Native Hawaiian organizations promote kanaka civic engagement, voter turnout

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Native Hawaiian organizations including Kamehameha Schools, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, are calling on kanaka maoli, especially first-time voters, to exercise their right to vote.

Madelyn McKeague, Director of Advocacy for Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, joined HNN’s Sunrise to talk about the “Our Kaiaulu Votes” campaign and “Walk to the Box” events across Honolulu, Hilo and Wailuku to boost voter participation ahead of the Hawaii primary election.

“I think groups who have been disenfranchised for years and generations really don’t want to engage anymore because they’ve seen it not work. so what we’re trying to do is change that narrative, make it exciting to vote, make it proud to vote and remember that this is part of our legacy that we’re trying to carry on,” she said.

Our Kaiaulu Votes collaborates with schools and organizations to promote voter turnout, emphasizing that voting is a pathway to mana and a crucial element in shaping Hawaii’s future.

Registered voters can drop off their ballots or vote in person today until 7 p.m. at Honolulu Hale and Kapolei Hale in the primary election.

For more information, visit Our Kaiaulu Votes.

During the “Walk to the Box” events on Friday, Kamehameha Schools seniors participated in their first voting experience, emphasizing the importance of civic engagement for shaping Hawaii’s future.

Niniau Kawaihae from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs highlighted the role of voting in advocating for policies that benefit Native Hawaiians, while Kuhio Lewis of the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement stressed the legacy of civic engagement left by previous generations.

Manuwai Peters from Kamehameha Schools underscored the initiative’s focus on fostering a voting culture among youth to impact future generations.

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