Author: Blaine Fergerstrom

DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF HAWAI‘I
HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS CAUCUS
627 South King Street
Dial in number:  (712) 451-0200, access code 938390
General Membership Committee Meeting 
January 23, 2019, 6:00 p.m.
 
Agenda
1.     Call to Order
2.     Pule Wehe
3.     Quorum 
4.     Secretary’s Minutes 
5.     Treasurer’s Report
6.     Legislative Committee Report (Raytan Vares)
–      Bills directly impacting Native Hawaiians
–      Mauna Kea measure (Healani Sonoda Pale)
–      La Ku‘oko‘a Holiday (Jacob Bryan Aki)
         _ OHA (Collective Bargaining, Term Limits, Random Order on Ballot) (Esther Kia’aina)
–      DHHL Bills
–      Confirmation Hearings
7.     Old Business
–      DPH Platform, Honoring Hawaiians – deferred  
–      Hawaiian Homestead Ad Hoc Committee 
8.     HAC Uniform – deferred
9.     New Business 
–      HAC Plans 2019
–      Office of Mauna Kea Management Presentation
10.  New Business 
–      Furlough on Federal Employees 
11.  Announcements
12.  Adjournment
13.  Pule Ho‘oku‘u

Hawaii Supreme Court Strikes Down Ballot Measure:  The Hawaii Supreme Court has struck down the question that was to have appeared on the General Election ballot, “Shall the legislature be authorized to establish, as provided by law, a surcharge on investment real property to be used to support public education?”   The surcharge (aka property tax) would have been used to fund education; however, the Supreme Court said the measure wasn’t adequately clear to let voters know what they would be voting on.  Thus, voters will not be voting on this question.

Vote for OHA Trustee Candidates (non-partisan race):  Vote!  Vote! Vote!  All voters can cast votes for the OHA Trustee positions.  Running for election are:  Delegates at Large (3 seats to be filled):  (D) Rowena Akana; (D) Lei Ahu Isa; (D) William Aila, Jr.; (D) Faye Hanohano; (D) Brendon Kalei’aina Lee, and (D) John Waihee IV.  For the O’ahu seat:  (D) Kalei Akaka and (D) Esther Kia’aina; and for the Maui seat, Carmen Hulu Lindsey and Ke’eaumoku Kapu.  Vote informed.  View the Hawaiian Affairs Caucus/Vote Informed OHA Trustee Candidate forum on ‘Olelo channel 49 on 10/30/18, 8:00 p.m.; 10/31/18, 10:00 p.m.; 11/1/18, 8:00 a.m.; and 11/3/18, 11:30 a.m.

A HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION – YES OR NO?

On November 6, 2018, the General Election ballot will contain the question, “Shall there be a convention to propose a revision of or amendments to the Constitution?”

• A “yes” vote supports holding a constitutional convention to explore proposals for changes to the state constitution.
• A “no” vote opposes holding a constitutional convention to explore proposals for changes to the state constitution. 

Here is a listing of resources to become informed on this important question:

• Hawaiian Affairs Caucus/‘ŌleloVote Informed: Several Native Hawaiian leaders share their perspective on the pros and cons of a constitutional convention.  Panelists include: Mr. Jacob Aki, Mr. Ikaika Hussey, Ms. Lei Kihoi, Dr. Jonathan Osorio, and Ms. Mahealani Wendt.

Broadcast on ‘Ōlelo Channel 49 on the following dates and times:  10/23 at 5:30 PM,  10/24 at 10:30 PM, 10/25 at 8:00 AM, and 10/27 at 12:00 PM.  Also, the broadcast can be found on Youtube at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYoyCFqjRnM.

• CNHA: Con-Con discussion from the 17th Annual Native Hawaiian Convention with Former Governor Neil Abercrombie and U.S. Representative Colleen Hanabusa can be found on the CNHA Facebook page www.facebook.com/hawaiiancouncil

• Citizen’s Jury: A jury of 18 Hawaii voters who met on three occasions to discuss the pros and cons of a Hawaii State Constitution.  At the last meeting, panelists deliberated amongst themselves and articulated the primary reasons for both supporting and opposing the Constitutional Convention and listed the generally agreed-upon facts about the issue. As a final step, participants voted in a straw poll whether they support or oppose holding a Constitutional Convention.  The results of those meetings and supporting materials can be found at:  http://www.publicpolicycenter.hawaii.edu/projects-programs/con-con-citizens-jury.html.

• The Hawaii State Constitutional Convention Clearinghouse: https://hawaii.concon.info contains articles, events and so much more concerning the pros and cons of a Hawaii State Constitutional Convention.

Tune in to ‘Olelo Channel 49. to hear the views of candidates for the position of Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustee.  Hosted by the Hawaiian Affairs Caucus, Democratic Party of Hawaii.  Featured candidates:  At-Large Seats:  Lei Ahu Isa, William J. Aila, Jr, and Brendon Kalei’aina Lee;  Maui Seat:  Kapu Ke’eaumoku and Carmen Hulu Lindsey; O’ahu Seat:  Kalei Akaka.

Broadcast dates on ‘Olelo Channel 49:  10/30/18, 8:00 p.m.; 10/31/18, 10:00 p.m.; 11/1/18, 8:00 a.m.; and 11/3/18, 11:30 a.m.

• HAC Nomination Form DOCX

Download and submit this form to nominate someone for the At-Large Maui and At-Large Kauai seat. Deadline Oct. 20.

Aloha e nā hoa,

The HAC’s legislative committee will begin to prepare for the 2019 legislative session with a meeting next Wednesday, September 26. You’re invited to attend.

My goals for this meeting are to briefly recap the successes and failures of this past session, discuss ways we can strengthen our advocacy efforts, and lay the path for the approval of our legislative agenda before the end of the year.

What: HAC Legislative Committee Meeting
Where: DPH Headquarters (627 South Street)
When: Wednesday, September 26, 6-8 PM
Teleconference: (563) 999-2090, 544701

Mahalo,
Raytan Vares
Chair, HAC Legislative Committee

Here are the results of the OHA races:

Kalei Akaka and Esther Kia’aina go head to head in the general election for the OHA O’ahu resident seat.  Ms. Akaka garnered 15.7% (or 44,917) votes; and Ms Kia’aina 13.9% (or 39,875) in the primary election.

Incumbent OHA Trustees John Waihee IV, Lei Ahu Isa, and Rowena Akana, lead the race into the general election followed by William Aila, Faye Hanohano, and Brendon Kalei’aina Lee.  All will vie for the three OHA At-Large seats.

Governor Ige won re-election as the Democratic Party candidate going into the general election as did Mazie Hirono and Tulsi Gabbard.  Ed Case won the congressional district 1 seat. All compete in the general election against other parties candidates.

Results of all races can be found at elections.hawaii.gov.