Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 32, Number 8, 1 August 2015 — BLAZING A TRAIL TOWARD SELF-DETERMINATION [ARTICLE]

BLAZING A TRAIL TOWARD SELF-DETERMINATION

Na'i Aupuni creates process leading to an 'Aha next year

Submitted by Na'i Aupuni This is an exciting and historic time for Hawaiians who have long dreamed of self-determination and the potential for a reorganized sovereign Hawaiian government.

Na'i Aupuni exists solely to create a process for Hawaiians to elect delegates who will attend a Hawaiian constitutional convention, or 'Aha. Forty elected delegates representing Hawaiians in and outside of Hawai'i will attend the 'Aha. Their role will be to decide whether or not to offer a constitution or other governance document for Hawaiians to ratify. For the first time since the overthrow of the

Hawaiian Kingdom 122 years ago, an eleehon process actually has begun. It is happening now! Hawaiians have many opinions on and options for Hawaiian self-determination, and the elected delegates will discuss those options at the 'Aha. We want as many Hawaiians as possible to participate in the process. If you have strong beliefs about the future of Hawaiian self-determination, we say "Take it to the 'Aha!" Get involved. Register to vote. Run for delegate. Let your voice heeome part of the growing chorus for Hawaiian self-determination. An important thing you should know about Na'i Aupuni is that it is a completely independent, nonprofit organization made up of a volunteer board of directors from the Hawaiian community. It exists solely to help establish a path for Hawaiian selfdetermination. Our board members will not run as delegates to the 'Aha or affect the deliberations or decisions of the delegates. Only the elected delegates will decide what the 'Aha's outcome will be. We have hired a well-established, highly experienced company, Elections-America, whieh has a

long record of running private elections, to conduct the election of delegates. An independent outside organization, like the League of Women voters, will ensure the elections are fair and transparent. OHA is providing a grant to the nonprofit Akamai Foundation, to be used by Na'i Aupuni. However, Na'i Aupuni will operate completely independent of OHA and the Akamai Foundation, and both of them have agreed not to interfere with Na 'i Aupuni's decisions regarding the process. Today, we eall on Hawaiians to register to vote in the election of delegates and to consider being a delegate or supporting a delegate who best represents your views. You ean do this by going to either the Office of Hawaiian Affairs

website at http://www.oha. org/registry or to the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission website at http://www. kanaiolowalu.org/ to register to vote. We intend to make this election process the most transparent possible in order to include as many Hawaiians as possible. To that end, we invite you to visit our website at http://www.naiaupuni.org/. There you will find answers to questions you might have, historical documents and news coverage, as well as

actual copies of contracts and agreements between Na'i Aupuni, its vendors and Akamai Foundation. The website also attempts to answer questions regarding the process, such as: • Why Hawaiians shouīd seriousīy consider this opportunity toform a Hawaiian government? • Does use ofthe Roll Commission 's registry list limit poliūeal options at the 'Aha? Please register (and tell your entire 'ohana and friends to register) and heeome part of this unprecedented opportunity for Hawaiians to take control of their own destiny. Mahalo nui loa, J. Kūhiō Asam, Na'i Aupuni president; Pauline Namu'o, vice president; Kealoha Ballesteros, secretary/treasurer; Gerry Miyamoto; and Selena Lehua Schuelke. ■

If you have strong beliefs about the future of Hawaiian self-determination, we say "Take it to the 'Aha!" Get involved.

Na'i Aupuni TENTATIVE ĪIMELINE > Currently: Voter registration is open at Office of Hawaiian Affairs website at http://www.oha.org/registry and the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission website at http://www.kanaiolowalu. org. Hawaiians who want to participate in the election of delegates must register before Oct. 15, 2015. > Late July or early August 201 5: A Notice of Elections will be sent to certified voters explaining the apportionment of delegates, howto file as a delegate candidate and the voting process. Applications will be available for delegate candidates. > Mid-September 2015: Deadline to file as a delegate candidate. > End of September 2015: List of qualified delegate candidates announced. >0ct. 15, 2015: Voter Registration by the Hawaiian Roll Commission closes. >Nov. 1,2015: Ballots will be sent to voters certified bythe Roll Commission as of Oct. 15,2015. > Nov. 30, 2015: Voting ends. > Day after voting ends: Election results announced publicly. > Between February and April 2016: 'Aha held on O'ahu overthe course of eight consecutive weeks (40 work days, Monday through Friday). > Two montbs after 'Aha concludes: lf delegates recommend a form of Hawaiian government, a ratification vote will be held among all certified Native Hawaiian voters.

G0VERNANCE To restore pono and ea, Native Hawaiians will achieve self-gover-nanee, after whieh the assets of 0HA will be transferred to the new governing entity.