Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 6, 1 June 1988 — 52 Hawaiian Students Face Unique Process in ʻAha ʻOpio O OHA [ARTICLE]

52 Hawaiian Students Face Unique Process in ʻAha ʻOpio O OHA

Fifty-two Hawaiian high school juniors representing puhlie, private and parochial schools statewide will learn about the legislative process through a unique Hawaiian approach in the first Office of Hawaiian Affairs-sponsored " 'Aha 'Opio O OHA Hawaiian Youth Legislature," June 17-25. It is meant to give Hawaiian youth personal experience with government process and leadership roles and to develop their leadership abilities. The week-long conference at the State Capitol gives them a ehanee to experience first-hand a simulated legislative process, and to develop their skills in public speaking, parliamentary procedure and group interaction. What makes the 'Aha 'Opio gathering uniquely Hawaiian is that the students, following the legislative process, will select current issues of eoneem to them and discuss how they impact on the Hawaiian community. OHA Education Officer Rona Rodenhurst, 'Aha 'Opio coordinator, says, "This is their conference. We hope that through the legislative process they will eome to see the larger picture and ask, 'How

does this affect me, how ean I have a say?'" Special cultural sessions will cover alternative lifestyles, Hawaiian language, ho'oponopono and Hawaiian values as part of the activities. Students will visit various state agencies to leam how government works and will get to meet with Hawaiian legislators. Though it borrows the general concept of the national YMCA Model Youth Legislature program, the 'Aha 'Opio Youth Legislature recognizes Hawaii's own cultural heritage and is aimed at developing leadership abilities in Hawaiian youth. Representatives of four British Columbia Indian tribes were also invited to participate, but at press time in mid-May, confirmation was not yet received. Rodenhurst says while they had hoped to involve 100 students, this is still a good turnout. She said OHA hopes to make it an annual event. One long-range goal of the conference is to encourage the students as seniors to increase their leadership involvement in school government, clubs and other school activities.