Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 16, Number 4, 1 April 1999 — Ha Hawaiʻi [ARTICLE]

Ha Hawaiʻi

One of the most controversial aspects of the Native Hawaiian eonvention is how to fill the delegate vacancies after the Jan. 17 eleenon. Almost 9,000 Hawaiians (including OHA voters, kanaka maoh impnsoned and Hawaiians throughout the world) out of a potential 150,000 voters participated. However, as there was no open knowledge of the candidate list, vacancies occurred on the Big Island, in Wai'anae and in 'Ewa moku - nine percent of the positions. The Big Island filled its vacancies with candidates who had lost their races. At the Feb. 13 genSee LETTERS on page 3

eral meeting of the delegates at Kamehameha Schools, Big Island delegates were told the only problem with this was using a Kona person for Ka'ū. They now hope one of the 20 voters in Ka'ū will accept the position. Wai'anae moku decided to leave its vacancy open. Ewa felt eaeh delegate was important and is spreading the word to ensure four vacancies

are filled before this summer for true representation of the district at the Native Hawaiian convention. Hā Hawai'i stated that it has no funds to help fill vacancies. Lela Hubbard ' Aiea

LETTERS From page 2