Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 12, Number 4, 1 ʻApelila 1995 — Voting on things Hawaiian [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Voting on things Hawaiian

by Billie Beamer Trustee-At-Large

The purpose of this article is certainly not to leeture, but to identify the voter who participates in Hawaiian matters. In the past eleeūon, 75.766 registered for the OHA election. That would be at least

50 percent of the census counted Hawaiians, but only 55,424 voted, or 73 percent of the registered voters, and 36 percent of all Hawaiians. Since 1980, the first OHA election, many eligible voters have not exercised their prerogative to make their opinions count. Sixty-three percent of those who identified themselves as Hawaiians in the census are eligible to vote. Yet out of a possible 94,000 voters today, only 55.000 voted in 1994, 58 percent of

those eligible and 36 percent of all Hawaiians. In these critical times every vote is imf>ortant. As I see the situation, there are major categories of non-voters who should reconsider their withdrawal. One of the major arguments is that "government" is involved. How in the world would we fund any effort without the help of government to finance these entities to decide on the issues needing more input rather that decisions by committees? Vote to get government out. But first remember, who's going to pay for rent? Eaeh day I am aghast at the number of letters addressed to OHA asking for grants to pay for Little League uniforms, spending money etc., without any offer to do volunteer work. In every assessment poll Hawaiians prioritiz.e needs as: 1 . Education 2. Housing 3. Health We have major choices to make. Do you want your ali'i nui to be: 1 . Pōkā Burgess 2. Kekuni Blaisdell

3. Mililani Trask 4. Bumpy Kanahele 5. Pinky Thompson in another Bishop Estate. 6. Or, what is your suggestion? How will we know unless you vote? So, in whieh category are you? 1. Those who disdain the behavior of some uncouth

Hawaiians? Generally these non-vot-ers are educated, well established. and not needing the Hawaiian movement whieh they perceive as reparations. Little do they realize that their smarts, exposure, and pattems of success are exactly the kind of input that is needed by the less successful. 2. Those who are caring citizens and will always lend their experience, smarts and time to make this a better

world for everyone. They have registered from the beginning and will eonlinue to exercise their franchi.se to participate in the formation of our future. They have never been ashamed to be Hawaiian and aeeepl the passage of time. 3. Those who are joiners, who vote by the mandate of their designated leader and who feed off the security of the group. One such group, Ka Lāhui Hawai'i, advocates that its members not vote in the plebiscite for sovereignty. Like the Hawaiians in group 1, they are distancing themselves and leaving the decision to the politicians, special interest groups or rabble rousers. 4. Finally there are those who just do not care, who do not vote in any election because "everyone is a crook." My television show will be airing during the months of April, May and June on Channel 22, Friday nights at 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.