Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 31, Number 10, 1 October 2014 — "MY VOTE WON'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE." [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

"MY VOTE WON'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE."

You hear that all the time. One vote doesn't count. And every time we hear that, we flash back to 1988. In the state House 30th district, Romy Oaehola and Oonnie Chun tied in the Democratic primary. Yes, tied. Ultimately, there was a rematch in the general election in whieh Cachola prevailed. But if you think your vote doesn't count, think again. Ten votes, 19 votes ... these margins of victory show every vote does count. In the primary election, Sen. Brian Schatz beat Rep. Colleen Hanabusa by 1,782 votes and yet 3,842 voters decided not to vote for any candidate at all. So for whom should you vote? The cover story for Ka Wai Ola features an elections game where you get to figure out whieh candidate aligns more closely with your views on issues important to

Native Hawaiians and to all voters. The pages of this special Election insert also features answers from candidates that we hope will help voters decide whieh candidates will best represent you. We, at Ka Wai Ola, hope you will review candidates' answers in these pages and then visit the Kanu Hawaii website to leam about what candidates feel on many other issues. We believe if an electorate is better informed, we will be better off - and all the values Native Hawaiians will be heard in all levels of government. Based on census numbers, more that one in every five people living in Hawai'i is Native Hawaiian. And that is a voting bloc no candidate ean ignore. At Ka Wai Ola, we hope the information we bring in the candidates' own words will help you as you decide who to support in the November Elections.

This special section features select Candidate Game Q&As in federal, state and OHA races. The complete Candidate Game is accessible online via www.oha.org/candidategame.

u Courtesy photos No Vote, No Grumble