Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 7, Number 7, 1 July 1990 — ʻAha ʻOpio growing with 67 delegates [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ʻAha ʻOpio growing with 67 delegates

Sixty-seven high school juniors of Hawaiian ancestry took their seats as senators and representatives at the state Capitol on Monday, June 18. Sponsored by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the third annual 'Aha 'Opio O OHA brought together Hawaiian youngsters from all islands in a five-day youth legislature designed tofoster leadership and other skills among the delegates.

For the first time this year, four Hawaiians from the mainland were represented. They eame from Texas, Minnesota, Colorado and Arizona. There were 33 delegates from O'ahu, 14 from Hawai'i, 11 from Kaua'i , two eaeh from Maui and Moloka'i and one from Lana'i.

'Aha 'Opio O OHA is a program of OHA's Education/Culture Division. Its goal is to develop Hawaiian youth leaders by providing hands-on leadership experiences and developing skills in public speaking, par!iamentary procedure and group poliheal interaction. The program also helps participants to identify Hawaiian values and how they ean be used in cooperātion with the legislative process.

Legislation debated at previous sessions of 'Aha 'Opio O OHA included topics such as the bombing of Kaho'olawe, ceded land revenues, housing, education and Native Hawaiian rights. The week-long session ended Friday, June 22, at 1 p.m. Hawai'i Chief Justice Herman Lum administered the oath of office to the new governor, lieutenant governor and their advisors.

'Aha 'Opio youth governor Jonah Kaauwai (center) welcomes four Hawaiian delegates from the mainland. From left: Brian Johnson of Annandale, Minnesota; Mehana Mc-

Cracken of Gilbert, Arizona; Kaauwai; Scott Nathaniel of San Antonio, Texas; and Keala Clark of Colorado Springs, Colorado.

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