Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 19, Number 8, 1 August 2002 — Your vote counts [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Your vote counts

Our Declaration of Independence says: "We holdthese truths to be selfevident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pumuit of Happiness." That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Vlen, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed... Think about that! Governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed. That is you, the voter, whieh grants the right to individuals to justly govern and protect our rights in all facets of government, from City, County, State and including Fedaral. Your vote says who will and who will not justly govern. And I say Justly Govern! Unfortunately, we have had a rash lately, of duly elected officials that have forgotten

their purpose and have used and abused their office for personal gain. The Sandy Beach initiative eleetion in November 1988 shows what the vote ean do and how it ean be lost due to power influence. The City Council approved a luxuiy housing development across Kalaniana'ole Highway from Sandy Beach. A grass roots coalition got the land-use initiatVe put on the ballot and on Election Day the vote was 2-1 in fa\'or of rezoning the property from residential to presarvation. The developers and Bishop Estate went back to court and in Vlay of 1 989, the Hawaii Supreme Court struck down the Sandy Beach initiative. The Court stripped voters in all four counties of their land-use initiative voting rights. However, Governor Cayetano listened to the people and in 1998, the State purchased the land and declared its intention to manage a wilderness

park and protect the Ka Iwi coastline in perpetuity. When you go to the voting booth When you go to the voting booth on Tuesday, Nov. 5, be sureyouhave done your homework prior to casting your bal lot. Did the incumbents keep their campaign promises 7 Ho w did they vote on Hawaiian issues? on Tuesday, Nov. 5, be sure you have done your homework prior to casting your ballot. Did the ineumbents keep their campaign slogans and promises? How did they vote

on the issues that they championed while campaigning? How did they vote on Hawaiian issues? What are the qualifications of the candidates that are seeking office in your district? As Hawaiians, we must look closely at those who are asking for our vote. Since the overthrow of the Hawaiian government, we have been fighting to hold on to what little we have. Are those running for office really interested in the Hawaiian as a group? What have they done to fight for whatrightfully belongs to the Hawaiian? How will they stand up to the challenges of Freddie Rice, William Burgess and John Carroll? The Hawaiian people need to stand together, form an allianee, and vote for those that will help us retain what little we have and get back what is rightfully due us. See CATALUNA on page 13

Donald Cataluna Trustee, Kaua i and Ni 'ihau

CAĪALUNA on from page 1 1 If you believe your one vote doesn't count, think again. By one vote the United States Congress adopted English over German as our National language. With over 100,000 voters of Hawaiian ancestry, we ean make a difference for oumelves and for generations ofHawaiian children to eome. If these candidates are not willing to stand up to anyone who doesn't care about the Hawaiians, don't put them into office. If these candidates have been in office and haven't done anything for our people, let's replace them with someone who will. Your vote counts. Casting a vote is a right and privilege that we have. I encourage all Hawaiians to cast your vote so that we ean show we are united. If you haven't registered to vote, do so now! Helu 'ia kāu koho. Your vote counts. ■