LIHUE — Voter registration for one of the biggest elections for Native Hawaiian self-governance will close this week. Nearly 100,000 Hawaiians have been certified by the state-sanctioned Native Hawaiian Roll Commission to vote in a private election for delegates who
LIHUE — Voter registration for one of the biggest elections for Native Hawaiian self-governance will close this week.
Nearly 100,000 Hawaiians have been certified by the state-sanctioned Native Hawaiian Roll Commission to vote in a private election for delegates who will gather in Honolulu this winter at a constitutional convention. The governing document these delegates write will form the foundation of a new government by and for Native Hawaiians.
The deadline to register to vote is Thursday. Voting will begin Nov. 1, when ballots are mailed to certified voters. Voting ends on Nov. 30 and the results of the election for delegates will be announced Dec. 1.
“This is an historic election for Hawaiians to determine if a reorganized Hawaiian government will be formed,” said Kuhio Asam, president of the private nonprofit Na’i Aupuni organizing the nation-building process.
Kauai’s eligible voters — those who are Native Hawaiian, at least 18 years of age and certified by the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission — will have a chance to elect two candidates to seats on the 40-member delegation.
Kauai’s candidates include Samuel Aea, a 56-year-old business owner; Kanani Kagawa Fu, Kauai County’s 34-year-old assistant to the housing director; Mai Ling Haumea, who is 24 years old; Linda Ka’auwai-Iwamoto, a 72-year-old former homestead assistant for the Department of Hawaiian Homelands; and Kuuleialoha Santos, a 40-year-old descendent of salt makers in Hanapepe.
Native Hawaiians who are 18 or older and have not been certified can apply with the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission (www.kanaiolowalu.org) or at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (www.oha.org/registry).
Information about the election process can be found at www.naiaupuni.org or by emailing naiaupuni@election-america.com.
Hawaiians who are not sure of their status or have not received any information from Election-America, should verify their status and contact information with the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission at www.kanaiolowalu.org or at (808) 973-0099.
