Election 2016, Endorsement of OHA Candidates: At its meeting on September 28, 2016, the Executive Committee voted to endorse Haunani Apoliona for OHA Trustee-at-Large and Robert Lindsey for OHA Hawaiʻi Island Trustee. Members of the Democratic Party are encouraged to vote for these candidates. Their position on Hawaiian self-governance is consistent with the platform of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi and the resolution, “Support for the Naʻi Aupuni Hawaiian Nation-Building and the U.S. Department of Interior’s Rule-making Processes” adopted by the SCC at its quarterly meeting on October 24, 2015.

Mahalo,
Hawaiian Affairs Caucus

Aloha e nā hoa,

The Hawaiian Affairs Caucus will hold its quarterly general membership meeting on Wednesday, October 19, 2016, 6:00 p.m., at ILWU (451 Atkinson Drive).  You are urged to attend. If you’re unable to be there in person, you may call in to this conference line:

Agenda includes a presentation on the Constitution of the Native Hawaiian Nation, an update on the various issues the Executive Committee has been working on, and the election of two Oʻahu county-at-large officers to the HAC Executive Committee. Additionally, members are encouraged to bring up any proposals for the 2017 legislative agenda, for example, in education, housing, health, etc.

For Oʻahu HAC members, if you’re interested in running for one of the Oʻahu county-at-large positions, contact Secretary Rhonda Roldan by responding to this email.

The meeting will begin promptly at 6:00 p.m. So that we may have a sense of how many members are planning to attend, please RSVP by Oct 10 to, Hawaiian.Affairs.Caucus@gmail.com. If you are also available to help with set up and cleanup, please contact Raytan Vares (raytanv@gmail.com).

Election 2016, Endorsement of OHA Candidates: At its meeting on September 28, 2016, the Executive Committee voted to endorse Haunani Apoliona for OHA Trustee-at-Large and Robert Lindsey for OHA Hawaiʻi Island Trustee. Members of the Democratic Party are encouraged to vote for these candidates. Their position on Hawaiian self-governance is consistent with the platform of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi and the resolution, “Support for the Naʻi Aupuni Hawaiian Nation-Building and the U.S. Department of Interior’s Rule-making Processes” adopted by the SCC at its quarterly meeting on October 24, 2015.

Mahalo,
Hawaiian Affairs Caucus

The Hawaiian Affairs Caucus turned out in numbers yesterday to support OHA Chair Robert Lindsey in his bid for re-election to the Hawai‘i Island trustee spot. We support Uncle Bob!

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HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS CAUCUS CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE
INFORMED VOTERS MAKE SOUND DECISIONS

On July 3, 2016, the Hawaiian Affairs Caucus issued an invitation to all Democratic Party candidates to participate in its Candidate Questionnaire. The questionnaire asked for the candidate’s views about Hawaiian self-governance; the role of a legislator in supporting Native Hawaiian concerns; and specific legislation the candidate would be willing to propose or support to address Native Hawaiian concerns. Responses to the questions from the candidates listed below can be found at www.hawaiianaffairs.org. https://www.hawaiianaffairs.org/candidate-forum/candidates/

U.S. Senate

• Brian Schatz
• Miles Shiratori

U.S. Representative District 1

• Colleen Hanabusa
• Lei Ahu Isa
• Javier Ocasio
• Steve Tataii

State Senate

• District 2, Russell Ruderman
• District 5, Gil Keith-Agaran
• District 8, Kanoe Ahuna
• District 9, Michael Bennett, M.D.
• District 9, Stanley Chang
• District 13, Keone Nakoa
• District 13, Kim Coco Iwamoto
• District 14, Carl Campagna
• District 14, Donna Mercado Kim
• District 20, Mike Gabbard
• District 25, Randy Gonce
• District 25, Laura Thielen

State House

• District 3, Ainoa Naniole
• District 4, Joy San Buenaventura
• District 8, Richard Abbett
• District 11, Deidre Tegarden
• District 13, Lynn DeCoite
• District 14, Fern Anuenue Rosenstiel
• District 17, Karlen Ross
• District 20, Calvin Say
• District 22, Dennis Miller
• District 22, Tom Brower
• District 23, Dale Kobayashi
• District 24, Cody Carlos Rodrigues
• District 29, James Logue
• District 36, Zuri Aki
• District 40, Randy Gonce
• District 49, Patrick Kamakaniau Shea

Likewise, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs issued a questionnaire to candidates for OHA Trustee positions that posed three questions concerning improvements to the physical, mental and spiritual health of Native Hawaiians; strategy for achieving nation building; and use of mana to address contemporary, complex, and pressing issues, such as climate change, health and wealth disparities. Responses to the questionnaire can be found at www.oha.org, under the heading of Election Guide for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustees.

The Hawaiian Affairs Caucus urges all Democratic Party voters to avail themselves of these candidate responses. We hope that this will help the electorate to make informed, sound decisions at the primary and general elections. Mahalo to the candidates for taking the time to complete the questionnaire. Check back for updates at www.hawaiianaffairs.org.

The featured guest was Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa talking about the addition of a Native Hawaiian plank to the National Democratic Party Platform. Photos: Blaine Fergerstrom

Democratic Party Platform Committee Unanimously Passes Native Hawaiian Section

Democrat Colleen Hanabusa, Hawai‘i representative to the National Platform Committee, just advised via email: “The Caucus’ proposed language, with the following amendment to your first sentence, ‘Democrats also support efforts for self-governance and self-determination of Native Hawaiians. Native Hawaiians are the indigenous, aboriginal people of Hawai‘i whose values and culture are the foundation of the Hawaiian Islands. We support proactive actions by the federal government to enhance Native Hawaiian culture, health, language, and education. We recognize and honor the contributions and sacrifices made in  sevice to our country by Native Hawaiians,’ passed unanimously, just now.”

“We are grateful to Colleen Hanabusa for championing our proposal and to the 197 Platform Committee Members who voted unanimously to adopt it.  Mahalo, mahalo nui loa.”

Aloha e nā hoa,

The Hawaiian Affairs Caucus will be holding its quarterly general membership meeting on Wednesday, July 13, 2016, 6:00 p.m., at ILWU (451 Atkinson Drive).

Members are urged to attend. Amongst other agenda items, we will be electing county at-large officers to the HAC executive committee. If interested, contact Secretary Rhonda Roldan by responding to this email. The meeting will begin promptly at 6:00 p.m., followed by a Meet & Greet Social featuring Democrats running for political office at 7:00 p.m. For additional information, please see the below flyer. So that we may have a sense on the number of members planning to attend the meeting, please RSVP by July 10 to, hawaiian.affairs.caucus@gmail.com. If you are also available to help with setup and cleanup, please contact Raytan Vares (raytanv@gmail.com) or Pohai Ryan (pohaikaua@gmail.com).

Mahalo,
Hawaiian Affairs Caucus

2016 Democratic Candidates
Meet & Greet

Hosted by:

Wednesday, July 13, 2016, 7:00 p.m.

International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Office

451 Atkinson Dr., Honolulu, HI 96814

Refreshments will be served. Please join us!

*HAC general membership business will precede the Meet & Greet

Aloha e nā hoa,

The Hawaiian Affairs Caucus is looking to fill county at-large positions on our executive committee. As a statewide organization, it is imperative that we have representation from community voices all across our pae ʻāina. The county at-large positions were established in 2013 to increase community participation in the leadership of the Hawaiian Affairs Caucus, be inclusive of the diversity of perspectives in our Hawaiian communities, and bring greater awareness to the range of issues effecting Native Hawaiians. A detailed description of the duties and authorities of the Executive Committee can be found at the HAC website: www.hawaiianaffairs.org.

Election to fill four positions will take place  at the next general membership meeting on Wednesday, July 13 at 6:00 p.m. Location to be announced. The positions are as follows:

• One (1) At-Large Member from O‘ahu County
• One (1) At-Large Member from Hawai‘i County
• One (1) At-Large Member from Maui County
• One (1) At-Large Member from Kauaʻi County

To be eligible, you must be a registered member of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi and be a member of the Hawaiian Affairs Caucus for at least six months. As an executive committee member, you will be expected to attend executive committee and general membership meetings, demonstrate involvement in Caucus activities, and fully subscribe to the purpose, mission, and values of the Caucus. A written statement to this effect must accompany your interest as a candidate for an at-large position.

Please also indicate your county of residence. Email to the HAC Secretary Rhonda Roldan, at  hawaiian.affairs.caucus@gmail.com by not later than July 5, 2016. Upon her receipt of your email, she will then verify your membership status with the Party and the Caucus. Nominations will also be taken at the meeting (note that it is more convenient for us to verify you beforehand).

A description of the duties and authorities of the Executive Committee can be found at the HAC website, www.hawaiianaffairs.org.

Please share this with your friends and ʻohana. Mahalo and we look forward to hearing from you!

Hawaiian Affairs Caucus

NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY PLATFORM
NATIVE HAWAIIANS

The Executive Committee of the Hawaiian Affairs Caucus has called upon the National Democratic Party Platform Committee to expand the language in its platform relating to Native Hawaiians. If adopted, our unique history and quest for self-determination and sovereignty will be further clarified at the national level.

The current Platform mentions Native Hawaiians but once. Under a paragraph titled, “Tribal Sovereignty” that contains provisions addressing Native American Indians and Alaska Natives, it states, “Democrats support maximizing tribal self- governance, including efforts for self-determination and sovereignty of Native Hawaiians.”

The Hawaiian Affairs Caucus Executive Committee has requested that this Platform be expanded to separate out Native Hawaiians and new Platform language would state: “Native Hawaiians:   Democrats support maximizing indigenous self-governance, self-determination and sovereignty of Native Hawaiians.   Native Hawaiians are the indigenous, aboriginal people of Hawaiʻi whose values and culture are the foundation of the Hawaiian Islands.   We support proactive actions by the federal government to enhance Native Hawaiian culture, health, language, education, and housing.  We recognize and honor the contributions and the sacrifices made in service to our country by Native Hawaiians.

The Platform will be a critical component at the Democratic Party convention in Philadelphia being held on July 25-28. Hawai‘i will be represented by 34 delegates.

NEW WEBSITE LAUNCHED

We are pleased to announce the launch of our brand new website! Visit us at: https://www.hawaiianaffairs.org.

Our goals with this new website is to provide members and visitors with information about Caucus activities, to share diverse views about Native Hawaiian issues, to educate, and to serve as a candidate forum during elections. We have also included links to key Hawaiian organizations.

Amongst the new features, the site contains a button to sign up for caucus emails. We will be constantly updating our content with helpful information, articles, blogs, news, etc.

We hope you find the new website with a fresh look easy to access information.

We would also like to thank Blaine Fergerstrom for designing and setting up the website.

For any questions, suggestions, feedback or comments, please email: hawaiian.affairs.caucus@gmail.com.

CANDIDATE PROFILES

The Hawaiian Affairs Caucus has launched a place on its website for posting Candidate Profiles with the intended purpose to provide information to our membership and the electorate on candidates running in this year’s election. https://www.hawaiianaffairs.org/candidate-forum/ All candidates are being invited to participate. We have asked candidates to respond to three questions:

1. Why are you running for office?

2. What are your views about Hawaiian self-governance? In your capacity as a legislator, what action, if any, would you advocate in support of Hawaiian self-governance?

3. When it comes to Native Hawaiian issues, what do you perceive your role as a legislator to be? What ways can you, if elected, support Native Hawaiian concerns through your legislative abilities? If elected, describe specific Native Hawaiian bill ideas that you would be willing to propose or support for the advancement of Native Hawaiians.