In an effort to promote the importance of Native Hawaiian civic engagement and turnout at the polls, a collaboration of community organizations will once again be organizing several get-out-the-vote (GOTV) events across Hawaiʻi.
These events aim to encourage the broader Native Hawaiian community to vote in the upcoming 2022 General Election and also to highlight the importance of participating in Hawaiʻi’s electoral processes.
“There is a long-standing misinformed belief that Native Hawaiians neither care nor show up to the polls to vote, as compared to other ethnic groups in Hawaiʻi,” said Hailama Farden, President of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs. “This is a tiresome and harmful stereotype. We are once again organizing to send a clear message that our lāhui is rising, and we will show up to the polls and amplify our voices this election.”
A recent survey – the 2022 ʻImi Pono Hawaiʻi Wellbeing Survey – conducted by Kamehameha Schools, Liliʻuokalani Trust, The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and Papa Ola Lōkah ifound that a majority of Native Hawaiians (87%) plan to vote in the upcoming 2022 General Election – rates nearly identical to non-Hawaiians.
Furthermore, the survey finds that Native Hawaiians have unique civic assets and are significantly more likely than non-Hawaiians to participate in community events or activities and address community issues.
“As rising leaders in our community, we have a responsibility to ensure that future generations of Hawaiians have the opportunity to continue living here in Hawaiʻi,” said Cheyenne Sato, a senior at Kamehameha Schools Hawai‘i campus. “Now is the best time to act. We need first to be educated and, second, to vote. We need leaders who will fight for the issues that matter most to the people of Hawai‘i. Participating in these elections is critical to achieving that goal.”
The Walk To The Box events will be taking place on:
Tuesday, October 25 at 9:00 a.m. (Maui)
- Maui – Participants will drop their ballots off at the Wailuku Community Center at 9:00 a.m. Sign waving will take place at 10:00 a.m. at the Queen Kaʻahumanu Center (near Sears).
Wednesday, October 26 at 11:00 a.m. (Honolulu + Hilo)
- Honolulu – Sign Waving at ʻIolani Palace
- Sign waving will begin at ʻIolani Palace at 11:00 a.m. Participants will be dropping off their ballots at Honolulu Hale at 11:30 a.m.
- Hilo – Sign Waving at Wailoa River State Park
- Sign waving will begin at Wailoa River State Park at 11:00 a.m. Participants will drop their ballots at the County Building on Pauahi Street at 11:45 a.m.
Friday, October 28 at 10:00 a.m. (Waimea, Hawaiʻi Island)
- Waimea, Hawaiʻi Island – Sign Waving near Church Row (Intersection of Māmalahoa Highway + Church Road)
- Sign waving will begin near Church Row at 10:00 a.m. Participants will drop off their ballots at the Waimea Police Station at 11:15 a.m.
Tuesday, November 1 at 4:30 p.m. (Nānākuli)
- Nānākuli – Sign Waving at Kalanianaʻole Beach Park
Thursday, November 3 at 4:30 p.m. (Waiʻanae)
- Waiʻanae – Sign Waving at Waiʻanae Mall (near Starbucks)
Monday, November 7 at 4:30 p.m. (Kapolei + Waiʻanae)
- Kapolei – Sign Waving in front of DHHL Office (Kapolei Parkway + Kinoiki Street)
- Waiʻanae – Sign Waving at Waiʻanae District Park
Participating organizations include the Kamehameha Schools, the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs (AHCC), the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA), the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA), Ka Leo O Nā ʻŌpio, the Native Hawaiian Education Council, Papa Ola Lōkahi, Kanaeokana, Ka ʻUmeke Kāʻeo Public Charter School and Kanu O Ka ʻĀina Public New Century Public Charter School.
Media advisories relating to these events are forthcoming.
For more information, please get in touch with Ka Leo O Nā ʻŌpio (KONO) at info@kaleoonaopio.org or via phone at 808-230-9071.