Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 25, Number 9, 1 September 2008 — Obama says America looking for aloha spirit [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Obama says America looking for aloha spirit

Native Hawaiians eoulel be a focus of the presidential campaign

By Crystal Kua Directur uf Cūmmunicatiūns

With Hawai'i-born presidential hopeful Barack Ohama accepting the Democractic Party's nomination at its convention last month and Republican candidate Sen. lohn McCain set to do the same this month, the race for the White House could highlight issues important to Native Hawaiians. To some, Obama's visit to his home state last month was evidence. A Hawaiian and a selfdescribed "huge Barack Ohama supporter," Kekoa Carlson said he was optimistic that Ohama will be successful in his bid for thepresidency. He's "awesome, energetic, charismatic, just an excellent puhlie speaker who really seems passionate about what he's about to do," said Carlson, after hearing Ohama speak to a crowd of thousands who waited for hours under the sun at Ke'ehi Lagoon Park on Aug. 8. Carlson, a 21-year-old University of Hawai'i senior and polkieal science major who attended the rally with his mom, aunty and cousin Pono Suganuma, said one of

Obama's greatest assets is his Island roots, whieh Carlson said is a good indication that he has a "knowledge or understanding of the plight of the Native Hawaiians." And that may have already begun. The Democratic Convention in Denver planned to include language in its platform supporting the "self-detennination and sovereignty" of Native Hawaiians consistent with the 1993 Apology Act and the Native Hawaiian Govermnent Reorganization Act pending before Congress. The draft of the party platfonn also said, "We will respect the Native Hawaiian culture, rights and sacred places." Obama's weeklong visit to Hawai'i was his first visit to the Islands since declaring his candidacy. Besides the rally, the Punahou graduate eame to town for a weeklong vacation and a fundraiser, whieh earned his campaign chest $1.3 million with the help of 500 supporters at a $2,300-per-per-son fundraiser at the Kāhalaa Hihon. "It's record-breaking - we've never seen this amount of money raised in the state of Hawai'i in one night for politics. Never," said Hawai'i Democratic Party ehainnan

Brian Schatz, who attended the Democratic National Convention with 31 other Hawai'i delegates. Schatz attributed the large financial boost to Obama's campaign to "the hunger for change from eight years of George Bush and ... the fact that he's from Hawai'i, and that's not lost on us." At the Aug. 8 rally, Ohama told the throng of supporters

that he carries with hini on the campaign trail the lessons he's leamed growing up in the Islands. I try to explain to them about the aloha spirit," Ohama said. "And it's that spirit that I am absolutely convinced is what America is looking for right now. . . . "We look out for one another. We deal with eaeh other with courtesy and respect. And most important when you eome from Hawai'i that you start to understand what's on the surface, what people look like, that doesn't determine who they are," said Ohama, who was joined on stage by his wife, Miehelle. His use of Hawaiian values in his speech brought rave reviews from Native Hawaiians and other Polynesians in the audience. "My reaction, it was positive, that he is here for the aloha spirit, that he is here to say thank you to us for the support," said Sam Puletasi, a 47-year-old Democrat from 'Ewa Beach, who was happy when Ohama touched upon themes related to the sick, disabled and the elderly. But even supporters were a httle surprised that in reciting a laundry list of island ethnicities, Native Hawaiians did not eome up. "He did not mention Hawaiians by name as a native culture and that I do find surprising," said Adam Nākoa Tuifagu, 21, a 2004 Kamehameha Schools graduate. "But I think ... we have many loeal politicians who are Hawaiians who are afraid to touch Hawaiian issues, so I won't hold it against him." Lisa Asato contributed to this report. I

NŪHOU - NEWS

Newly designated Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama visited Hawai'i in August with his family, including wife Miehelle, shown here af ū Aug. 8 rally in Honolulu, where he was infroduced by U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie and Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann. - Photo: Blaine Fergerstrom