2 | d ec i s i on 20 18 | Kai wai Ol a
pa i k a leo | l i ft you r voi ce
Know the candidates
Engaged Hawaiians effect change
very two years, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs asks candidates in select Hawai‘i primary and general races about key Hawaiian issues and publishes their answers in a special Ka Wai Ola election insert. In advance of the primary election, Ka Wai Ola focuses on candidates for OHA’s Board of Trustees, a nine-member elected board that sets policy aimed at improving the well-being of Native Hawaiians. OHA Trustees have a duty of loyalty, as well as a duty to administer trust assets solely in the interest of OHA beneficiaries. In 2018, five OHA seats will be on the ballot: Maui Trustee, O‘ahu Trustee and three At-Large Trustees. Ka Wai Ola invited all 24 OHA Trustee candidates to participate in a three question survey. The 19 responses we received are published as submitted, up to 300 words. This year, Ka Wai Ola also posed three questions to gubernatorial candidates in hotly-contested primary races for the state’s top office. Eight of 13 candidates for governor took the opportunity to complete OHA’s questionnaire. Learn more about candidates for U.S. Congressional District 1, lieutenant governor and governor at an upcoming Super Debate on July 2. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Kamehameha Schools are sponsors of the three-hour debate, which takes place at KS-Kapälama and will be televised on Hawaii News Now beginning at 6:30 p.m. The registration deadline for this year's primary election is on July 12 but this year Hawai‘i will also offer same-day registration at Early Walk In Voting sites, as well as at their assigned polling places on election day. Same-day registrants will need to complete a registration affidavit and provide government-issued identification, or a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other governmentissued document showing the voter’s name and address. ¢
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By Sterling Wong
respective heads of Hui Aloha ‘Äina and Hui Kälai‘äina, the organizahe arrival of this election tions that were at the forefront of season offers an opportuthe native opposition to annexation. nity for Native Hawaiians to The third prominent voice of the reflect upon how the power convention was Robert Kalanihiapo of their vote has influenced Wilcox, a former legislator who led the course of history in Hawai‘i. the two previously-mentioned armed A consistent theme over time is that rebellions. The Native Hawaiians in Native Hawaiians launch grassroots attendance agreed to establish a new initiatives to address an injustice, and political party that would focus on then they carry that momentum to the local needs. The leaders of the conballot box. When Native Hawaiians vention then walked to Washington turn out in force to the polls, they have Circa 1893, Hui Aloha ‘Āina o Na Kane or the Hawaiian Patriotic League for Men, Place to speak to Queen Lili‘uokalani been able to tilt the political establish- which petitioned against annexation. Captioned: Representative Committee of Dele- about their plans. After hearing them gates of the Hawaiian People to present a memorial to Hon. James H. Blount, pray- out, the Queen told them: ment to their needs. ing for the restoration of the monarchy under Queen Liliuokalani. Included in the crowd We have no other direction left, are Sam M. Kaaukai, J. W. Bipikane, H. S. Swinton, J. K. Kaulia, L. W. P. Kanealii, except this unrestricted right [to Native Hawaiians Wrest Joseph Nawahi, John Sam Kikukahiko, S. K. Aki, J. A. Cummins, D. W. Pua, John K. vote], given by the United States to Back Control of the Prendergast, A. K. Palekaluhi, John E. Bush, John Mahiai Kaneakua, F. S. Keiki, J. K. you the people. Grasp it and hold on Kingdom For much of the kingdom period, Kaunamano, J. Kekipi, John Lota Kaulukou, and J. K. Merseburg. - Source: United States to it; it is up to you to make things western and business interests sought Library of Congress right for all of us in the future. ways to reign in the political influence With the approval of their queen, of Native Hawaiians. In addition to control- years later, the 1890 election demonstrated the the Native Hawaiian patriotic organizations ling the throne, Native Hawaiians represented potency of the Native Hawaiian vote. turned seven years of grassroots activism into a an overwhelming majority (about 70 percent) comprehensive political campaign. Hui Aloha of the kingdom’s registered voters. Frustrated Native Hawaiian Territory or ‘Äina and Hui Kälai‘äina joined to form a new with native governance, westerners forced a “Native Hawaiians Dominate party, called the Independent Home Rule Party. new constitution on the kingdom in 1887. In Territorial Politics” The rallying slogan for the party was “Hawai‘i addition to reducing the king to a figurehead, In the years following the overthrow of the for Hawaiians,” the same motto used by supthe Bayonet Constitution established a property kingdom, Native Hawaiians initiated an exhaus- porters of both Queen Emma and Kaläkaua in requirement for voters of one legislative cham- tive effort to restore the monarchy. The native their 1874 election for the throne. ber and made other voter eligibility changes that opposition is well documented and includes The first territorial election in Hawai‘i was strengthened the political influence of western- boycotting Republic of Hawai‘i elections and a decisive victory for Native Hawaiians. The ers at the expense of Native Hawaiians. affairs, the gathering of 38,000 signatures in Home Rule Party dominated the territorial legThe new constitution outraged Native Hawai- opposition to annexation and another armed islature – winning 9 out of 15 Senate seats and ians. In response, they became politically active, rebellion. 22 out of 30 House seats, and Wilcox became holding mass meetings, publishing articles in These efforts helped to dissuade the U.S. the territory’s first delegate to Congress. MoreHawaiian newspapers and circulating petitions. Congress from passing a treaty of annexation. over, Native Hawaiians represented 33 of 45 A Native Hawaiian-led political entity, called But the events of the next few years made it clear legislators elected. Hui Kälai‘äina, was established to help organize to even the staunchest of Native Hawaiian patriThe Native Hawaiian vote shaped politics for native opposition. ots that a new political strategy was needed. In the first three decades of the territory, as Native When a native-led armed rebellion against 1898, the U.S. laid claim to the islands through Hawaiians held the majority of registered voters the new constitution failed, Native Hawaiians a congressional resolution. However, over the through 1920 and a plurality through the 1930s. turned to the polls. Hui Kälai‘äina joined a next two years, Republic of Hawai‘i leaders As a result of exercising their vote and also by coalition that resulted in a “landslide victory” were unable to convince Congress that voters in joining the Republican Party, many Native for the party in the 1890 election. With 14 of the new territorial government should be subject Hawaiians were able to secure government jobs the 24 House seats and all nine O‘ahu seats for to property requirements. This meant that while as a form of political patronage, according to Nobles, the coalition was able to organize the the territorial governor would be appointed by Native Hawaiian scholar Davianna McGregor. Legislature; elect its president and control its the U.S. President, the Native Hawaiian vote In 2018, it’s easy to understand how Native committees; and overhaul the King’s cabinet, would determine the composition of Hawai‘i’s Hawaiians may feel disenfranchised by the according to legal scholar and historian Jon M. new legislature. existing political landscape. However, the Van Dyke. Shortly after the passage of the Organic Act Native Hawaiian vote continues to carry the Van Dyke said that the 1890 election repre- in 1900, which established the Territory of power to shape Hawai‘i’s laws and policies. If sented Native Hawaiians “effectively wrest[ing] Hawai‘i, Native Hawaiian political organiza- we exercise that power now, Native Hawaiians control of the Kingdom from those who foisted tions gathered in Honolulu to discuss political can have significant influence on the future of the Bayonet Constitution on the Kingdom.” strategy. The leaders of the convention were Hawai‘i, just as our küpuna did. ¢ While the kingdom was overthrown three James Kaulia and David Kalauokalani, the