Hawaiian Independence Party - no ballot access this time

Blog entry from Ballot Access News (227 links from 46 blogs on Technorati):

A new party in Hawaii tried to qualify itself for this year’s ballot. It is the Hawaiian Kingdom Party. However, the state elections office said the party’s petition was short approximately 300 valid signatures. The Hawaiian Kingdom Party holds itself out as representing the interests of the native Hawaiian people.

I noted earlier (in a post I can't find right now, but which Mana cross-posted at the Advertiser board) that ";The basic platform is restoration of Hawai'i as an independent nation,' and the effort is inspired by Tahiti, where the Independence Party actually won the presidency." Little discrepancy there.

Not sure how many total signatures were needed. I give them credit for trying. There have been previous efforts but an independence party has never quite caught on in Hawaii. Maybe a challenge to get folks who have come to understand that Hawaii is occupied to use the occupation's political party and electoral system to further a goal which is by definition independent of that system. But truly I think this has more to do with the entrenched dominance of the two-party system that has erected obstacles to any third-party viability than it does with support for independence itself (I co-founded the Maui County Green Party in 1992 - I know from experience) . Hawaii's political history is distinct from Tahiti's, yet it is possible that a move from within the current political structure could help ensure a smooth, peaceful transition. Having a party dedicated to this could help draw attention to it (in a bigger way if they do get on the ballot, next cycle perhaps) and who knows, in certain districts candidates could probably win because of this party association. But it is hard organizing to get a new party going. But the transition can also happen in other ways, including the takeover by pro-independence factions of either of the two dominant parties, which both have supporters within them. Or through the government bureaucracy itself, which is already happening in small ways, and some not so small.

I hope that the political system of the restored Hawaiian kingdom is more friendly to multiple parties, and I think it likely that it will be. Maybe independence is a path to viable third parties, rather than the other way around.

Posted: Fri - June 2, 2006 at 11:31 PM

getBlogName(); > getCategoryName("C1126750129"); >

Hawaiian Independence Party - no ballot access this time

> >