Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 17, Number 7, 1 July 2000 — Aloha ʻ Āina organizes for change Sets July 15 fund- raiser concert [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Aloha ʻ Āina organizes for change Sets July 15 fund- raiser concert

By Paula Durbln NOW THAT Aloha 'Āina is officially on the ballot this November, its founders are immersed in fundraising. "We're going to have an old-fashioned political rally with music and we are looking at having crafts - a fun day for the family," said Kumu Hula Vicky Holt Takamine, a driving force behind the new party. The event is scheduled for the Waikiki Shell July 15. Takamine had also suggested to Mountain Apple's Jon de Mello recording a CD called " Aloha 'Āina, Mele Kū'ē Songs and Chants of Resistance." "He said great," she continued. "So we sent out a letter and I was very surprised

at the response we got. Don Ho said yes, Nina Keali'iwahamana said yes, Sudden Rush said yes, and so did Tony Conjugacion. Thenl thought about taping everything live at the Shell. That way we get the spontaneity and the energy that comes from entertaining before an audience." According to Takamine, several people have expressed interest in a run for the House

on the Aloha 'Āina ticket, and one might enter the Hawai'i race for mayor. "We're waiting until they actually file their papers to say who they are," she added. "Hopefully, we ean introduce them along with our platform at our fundraiser." In addition to fielding its own candidates, Aloha 'Aina will also throw its support behind others it finds compatible. "We are going to be very careful about how we piek and choose," Takamine explained. "We are so young that it would kill us if we run a candidate in every district. Financially, we can't afford it. It just wouldn't be very smart. The ultimate goal is to elect people of any party who are responsible to the people of Hawai'i, not to developers or speeial interests. "People are going to say we are a spe-

eial interest group too, but we are also the residents," Takamine said. "We live here. Most developers and people who run the tourist industry

are not residents. They make quick money and take off. They don't have to live with what they developed. We do." "We have a lot of good legislators," Takamine added. "I think Colleen Hanabusa is wonderful and I would never put anyone up against her at this point. If she runs again, we would like to support her. Mina Morita is a great representative and we would not look at

running a candidate in her district. It's those kinds of people who have been protective and have advocated for our rights in the House and the Senate. But there are others out there I would like to have a candidate run against. If we could win one seat in the state legislature, to me it would be phenomenal." As a community orga-

nizer, Takamine is perhaps best known for guiding kumu hula and other cultural practitioners into the grassroots political activism that gave

rise to the 'īlio'ulaokalani Coalition. In 1997 and 1998, the watchdog organization successfully resisted legislation hostile to Hawaiian cultural rights guaranteed under the state constitution as affirmed by Puhlie Access Shoreline Hawaii vs. Nansay ine.

(PASH). "We are making a name for ourselves as a force to be reckoned with," Takamine said, referring to others who are, like her, veterans of the coalition's struggles. "I think people will take us seriously because we were so effective at the capitol in killing those bills that had so mueh money behind them. This is not about money. We're not getting anything from this, but it is giving us a voice and that voice is very important." ■

'We have a lot of good legislators. I think Colleen Hanabusa is wonderful and I would never put anyone up against her at this point.' — Vicky Holt Takamine

Vicky HoltTakamine's student Momi Kamahele, right, is running on the Aloha 'Aina ticket for state representative from Wai'anae.

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