Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 37, Number 12, 1 December 2020 — O'ahu 'Ohana: Consider Running for Your Neighborhood Board [ARTICLE]

O'ahu 'Ohana: Consider Running for Your Neighborhood Board

By Aliantha Lim, OHA Community Outreach Advocate In 1973, the Neighborhood Board Commission was created on O'ahu "to assure and increase community participation in the decision-making process of government." This established an island-wide network of elected boards to improve communication and facilitate community and government interaction. Today there are 33 neighborhood boards that meet monthly and serve as the first line of support and information for residents with community concerns. At neighborhood board meetings residents ean speak out on record to their county and elected officials. Eaeh meeting has a "Community Concerns" portion, where people ean sign-up to speak to the board for three minutes. Some lobby for support for a specific issue, some share safety concerns, and some announee community events.

This allows residents to formally advocate for the positive grassroots changes they wish to see. Community leaders, loeal legislators, and nonprofit groups are often represented at the meetings, so participation is also a great way to learn about what is happening and heeome more involved in your community. Native Hawaiian representation is needed at every level and in every aspect of government and decision-making in Hawai'i. We need to advocate for our 'āina, mo'omeheu (culture), 'ohana and lāhui. Hawaiian perspectives are often lacking in current decision-making practices, but we ean change that! Joining your neighborhood board provides an excellent opportunity to delve into loeal politics, build professional relationships, and develop leadership skills while serving your community. Share your voice and represent the lāhui' s concerns as a Native Hawaiian neighborhood board

member. Applications are now being accepted for neighborhood board elections. All 435 seats in every district will be up for eleehon in April; this is an excellent opportunity to put Hawaiians in positions of loeal leadership. The application process is relatively easy, and if you are 18 or older, and a resident of that neighborhood, then you qualify to run for a neighborhood board seat. To vote in 0'ahu's 2021 neighborhood board elections, you must be 18 years or older and a resident of that neighborhood. If you registered for the 2020 primary or general elections, then you are already registered to vote in the 2021 neighborhood board elections. If you have moved, or need to update your registration, visit olvr.hawaii.gov or contact the County Clerk's Office for further information. ■