Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 11, Number 7, 1 July 1994 — How to register, run in the OHA election [ARTICLE]

How to register, run in the OHA election

In November, five of nine seats on the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees will be up for election by registered OHA voters. The four-year terms of the following trustees will expire in December i 994: At-large: Rowena Akana, A. Frenchy DeSoto, Kamaki Kanahele Resident of Maui: Abraham Aiona Resident of O'ahu: Clayton Hee Seats held by incumbents Kīna'u Boyd Kamali'i (At-large), Moses Keale (Kaua'i and Ni'ihau), Sam Kealoha (Moloka'i and Lana'i) and Moanike'ala Akaka (Hawai'i) will not be up for reelection until 1996. Of the nine trustees, five must be residents of the island from whieh they are running. Four are elected at-large from statewide votes. However, OHA voters ean vote for island trustees as well as the at-large seats since the law specifies trustees reside but do not represent specific islands. They serve all Hawaiians. A trustee serves a term of four years and receives a salary of $32,000. How to run for OHA trustee A candidate for the OHA Board of Trustees must be a registered OHA voter, must be of Hawaiian ancestry of any blood quantum, 18 years old or older, a resident of the state of Hawai'i and a citizen of the United States of America. The candidate must not hold any olher office or be a candidate for any other office but OHA trustee. Nomination papers may be picked up at the officeof the Lt. Governor or at any County Clerk's office on the neighbor islands. Papers must be signed by no less than 25 people who are current registered OHA voters. Anyone signing the papers should sign their name exactly as it appears on the voting rolls or the signature will be disqualified. Nomination papers must be filed at the office of the Lt. Governor (or at County Clerks' offices on the neighbor islands) no later than September 9. (See calendar of campaign deadlines. this issue.) OHA is the single self-determined voice of the Hawaiian people, as eaeh trustee is a Hawaiian elected by other Hawaiians using a secret ballot in statewide elections on the national general election day, Nov. 8, 1994. How to register to vote in the OHA eIection To vote in the OHA trustee election, a person must be of Hawaiian ancestry of any blood quantum, a citizen of the United States, a resident of the state of Hawai'i and 18 years old or order. Hawaiians do not need to show proof of ancestry when registering. However, they must sign an affidavit on the voter registTation form swearing and affirming that they are Hawaiian. If challenged by any person, they must be able to prove they are Hawaiian with appropriate documents such as a birth certificate. Eaeh person registered to vote in the OHA election will be issued an OHA ballot along with the regular election ballots at their regular polling plaee. OHA voters should eheek the ballot packet to be sure they have been given an OHA ballot. If not, ask the polling plaee workers for an OHA ballot. Challenges may be made before election day by writing to the City or County Clerk or, on election day, at the polling plaee. I