REPORT FROM THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS – The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is heightening efforts to rally new voters for the Nov. 6 general election, launching a web page, enlisting celebrity spokespeople and organizing registration drives across the state.
The new “Voter Education” web page features the candidates for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives and offers their views on various issues that concern Native Hawaiians.
Users can watch videotaped responses to such questions as the candidates’ role in improving conditions for Native Hawaiians, or scour written answers to questions about stances on legislative priorities like federal recognition.
The web page coincides with a statewide registration drive, named “Hawaiian Voice, Hawaiian Vote,” which has signed up at least 1,400 Native Hawaiians over a five-week period.
The registration efforts have been helped by spokespeople such as professional football player Kealoha Pilares and local singer Lehua Kalima.
OHA’s registration efforts have also generated buzz from posters, radio and television commericials, newspaper advertisements and a Facebook page aimed at convincing Native Hawaiians of the need to vote.
To visit the Voter Education page, go to:https://www.oha.org/votereducation
To register to vote, visit: https://www.oha.org/page/register-vote
For Facebook updates on the voter registration drive, visit:https://www.facebook.com/HawaiianVoiceHawaiianVote