Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, 1 October 1988 Edition 02 — OHA Voters— Who Are You? Where Are You? [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OHA Voters— Who Are You? Where Are You?

by Jalna Keala, Government Affairs Officer The Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs recently commissioned SMS Research & Marketing to do a trend analysis of registered and unregistered OHA voters. Complete data for 1988 is not yet available so figures presented here are based on the 1986 election but still provide a good idea of Hawaiian voting trends. What we learned is not exactly surprising, but graphically illustrates the amount of work that lies ahead in terms of encouraging Hawaiians to elaim their full rights to register and participate in the elective processes of government. The data is being printed here as an aid to candidates who are running for office as it identifies the Hawaiian voting and non-voting population by representative districts. Data was gatheredfrom Census tracts, the State Department of Health Surveillance Program, the Lieutenant Governor's Office and various other sources. Agencies that serve the Hawaiian community might also find uses for this information as it deals with a segment of the Hawaiian populahon that has reached the voting age of 18 years. Some interesting and noteworthy statistics point out that Hawaiians in Niu-Aina Haina (District 22) have the highest registration rate of 77.2 percent while District 33, whieh includes Pauoa, Papakolea, and some areas of Nuuanu and Puunui had the highest actual turnout of 86.2 percent voting on Election Day. We need to work hard in the Kalihi Uka area to increase the turnout rate of 71 percent for District 37, and pay particular attention to District 47 whieh includes Makakilo, Ewa village and Honokai Hale to register more than the present 37.7 percent of Hawaiians residing there.

In general 79.2 percent of registered OHA voters turned out to vote, while the state rated an 82 percent turnout, and the voter registration rate was 54.4 percent, not too far off the state and national averages. Translated into numbers instead of percentages, it means that there are an estimated 110,136 Hawaiians eligible to vote. Of that number 59,897 registered, and 60,233 did not. Of the 59,897 that registered, 47,422 actually turned out to vote.

And if you aren't totally numb by now from reading all these statistics, you might also be interested to know that 56 percent of OHA's voters were women and 44 percent were men. The state average was 52 women and 48 percent men. The reason for all of this meandering down Statistical Lane is to point out to Hawaiians something that politicians have always known — enough votes ean be translated into influence and power in government. And without question, government touches all of our lives, from birth certificate to death certificate. If we put enough votes together — yours, mine, Aunty Lei's, Cousin Kimo's, Tita's, and Bruddah'§ — government will begin to pay attention and our influence will be felt. Translate government into the officials that we elect, such as senators, representatives, eouneil members, and trustees. Then stir in more officials who are appointed by the ones we elect. The appointed officials take care of operating various departments of government, and administering programs that serve the public — you and me. They supervise the civil servants that talk to you on the telephone, provide information, and deliver services directly into our hands. Think about that ehain of command the next time you want to save a heiau, need certification for your family genealogy, or want to object to the amount of water in the bag of poi in your market. Looking at it this way, government becomes very personal, and you have a voice in it. Your single vote is a pebble in a still pond that starts a npple. Given enough pebbles, that ripple ean become a tidal wave of influence for Hawaiian issues. Cast your pebble and vote in the OHA and general eleehon on Tuesday, November 8!

Estimated 110,000 Eligible to Vote