Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 9, Number 8, 1 August 1992 — ʻAha ʻOpio legislators elect new officers [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ʻAha ʻOpio legislators elect new officers

Kaena Kawai was elected Kia'aina 'Opio, or governor, but he hadn't planned to seek the conference's highest office when he first arrived. "Actually. we had a meeting to tell us what would be happening here. that we would be electing a governor and a lieutenant governor. I thought, 'No way, I don't want to be one of those.' But ... I wanted to take that leadership role."

Kawai said "wanting to help the Hawaiians out" is what changed his mind. Kawai, whose parents are Leighton and Rebecca Kawai, said the conferenee helped him get in touch with his cultural roots. "It showed us our past culture and how we were overtaken, and this is an opportunity to help Hawaiians who lost land," he said. "I learned a lot about our culture and the past," especially from the kupuna, he added.

Kawai said of his 'Aha 'Opio experience, "It made me aware of how the Legislature runs, and how the Hawaiians need help here (on O'ahu) and off-island." Problem areas

include land preservation, health and education, he added. Although mueh of the youth legislature's work focused on Hawaiian issues, there were bills intended for nonHawaiians, and people of the state in general were not short-

changed, Kawai said. Kawai said he benefitted ffom the conference. "It's really a learning experience, and yet you ean still have fun, too. Ask anybody, they know I'm a elown." When asked what high school he attends, the governor proudly said he goes to "Farrington, home of the Governors!" Konohiki Kimo Albarado, who was elected Konohiki, was at first skeptical about the whole 'Aha 'Opio affair. "I

thought it was going to be real boring," he said in retrospect. But his skepticism soon faded. He said the eonference "builds character, because onee you know you're safe here (pointing to his heart), you know you ean be safe out here

(gesturing to his surroundings). These people ... they're all my friends now. ... everybody's like family. And when you have a family this big, you feel so secure. ... and to think, Monday we didn't even know eaeh other."

The Moanalua High student, who has taken speech courses and drama lessons, said the unusual style of his campaign speech helped him get elected Konohiki, or advisor to the Lt. Gov. He pulled his tie up over his eyes and told his colleagues, "The future is blind and we don't know

what to expect." The legislative process eame alive for Albarado during the week. "In American history they tell you about this kind of stuff, but now I was able to visualize it. Drafting bills was the main thing — it has to be pretty specific. Whatever you want has to be said to a point, or it's going to get amended or tabled."

The conference helped Albarado, the son of Benjamin and Diane Albarado, prepare for his involvement in student government during the next school year. "Now that I know parliamentary procedure, 1 ean have control and run things," he said. Albarado is another delegate whose cultural awareness was increased. "The adult staff — they're real Hawaiian. The staff definitely made us feel more Hawaiian."

Kalaimoku Glenn Kalei Ka'awalau'ole, Jr. of Makakilo, O'ahu was named Senate Majority floor speaker. He later ran continued on page 5

From left, Konohiki Kimo Albarado, Kalaimoku Glenn Ka'awalau'ole and Kia'aina 'Opio Kaena Kawai.

'Aha 'Opio officers elected from page 4

for Kalaimoku, or advisor to the governor, and won.

Ka'awalau'ole was very impressed by the tour to the Royal Mausoleum at Mauna'ala and Queen Emma's Summer Palaee. He says he is a descendent of the Queen. "When they told the story of Queen Emma mourning for her son, I could feel her pain," Ka'awalau'ole said.

A deeply sensitive young man, he is saddened by the state of affairs for Hawaiians and wants to see some of those wrongs made right. Ka'awalau'ole introduced a resolution calling upon the federal government to pay the state of Hawai'i $80 million to be used for infrastructure on Hawaiian Home Lands as part of its legal trust responsibilities. The bill also charges the state with taking Hawaiian homestead lands without compensation.

"What hurt me most was to find out that the state had taken away lands from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Hilo Airport, Honolulu International Airport and Moloka'i airport are some of those lands."

Ka'awalau'ole is the son of Glenn Sr. and Linda Ka'awalau'ole. Kia'aina 'Opio Hope

Emily Kalei Lima of Konawaena School in Kailua, Kona was named Senate minority floor speaker at the beginning of this 'Aha 'Opio

and at the ending had been elected Kia'aina 'Opio Hope or lieutenant governor. "What impressed me most was that we were coming together and across as a group of teenagers who care about our people, our past and our future," she said. "People look up to us." Her most eye-opening experience was seeing different points of view, and the different issues on different islands. "Being from Kona, I'm not used to hearing about Moloka'i land problems and sovereignty. It made

me more open-minded and helped me gain perspective from other people." She introduced a bill calling for more funds for rural schools to add more classroom space and educational programs to teach Hawaiian language, safe sex and drug abuse awareness. Lima is the daughter of James and Emily Kahele.

Speaker of the House

This year's Speaker of the House is Jashua A 1 e o 1 a n i Viernes, who attends Ka'u High School on the island of H a w a i ' i . Though he does not hold office

in student government, he is involved in important Hawaiian issues as an activist with the Pele Defense Fund. He is the son of William and Melody Viernes. "It's been a washboard ride — very

bumpy," a grinning Viernes said of his 'Aha 'Opio experience. But he said he refmed his speaking skills along the way. He learned the importance of speaking fluently — without pidgin, and with volume and clarity. "It helped me to not be afraid to go in ffont of people and speak," he said. Viernes was elected Speaker the first night of the conference. "I'm not a person that wants power, but a person that wants to serve the people," he told his colleagues in his campaign speech.

Senate President Santus Wiehimai presides over a lawmaking session. Photo by Pearl Page.