1 ean register by mail and vote by absentee ballot if needed; 2) 1 don't care who gets elected. I prefer to fish, surf or party on eleehon day and not even think about influencing what happens to Hawai'i in the future; 3) Despite the major progress made to date and more negotiations in process toward returning money and land to Hawaiians, 1 don't care who is elected to OHA so that they ean wisely manage those increasing resources on my behalf; I believe that the majority of Hawaiians are

vitally concerned about Hawaii's future for everyone. We are intent on making the public meehanism for addressing our needs — OHA — the strongest possible, particularly through this eleetion and ongoing monitoring. We accept no excuses for failing to exercise our right to vote asa responsibility for ensuring that lokahi and malama 'aina are practiced in government. We must take responsibility on behalf of future generations for what happens to Hawaii nei by voting and participating in government. To vote is to care. William S. Richardson, Chairman Board of Trustees Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate Hawaii's State Constitution includes the statement, "We reserve the right to control our destiny, to nurture the integrity of our people and our eulture, and to preserve the quality of life that we desire." That should remind us that it is up to us to control our own destiny And in a democracy, the way we do that is by voting. As Hawaiians, we need to get more involved in the electoral process to preserve what we have left of our culture and lands. We cannot dwell on what's been lost; that's history. What we ean do is work together to save what's left and move forward (imua) from there Kamehameha Schools Bishop Estate has been trying to push forward on behalf of the Hawaiian people for more than a century. As we've grown, we've learned the necessity of having the support of our elected officials. Not just to support our programs and initiatives, but to protect the physical Iegacy left for us by Bernice Pauahi Bishop. It's up to us to vote for the people who understand where we've eome from and who want to help us move ahead, and then we've got to support them and work with them onee they get in.