HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

325

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

SUPPORTING VOTER CAMPAIGNS AND POLITICAL FORUMS FOR THE CANDIDATES SEEKING POLITICAL OFFICE, including SEATS on the OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS board of trustees.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole believed it important that the native Hawaiian community be informed and active in civic and political issues; and

 

     WHEREAS, as a result, the Hawaiian Civic Club of Honolulu was founded in 1918; today, 58 civic clubs are located throughout Hawaii and in Alaska, California, Colorado, Illinois, Nevada, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Tennessee; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs advocates for the improved welfare of native Hawaiians in culture, health, economic development, education, housing, social welfare, and nationhood; and

 

     WHEREAS, people in leadership positions impact decisions on issues of importance to the native Hawaiian community; and

 

     WHEREAS, political forums have helped voters to better understand the issues and the stance of each candidate; this enables voters to make sound, informed decisions when they cast their vote; and

 

     WHEREAS, statistics show that more than 153,000 native Hawaiians are eligible to vote, representing about 16 percent of the voter population, and it is critical that their voice be heard; and

 

     WHEREAS, efforts by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) and OHA's candidate forums, the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs' voter registration drive, the Ilioulaokalani Coalition's "No Vote, No Grumble" campaign, and the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement's "Native Votes Count" campaign significantly improved native Hawaiian participation in the last election; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2010, the Senate concurring, that the Legislature supports voter campaigns and political forums for the candidates seeking political office, including seats on the OHA Board of Trustees; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs is requested to host or participate in political discussion forums of candidates regarding political, cultural, and social issues of importance to the native Hawaiian community; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that civic clubs, schools, and other Hawaiian organizations and their members promote voter registration and participate in voter registration campaigns and drives; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that OHA, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Kamehameha Schools, Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, community foundations, and other organizations be encouraged to fund these initiatives that support educational and political forums, and native Hawaiian voter turnout; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chair of the Board of OHA, President of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, Chair of the Board of Trustees of Kamehameha Schools, President of the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, Ilioulaokalani Coalition, and Hawaiian Independence Action Alliance.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

Native Hawaiians; Voter Turnout