Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 15, Number 10, 1 ʻOkakopa 1998 — The Hawaiian Vote [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The Hawaiian Vote

OHA officials work to increase turnout

By Manu Boyd ĪHE OFFICE of Hawaiian Affairs' lalna Keala is no stranger to loeal elections. As government affairs officer at OHA on and off for eight years, she has a great deal of experience in coordinating voter education programs. She also has lots of government experience, having worked in the senate, the lieutenant governor's olīiee, the House, and as a political candidate herself. In the past few months, her efforts have focused on increasing the number of registered Hawaiian voters. "I believe that the first step to Hawaiian self-determination is voting," said Keala. "While we have been successful in increasing the number of Hawaiians registering to vote, we must continue to urge them to show up at the polls, or vote ahead of time by absentee ballot. For the first time, anyone ean vote on the absentee ballot. More than

39,000 voters took advantage of that option before the primary. You ean do the same thing for the Nov. 3 general election." she added. In 1996, less than half the ehgible voters of Hawaiian ancestry voted. Regardless of the inclement weather that day that deterred many from heading to the 1996 general election polls, we missed a prime opportunity to affect change. But this year, Hawaiian voter numbers are up. "As of September, Hawaiian voter

numbers had already surpassed those of 1 996. We believe that there are as many as 150,000 eligible Hawaiian voters in-state, and we want as many as possible to exercise their rights by voting," she explained. In 1988, a voter awareness program called 'Hui Ho'āla' was initiated by members of the HSIA (Hawaiian Service Institutions and Agencies). Now, Native Vote '98, a Ka Lāhui Hawai'i initiative, is joining forces with OHA and others like 'īlio'ulaokalani to educate Hawaiians on the power of their individual votes. 'Too many of our people think that their single vote is insignificant," said Keala. But if you look at the number of races where ineumbents were ousted - or maintained their seats - by less than 20 votes, you sure ean make a difference". ■

"I believe that the first step to Hawaiian selfdetermination is voting." — Jalna Keala, GAO Ofiicer

Pictured below is OHA's Government Affairs Office staff: Aulani Apoliona, Jalna Keala, Mark Mararagan, Ken SalvaCruz and Apolei Bargamento.

PHOTOS: JAYSON HARPER