Politics

Sat - November 4, 2006

Get out the Hawaiian vote rally today

From the Advertiser:

The goal is to get Native Hawaiians to the polls (and registered for future elections), but everyone is invited, including candidates, to today's Hawaiian voter rally and free concert on the grounds of 'Iolani Palace.

There's free lunch and water for the first 2,500 attendees; free "No Vote, No Grumble" T-shirts and bumper stickers, while supplies last; a health tent offering free blood-pressure screenings, lomilomi sessions and info; and entertainment by Genoa Keawe and 'Ohana, Sean Na'auao, Robi Kahakalau, Raiatea Helm, Simplisity and six hula halau.

Hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It's free. www.hawaiianvote.org, 753-9773.

Posted at 08:17 AM Permalink

Fri - October 13, 2006

Hawaiian Vote 2006

Voter registration deadline is passed, but I just noticed this Hawaiian Vote 2006 effort, which includes a rally on Saturday, Nov. 4 at 'Iolani Palace.

Also, reminder of the Talk story with Bumpy Kanahele, candidate for OHA At-large, tomorrow from noon - 4 in Waimanalo.

Posted at 05:23 PM Permalink

Wed - October 4, 2006

Voter registration, absentee ballots

2006 General Election Voter Registration Deadline: October 9, 2006.
Download voter registration form and instructions

To verify your voter registration status, please call:
Hawaii Voter Hotline
(808) 453-VOTE (8683)
1-800-442-8683
Or
Office of the City Clerk(Oahu) - (808) 523-4293
Office of the County Clerk (Hawaii County) - (808) 961-8277
Office of the County Clerk (Maui County) - (808) 270-7749
Office of the County Clerk (Kauai County) - (808) 241-6350

Vote Absentee
Application for Absentee Voter Ballot must be received by the City/County Clerk where you reside no later than October 31, 2006, 4:30 P.M.
Download absentee ballot application and instructions

Or Find your polling place

Please note that OHA elections are open to ALL registered voters (not just Native Hawaiians) on all islands.

Posted at 08:46 AM Permalink

Sun - October 1, 2006

Thielen "respects the sovereignty rights of Hawaiians"

Worth noting these grafs from this article in the Advertiser, re Cynthia Thielen, who has been selected to run against Akaka for the Senate:

Thielen, as an environmental attorney before she got into politics, fought for Hawaiian access to the Navy's former bombing range at Kaho'olawe and opposed the H-3 Freeway because of the potential for Windward sprawl. She also worked with the poor as an attorney with the Legal Aid Society of Hawai'i. She is a direct descendant of the American patriot Patrick Henry ("Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!") — but said she respects the sovereignty rights of Hawaiians and their spiritual connection to the Islands.

"I developed very deep roots with the Hawaiian community," she said of her legal work with Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana. "Those are bonds I will always cherish."

I hope someone will ask her to define that a bit more. What exactly does she mean by "sovereignty rights of Hawaiians"?

Posted at 06:07 PM Permalink

Thu - September 21, 2006

Akaka worried about voter turnout among Hawaiians

Advertiser reports that Akaka, who according to the latest poll is heavily favored over Case among Hawaiians, is "worried about historically low voter turnout among Hawaiians," and will spend Saturday in Papakolea, Waimanalo, Wai'anae and Nanakuli to help get out the vote.

Meanwhile, the Star-Bulletin reports on Case's complaining about Akaka's appeals to Native Hawaiians, calling them "incredibly polarizing and divisive," after Akaka's news conference yesterday with organizations including the Native Hawaiian Bar Association and the Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce. This strikes me as rather ridiculous. Of course someone should not be elected just based on whether they are of a certain ancestry, but Akaka will naturally appeal to Hawaiians, and there's nothing wrong with that. If Case wants Hawaiians votes, he should find ways to appeal to Hawaiians himself, rather than whining about Akaka doing so.

Posted at 09:18 AM Permalink

Mon - September 18, 2006

Akaka for Senate

I think I'll take this opportunity to comment on the U.S. senate race, since I was one of the 601 people called for this Advertiser poll of likely Democratic primary voters that found "Akaka leading Case 51 percent to 38 percent with 11 percent undecided." I was one of the 51 percent supporting Akaka.

Some folks may be surprised after my criticism of Akaka and his namesake Native Hawaiian federal recognition bill. But in that regard, I don't see much difference between Akaka and Case. I do believe Akaka was pursuing the bill because he truly believed it was the best thing to do for his people, from his position. And unlike some others who were supporting it, it seemed to me that he was always respectful of those who didn't. Plus, for me, his comment on NPR leaving open the possibility of independence for his children and grandchildren was a positive thing.

But other issues are a bigger reason for me. (I was one of those many voters who said they are "basing their decision on the candidates' stand on public-policy issues.") As an American citizen voting for a U.S. senator, I do look at more than just Hawaiian issues. Akaka's support for ANWR drilling is a definite strike against him, but otherwise he is a reliably progressive vote. Case's votes for the horrendous bankruptcy bill and estate tax, his positions on social security privatization and support for the Patriot Act without important amendments to protect civil liberties, as well as his support for the Iraq war, are all examples of positions that I strongly disagree with.

For these reasons, I am voting for Sen. Akaka, and encourage those who are voting to support him as well.

Progressive Punch compares their records.

Posted at 10:27 AM Permalink

Tue - September 12, 2006

William Aila for Governor

Well, speaking of politics, I'd like to note yesterday's profile of William Aila as a Democratic candidate in the race for governor, going up against Randy Iwase in the primary. I don't know Aila personally, but I have heard only good things about him from those who do. And I don't know if Aila has any chance against Lingle (he has $6,800 on hand against her $3.3 million), but he has my support, and I give him credit for going for it.

The profile notes his activism on environmental and cultural issues, including:

He opposes basing the Stryker Brigade in Hawai'i because he contends the environmental reviews weren't done properly. He questions the impacts of military activities at Makua as a member of Hui Malama 'O Makua, a group that believes the valley is sacred, and is dedicated to protecting it.

... Aila is one of four board members of Hui Malama I Na Kupuna 'O Hawai'i Nei who were held in contempt on the same day that Judge David Ezra jailed Edward Halealoha Ayau, executive director of Hui Malama.

Imagine how things could change if he did manage to get elected. Once the primary is over, at least some more attention will shift to the governor's race and people will start paying attention to who the Dem nominee is. Hopefully Aila will have a chance to at least raise some issues, and who knows, anything can happen... It is worth giving him our support.

ailaforgov.org

Doug has more.

Update: It is also worth noting how this might be affected by the political drama that may be happening on the Republican side of the U.S. Senate race. Jerry Coffee has withdrawn for health reasons, which means that if he wins anyway, the Republican party (i.e. Lingle) gets to appoint the replacement. Lingle is actively urging Republicans to vote for Coffee (and not cross over to vote for Case on the Dem side). Lingle is definitely playing games with the system, not announcing who the nominee would be until after the election, and showing that the Hawaii GOP 'Machine' is just as bad or worse than the Dems are. There can be much speculation about motives and possibilities, including that Lingle herself might switch races and run for the Senate. In the context of this post, it seems to me that would mean Aila suddenly becomes more viable, given the relative shallowness of the Republican bench here. There are a few other reasonably strong candidates, but Lingle towers over anyone else politically in the Rs. Dunno, but it certainly could be the wild card of this Hawaii election season. For more details and speculation, worth reading these two posts and the comments at poinograpy.com.

Posted at 05:38 PM Permalink

A Princely candidate for Congress

In this Advertiser profile of Quentin Kawananakoa in his race for Congress, his ali'i heritage comes up:

Kawananakoa was born in Honolulu and is a descendant of Hawaiian royalty. His great-grandfather was Prince David Kawananakoa — who was a cousin of King David Kalakaua — and his great-grandfather's brother was Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana'ole.

Some Hawaiians also consider Quentin Kawananakoa a prince and heir to the Hawaiian monarchy, but he said he neither claims nor rejects the title and it has never been formally bestowed on him. Such a title would be honorific, rather than a source of actual political power, except in the sense that it emphasizes heritage and Island roots, he said.

"I don't allude to myself in that fashion, but I certainly am proud of my forefathers who in fact were of the royal family," he said. "But today what we have is perhaps a remembrance of our culture, and in that respect, I think many Hawaiians do recognize that we do come from our prior ali'i family lines."

It was mentioned in the comments that the new audio tour tape at 'Iolani Palace "includes several commentaries by Quentin Kawananakoa, who is always referred to as 'Prince Kawananakoa' and who seems happy to answer to that appellation." That would seem to belie his claim that he "neither claims nor rejects the title" and doesn't allude to himself in that fashion. I haven't heard the tapes myself, though, to verify exactly how it is used.

Further down in the piece, National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Alex Burgos notes approvingly "the fact that he is (an) heir to the Hawai'i throne." I find it rather amusing that Republicans see being an heir to a monarchy as a positive attribute for their candidate for Congress.

Using the title of prince does sort of imply the existence of the monarchy that one is a prince of. Even the way this NRCC quotation is phrased, it places it in current tense: “he is (an) heir to the Hawai’i throne,” implying that the throne (figuratively/politically speaking) still exists. Heh.

I don't support Kawananakoa (later on I'll write about who I do support in this race), just interesting to see how the royal history plays in a Congressional race.

Doug also comments on the profile.

Posted at 01:03 PM Permalink

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