Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 11, Number 10, 1 ʻOkakopa 1994 — Hawaiʻi’s future: the best reason why Hawaiians should get involved in politics [ARTICLE]

Hawaiʻi’s future: the best reason why Hawaiians should get involved in politics

The destiny of Hawai'i lies in the hands of all its people. Yet many native Hawaiians — nā kānaka maoli — who make up more than one-fifth of the population of Hawai'i do not utilize the power of the democratic

process to make their voices heard. The result is that many Hawaiians wonder, "What happened to our people? What happened to our land? What will happen to our children?" The Hawaiian Political Action Committee (HPAC) believes the answers to these questions

rest with every Hawaiian voter. HPAC is a non-profit, non-parti-san community group whieh monitors legislative activity regarding Hawaiian issues. This election year it is actively promoting Hawaiian voter registration and voting by Hawaiians in the primary, general and OHA elections. HPAC originated as an offshoot of the Hawaiian civic club movement to advocate for Hawaiian issues as a legislative lobbying body.

Kekoa Paulsen, HPAC first vice president, notes that there are more than 200,000 Hawaiians in Hawai'i, one-fifth of the state's population, one of the largest ethnic groups in an ethnically diverse population.

But, he says, as a result of low voter registration and turnout rates among Hawaiians during elections and low participation during legislative sessions, "... we allow others to make the rules at our expense. If enough of us speak up, our voice — our Hawaiian voice — will be heard and our lands will not be stolen." Paulsen says the best way to for Hawaiians to get involved in determining the future of Hawai'i is by voting. "Using the

ballot box to support candidates who support Hawaiian causes is one of the most effective ways of participating. Before you ean vote, though, you need to make sure you are registered to vote. Registering is as simple as filling

out a onepage form from the city or state and mailing it in. Get a form. Fill it out. Send it in," he said. "As a group the Hawaiian people have a voice in

what happens to our islands. Our voice will be made stronger as more of us join together to support causes that are basic to our people. Issues such as improving Hawaiian heakh, preserving Hawaiian land, and deciding on Hawaiian sovereignty are three good reasons for Hawaiians to get involved. There are many others too — Hawaiian education, housing and care of our keiki and our kūpuna — to name a few," he said.

October 10 is the last day to register to vote in the General Election and OHA Board of Trustees Election on November 8. To register to vote, eontact: — Office of Lt. Governor, Elections Division, ph. 453-VOTE — City Clerk, City & County of Honolulu, 523-4185 — County Clerk's offices on: Hawai'i: 961-8255 Maui (includes Moloka'i and Lāna'i): 243-7749 Kaua'i (includes Ni'ihau): 241-6350