Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 14, Number 7, 1 July 1997 — Young Hawaiians learn legislative process [ARTICLE]

Young Hawaiians learn legislative process

Sean Gonzales The leadership program started as just a group of Hawaiian students from around the islands gathering to Iearn the state's legislative process through 'Aha 'Opio o OHA, put on by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs for native Hawaiian youth. It ended as a family of brothers and sisters. For one week in June, 54 high school seniors were transformed by the education division of OHA into young representatives and senators of the state. Selected earlier in the year, the students had many reasons for wanting to be in the program. "I am really interested in Hawaiian issues and affairs. I felt I could make a difference

by coming to 'Aha 'Opio o OHA by writing up bills that could possibly go to the real state legislature," said Brandon Bunag of Kamehameha Schools who was 'Aha 'Opio o OHA's Kia'āina Hope (lieutenant governor). "As [part of] the next voting class of Hawaiians I just wanted to join this program to show how proud I am to be Hawaiian," said Representative Amber Ige, the only delegate from Wai'anae High School. In its tenth year, the program has provided native Hawaiian students with leadership development in public speaking, parliamentary procedure and group political interaction. Eaeh delegate eontributed his or her own ideas and made them into bills that continued on page 6