Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 8, Number 8, 1 August 1991 — Wong, Walea win top elections [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Wong, Walea win top elections

Luke Kahekili Wong was elected from a pool of three candidates as Kia'aina, Govemor, for the 1991 'Aha 'Opio O OHA. Wong, a student at | Konawaena High School, | said he ran for governor I because he believed there

is a need for strong leadership for the youth of Hawai'i, "leadership for lands that are changing," he said. Upon his arrival to the 'Aha 'Opio, Wong thought the week-long program would consist mainly of learning about bills and legislative procedures, and not necessarily the intensive hands-on experience it actually was. "And especially, 1 didn't expect to run (for governor)," he said. As the newly elected governor, Wong said he would like to expand the 'Aha 'Opio O OHA program nationwide to reach more students and to start an 'Aha 'Opio newsletter, so that everyone from the 1991 program ean keep in touch. "The newsletter will be the first one (of its kind)," Wong said, "so we'll see how it goes." Wong's educational goals are not set, but even if he does not choose a political career, he said he still plans to be a "strong voice"in Hawaiian affairs. "I'm definitely going to push for Hawaiian civic clubs, Hawaiian programs, and I'm also going to fight for land in Kona," he said. Wong's father and brother, Jamieson and Jamin Wong, are members of the popular loeal music group, Ho'Aikane. !___ _ __ __ _

This year's Kia'aina Hope, lieutenant govemor governor, Jasmina Napuakahikina Walea said she ran for the office "because I feel the 'Aha 'Opio is a very special organization. "And I also felt my knowledae of qovern-

mental procedure would benefit the legislature," said the resident of Oxnard, Calif. In comparing California and Hawaii's governments, Walea found that she likes Hawaii's better. "The California style is not as selfstimulating. It just teaches you about you, or yourself. Here, it teaches you pride." One of Walea's many activities is being vice president for the Student Advisory Board on Education in California for the Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura County districts. "Students from California high schools go to one high schooI and throw out all kinds of ideas that we feel are wrong with education that the state ean fix. Then we develop moek proposals," she said. Walea has three diverse, specific future goals that she would like to pursue — aeronautical engineering, ehemieal oceanography, or anesthesiology. "I'm interested in the future because the children of the present are the future leaders . . . but through the 'Aha 'Opio, I already feel like a leader," she said. Her parents are Sam and Katherine Cvijanovich of Oxnard, Calif.

Luke Wong

Nanua Walea