As we head into the November General Elections, it is critical that we are, individually and collectively, an informed electorate.
No matter your political leanings – democrat, republican, independent or sovereign – voting is a tool for change available to everyone over the age of 18.
As Kānaka ʻŌiwi, we owe it to ourselves, our ʻāina and the generations that will follow, to elect individuals who will create laws and policies that protect our people, our land and our culture.
Voting based on solely on popularity, name recognition or rigid partisanism is almost as bad as not voting at all. Educating ourselves about the candidates running for office and what they represent is the only way to vote responsibly.
Since OHA trustee candidate races are not covered extensively in our local mainstream media, Ka Wai Ola surveyed the six OHA Board of Trustees candidates advancing to the General Elections to help our lāhui make informed decisions.
This year, four of the nine board positions are open: Kauaʻi/Niʻihau, Molokaʻi/Lānaʻi, Hawaiʻi Island, and one “At-Large” seat.
In the upcoming election, Keliʻi Akina, the incumbent for the open “At-Large” seat will face challenger Lei Ahu Isa. Dan Ahuna, the incumbent for the Kauaʻi/Niʻihau seat, will face challenger Laura Lindsey. And Luana Alapa, the incumbent for the Molokaʻi/Lānaʻi seat will face challenger Kūnani Nihipali.
During the August Primary Election, Hawaiʻi Island trustee candidate Kai Kahele won the election outright with 56.7% of the vote, so he was not asked to complete the survey.
Candidate Survey Responses
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Ka Wai Ola newspaper are not responsible for the manaʻo or opinions shared by the candidates.
