Honolulu Star-Bulletin Local News
The First Vote

We turned on our tape recorder and asked first-time voters to talk about the issues and political process; look for it every Tuesday during election season.


NAME: Jianna Sagadraca
AGE: 19
RESIDENCE: Kalihi
BACKGROUND: University of Hawaii, fashion merchandising student, 1995 Farrington High School graduate, daughter of Edgar and Jo'Nan Sagadraca.



Role of Hawaiians

The government should encourage more of the native Hawaiians to pursue their education because where there's nationality there's an abundance of money to finance their education.

It gives them an opportunity to be more and bring them more out.

The politicians as well as teachers, families, principals, all the higher-ups, should encourage Hawaiians, encourage the Hawaiian community to make like a name for themselves, to not just be a native.

I feel the Hawaiian is on the rise and Hawaiians should come out and take pride in their culture, to speak their culture's worth to other cultures.

Hawaiian sovereignty is such a big issue now.

It's the fact that more Hawaiians should just get involved instead of sitting back and thinking to themselves that they can't make a difference. I believe we as Hawaiians can. We should preserve the aloha spirit and the special qualities which make our state unique.

Problems

World peace, poverty, overpopulation, world hunger - locally, I feel education should be one

of the first priorities. (Others are problems facing the) elderly, (also) immigration and like the taxes, the welfare reform, the crime rate and the drug abuse around our society.

The drug rate has risen over the past couple of years - also jobs across Hawaii. The cost of living in Hawaii has skyrocketed.

Political campaigns? Politicians try to go deeper into one another's lifestyle. Lifestyle should be separated from the politicians because I hear about different kinds of issues and papers and rumors, mudslinging. They should stay away from mudslinging. They should base their ways of thinking on - like moral values, for the people, not for themselves.

Education, first of all, that's the first priority - and how they (politicians) should act on building the community, serving the community, true education.

Presidential politics? I really don't know about Dole, but so far I guess Clinton is OK.

Issues? Tuition, fees (at UH), skyrocketed, over 35 percent or about there. The crime rate around our society is so high that families in their households don't feel that security, especially my family where we live, don't feel that security that we should have even if we were to leave our windows unlocked. We feel that there's a lot of criminals that did harsh crimes that walk the streets. The great amount of drug dealers and drug-related issues and crimes throughout Hawaii - it affects everyone. (Another issue is) the burdens of overtaxation.

Activism

I feel that young people could work their way up the ladder of politics. Yes, I believe that if more and more young adults as well as adults and whoever's interested in getting involved in politics (would) for the betterment of our community, then that would benefit everyone and our state as a whole.

I feel that whoever in our state turns 18, makes 18, they should be a registered voter. They should speak out on what they believe and who they believe in to carry out our community goals or values, morals.

Apathy? Not everyone, but some people are into themselves and their own lifestyles instead of sacrificing their time and volunteering their time and effort into the community and community services. The community gives so much to each and every individual that every individual should give back to their community - even tenfold.

(Message to her generation:) Always be motivated and determined no matter what it takes. Sacrifice your time to fulfill your dreams and goals. Place education on a high priority because educa tion is the key to success.

Live your life to the fullest.

Education? I feel that every student should fulfill their education level through high school and graduate, of course, but not only to stop after they graduate from high school, but to further their education beyond that.

There's a lot of people or students and young adults around society today that could be so much more than what they are, only if they pursue their education, take it to a higher level like college or university. I also encourage not only the young adults but the older adults.

They (should not) feel discouraged at attending school at a certain age. They should pursue it. Families should start their children young, reading to them. Parents could train their children in their earlier years - at an early age, also in schools to instill literacy in ... young students.

Abortion

I'm definitely pro-life and anti-abortion. Being of Christian background, I believe no one should take a life that they themselves made to be in the world - to take it away. If young adults or society has an unwanted pregnancy, I believe that abortion is not the key. They should prevent it before everything. They should take precautions.

Mayor's race

Actually, I wanted (Frank) Fasi, but (Jeremy) Harris is our present mayor and I met with him personally and he seems to be a real nice person. He seems to be keeping Honolulu in the right path.

Prosecutor's race

I've hardly heard anything about (Peter) Carlisle and more about Arakawa. (Favors Arakawa.)



First Vote Archives




Text Site Directory:
[News] [Business] [Features] [Sports] [Editorial] [Community] [Info] [Stylebook] [Feedback]