Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 12, Number 1, 1 January 1995 — New members join Sovereignty Elections Council [ARTICLE]

New members join Sovereignty Elections Council

Six new members were appointed recently to fill vacancies on the Hawaiian Sovereignty Elections Council. They are: • Ululani Bierne, former state representative (At-large); • Olani Decker, to represent youth of Hawai'i (At-large); • Lyons Naone, Hawaiian herbalist and U.S. Customs Director, Maui district (Maui representative); • Keoni Inciong, a Hawaiian language teacher at Kapa'a Intermediate (Kaua'i representative); • Analu Berard, a retired engineer IP-

and former president of the Mainland District Council, Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs (Hawai'i representative); and • Kaipo Kanahele (Ni'ihau representative). Continuing as members of the elections eouneil are: chairman Sol Kaho'ohalahala (Lāna'i), vice-chair Davianna McGregor, and members Mahealani Kamau'u, Klna'u Boyd Kamali'i, Tasha Kama, Allen Hoe, William Meheula, Barbara Kalipi Hanchett, Kawehi Kanui-Gill, H.K. Bruss Keppeler, Pōkā

Laenui, Ann Nathaniel, A'o Pōhaku Rodenhurst and Sherry Evans (Mainland representative). This year the eouneil will launeh a nationwide registration program of Hawaiians to participate in a December 1995 plebiscite on sovereignty. A registration kickoff event is being planned for Jan. 17 in Hawai'i. The eouneil has advertised for a voter education services consultant and a media consultant to help develop, as part of a media campaign. a video on the purpose and process of the plebiscite. It is also completing its work on an

election rules document that spells out how the plebiscite will be conducted. For example, persons registering for the plebiscite will have to sign an affidavit swearing they are of Hawaiian ancestry. If challenged, they must prove it with proper documents. Oouneil executive director Tara McKenzie says the eouneil will focus its initial efforts on outreach and registration of Hawaiians in Hawai'i, then on the Mainland, where the largest populations of Hawaiians live. Hawaiians living in foreign eountries may also participate, but she

said it will be up to their 'ohana in Hawai'i or the U.S. to let them know about the process and how to get involved. The Hawaiian Sovereignty Elections Council will be collaborating with the Hui Na'auao Sovereignty Education Project and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to conduct education programs on sovereignty, she said. McKenzie noted, "The task is huge. One organization cannot do it all." HSEC's main focus, though, will be on preparing the plebiscite and registration process.