Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 35, Number 6, 1 June 2018 — A history of civic engagement [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A history of civic engagement

A s we reflect on this year's / \ legislative session and

Athe inaction by the Legislature on bills ehampioned by OHA and the Native Hawaiian eommunity, I am reminded more than ever of the need for a civically engaged community. I have been a longtime advocate of grassroots movements and direct advocacy with lawmakers, but a major way to make our voices heard is through our votes. This is a huge election year with seats open y\^ax w ilii

at the loeal, state, and national levels. Coincidentally this is also Ke Au Hawai'i, the Year of the Hawaiian. What better way to eelebrate who we are than by showing up in record numbers and being the deciding voters in these races? Our primary elections are just

around the corner, with early walk-in voting beginning at the end of July. Primary elections hold a great importance in Hawai'i, where the outcome of some offices ean already be determined during the primary. The first step in this process is to make sure you are registered to vote, Timely registration with the Office of Elections will ensure that your vote is counted on election day. Although same-day registration is available during early voting and at your assigned polling plaee on election day, a timely registration is required in order to request an absentee ballot. If you are voting by absentee ballot, pay close attention to instructions and deadlines. This year, the deadline to register for the primary eleehon is July 12. Civic engagement has had a long role in our history. The 1897 Petition Against the Annexation of Hawai'i, also known as the Kū'ē Petitions, was signed by 21,269 Hawaiians, whieh was a majority of the population at the

time. The Hawaiian Civic Club movement began 100 years ago, founded

by Prince Kūhiō, in and of itself a major component of civic engagement and advocacy for our lāhui. Native Hawaiians have set historic milestones when it comes to holding high elected office. The first Native govemor of any state was Govemor John Waihe 'e III in 1986. The first Native Hawaiian to serve in the United States Senate was U.S. Senator Daniel Kahikina Akaka, appointed to the Senate in 1990. In 1900, Hawai'i

sent its first delegate, and first Native Hawaiian, Robert Wilcox, to Congress. Wilcox's immediate successor, Prince Kūhiō, would become the second Native Hawaiian in Congress in 1903. Hawai'i's first two representatives in Congress were

Native Hawaiians, and this was before Hawai'i even had a vote in Congress. An informed and engaged voting populaee has the potential to encourage more candidates for office - hopefully more Native Hawaiian candidates and candidates who are supporters of issues important to the Native Hawaiian community. Addressing an auelienee at Washington Plaee in 1 900, Queen Lili 'uokalani said: "We have no other direction left to pursue, except this unrestricted right to vote, given by the U.S. to you the lāhui, grasp it and hold on to it. It is up to you to make things right for all of us in the future." Our beloved Queen provided these words of wisdom more than a century ago, yet we still struggle to make our voice heard. Let's celebrate the Year of the Hawaiian in the most appropriate way possible by making our Hawaiian vote the loudest it has ever been. Register, and cast your vote, beginning with the primary eleeūon. ■

Cūlette Y. Machado Chsir, īrustsB Mnlūka'i ard Lāna'i

IMPORTANT DATES > Deadline to register for the primary election: July 12 > Deadlineto request a mail ballot: August 4 > Early walk-in voting: July 30 — August 9 (eheek your county locations) > Primary Election: August 11 Register to vote or eheek your registration at: https://olvr. hawaii.gov