KA WAI OLA THE LIVING WATER of OHA OFFICE of HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS • 711 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Ste. 500 • Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96813-5249 ‘Okakopa (October) 2008 Vol. 25, No. 10 Mayoral Races: Hawaiian issues underscore 3 mayor’s races page 03 Calls for reform in Sa¯moan election page 09 Hapa haole hula sways in Waikı¯kı¯ page 14 inside decision 2008 special pull-out section Kanaka K A W A I O L A S P E C I A L S E C T I O N 2#+- #. kuleana: '1 . +( 6 ;1 7 4 8 1 + % ' Power at the polls page 12 Obama, economy and Akaka Bill spark Native Q & A R E S P O N S E S : O H A C A N D I D A T E S P G 3 D O N ’ T F O R G E T R E G I S T E R & V O T E ! F E D E R A L C A N D I D A T E S P G 6 R E G I S T E R B Y : Hawaiian interest in ’08 presidential race S T A T E C A N D I D A T E S P G 7 MON., OCT. 6 VOTE ON: TUES., NOV. 4 www.oha.org Photo: Blaine Fergerstrom THE OHA MA¯ LAMA LOAN % 5.0 0 APR ~ LOW FIXED RATE ~ FIXED TERM for 5 YEARS ~ LOAN up to $75,000 PLUS, EARN UP TO The OHA Ma¯lama Loan Program through First Hawaiian Bank is 5,000 CASHPOINTSSM exclusively for Native Hawaiians and Native Hawaiian organizations. It can be used for tuition, home improvement, and any of your ••• When you apply and are business needs. For more information, please call 643-LOAN. To approved for the Priority RewardsSM apply, please visit fhb.com or any First Hawaiian Bank branch. Debit and Credit Cards*. Applicants must be of Native Hawaiian ancestry (birth certifi cate, OHA registry card, or Kamehameha Schools verifi cation letter will be accepted as proof) or a Native Hawaiian organization. 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FHIB-14434 R5_9-25x11_v2.indd 1 5/16/08 11:15:07 AM Ad Number: FHIB-14434 R5 Ad Subject: OHA Malama Loan NSP Ad Size/Color: FP, 9.25" x 11" / 4C Publication: Ka Wai Ola o OHA, June 2008 - NU HOU • neWs ‘OkakOpa2008 | 3 Hawaiian issues underscore 3 mayoral races Three counties will elect a new mayor on Nov. 4 – and all face unique sets of issues affecting Native Hawaiians. In Hawai‘i County, two Native Hawaiian candidates hope to replace popular outgoing Mayor Harry Kim, who fulfilled term limits. In Honolulu, an incumbent enjoying high approval ratings faces a challenger calling for more fiscal responsibility. And in Kaua‘i County, voters will choose between a former pro football player and a former mayor. Board of Trustees Kaua‘i mayor Courting the GMO, telescope hopefuls diverge Hawaiian vote on radar in Haunani Apoliona, MsW By Lisa Asato Chairperson, Trustee, At-large on styles more Public information specialist Hawai‘i County Tel: 808.594.1886 By T. ilihia Gionson Fax: 808.594.1875 than issues Facing the home stretch in the race for Publications editor Email: [email protected] By T. ilihia Gionson Honolulu mayor, Mufi Hannemann and Ann Publications editor Kobayashi are courting the Hawaiian vote. The race for Hawai‘i County mayor has Walter M. Heen Vice Chair, Trustee, O‘ahu “Because of the complexity of issues and been long and hard-fought. On Sept. 20, the On Nov. 4, Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau residents the need, I commit to designating a high- field of nine candidates was narrowed down to Tel: 808.594.1854 will choose between an experienced policy- level official in my administration ... to work two Native Hawaiians: Billy Kenoi and Angel Fax: 808.594.0210 Email: [email protected] making elective official and a political new- closely with our Hawaiian community,” said Pilago. comer with county administrative experience This race is Kalapana-born attorney Billy Rowena Akana to fill the remaining two years in the term Kenoi’s first run for office. Kenoi, 39, served Trustee, At-large of the late Mayor Bryan Baptiste, who died as a legislative intern in Honolulu and in in June. Both are lifetime Kaua‘i residents, Washington, D.C., and most recently as Mayor Tel: 808.594.1860 Fax: 808.594.0209 and both share many positions and ideas to Harry Kim’s executive assistant. Email: [email protected] mälama the county. Pilago has familial ties to the island, and has Councilwoman JoAnn Yukimura has been lived in Kona for nearly three decades. A cul- donald B. Cataluna serving tural prac- Trustee, Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau Kaua‘i t i t i o n e r Tel: 808.594.1881 since she and activ- Fax: 808.594.0211 was in her ist, the Email: [email protected] 20s, and 63-year- is looking old Pilago Robert K. Lindsey Jr. to return At the OHA-sponsored Mayoral Debate on Sept. 2, are Mufi Han- is in his Trustee, Hawai‘i to the s e c o n d Yukimura Carvalho neman, left, and Ann Kobayashi. - Photo: Blaine Fergerstrom Kenoi Pilago Tel: 808.594.1855 mayor’s term as Fax: 808.594.1883 office she held from 1988 to 1994. Yukimura Kobayashi, a two-term city councilwoman county councilman for District 8, Kailua to Email: [email protected] is currently serving her fourth nonconsecutive who gave up her seat in July to challenge the Pu‘uanahulu, on the Kona side. term on the Kaua‘i County Council. man she supported in 2004. “This position will Two environmental issues with specific Colette Y. Machado Bernard Carvalho, the county Department allow the mayor to be kept abreast of issues importance to the island have stirred the com- Trustee, Moloka‘i and La¯na‘i of Parks and Recreation director and a former that have an impact on Native Hawaiians.” munity consciousness lately. First, a move- Tel: 808.594.1837 pro football player for the Miami Dolphins, Hannemann, who has enjoyed an 80 percent ment for the state to ban the work of University Fax: 808.594.0212 has been employed by the county since 1985 approval rating as mayor, reminds voters of his of Hawai‘i scientists to genetically modify Email: [email protected] in various capacities. record. “As I promised during the 2004 may- kalo was not passed into law, but is expected The salt ponds at Hanapëpë and the lo‘i oral election, one of my first acts as mayor was to make a comeback when the Legislature Boyd P. Mossman kalo of Hanalei are just two sites of cultural to sign into law the repeal of mandatory lease- convenes in January. Trustee, Maui practices in the county that are constantly to-fee conversion,” he said, referring to the Pilago feels strongly that kalo should not Tel: 808.594.1858 threatened by encroaching development and repeal that saved landowners like Kamehameha be genetically modified, and points to a bill Fax: 808.594.1864 a growing population. Both candidates agree Schools and Queen Lili‘uokalani Trust from that he introduced at the county level to ban Email: [email protected] that preservation of the salt ponds is crucial. forced sales of their land. genetic modification experiments of kalo or Carvalho says that this is best done through After falling short of an outright win at coffee on the island. “It’s an issue of respect,” Oz stender the planning commission. Yukimura says that the Sept. 20 primary election partly due to a he said. “Science must have an element of Trustee, At-large her administration would work with those record-low voter turnout, Hannemann said his social justice.” Tel: 808.594.1877 developing the resource management plan for campaign will work to rally the troops. “We Kenoi, while not supporting the ban of Fax: 808.594.1853 the ponds. For the lo‘i, both candidates echo will continue to canvass traditional strong genetic modification of coffee, is opposed to Email: [email protected] the same urge for preservation. Hawaiian areas along the Leeward Coast, genetic engineering of kalo. “Kalo is Häloa, One recent incident caught statewide atten- in Windward O‘ahu and Papakölea and will not just one plant. People who I deeply respect John d. Waihe‘e iV tion, as a landowner began construction atop have an extensive voter registration effort, not are vehemently opposed to GE (genetically Trustee, At-large an old Hawaiian cemetery in north Kaua‘i. only in the Native Hawaiian community, but engineered) taro. I respect those who work in Tel: 808.594.1876 Both Carvalho and Yukimura agree that it is islandwide.” the lo‘i.