By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
Luckie Rodenhurst, left, waved a sign in front
of the state Capitol yesterday afternoon as Ha Hawaii
Convention delegate candidate Ikaika Hussey campaigned.

Ha Hawaii
forums organized
to share ideas

By Pat Omandam
Star-Bulletin

Wesley Tavares is not affiliated with any particular native Hawaiian sovereignty group, and has felt intimidated by some groups which know more about the issue and are active in the Hawaiian culture.

It is for Hawaiians like him that the lifelong Hawaii resident has become a candidate in Sunday's election of delegates for a convention to discuss restoration of the Hawaiian kingdom.

"I want to be a Native Hawaiian Convention delegate to bring a broader perspective to the convention on sovereignty and other issues," he said yesterday.

"I want to work for both vocal activists, as well as silent Hawaiians who felt they were excluded by other Hawaiians."

The 157 candidates vying for the 85 district seats in the Ha Hawaii election are holding a series of delegate forums this week to share their goals for a restored Hawaiian nation with native voters.

The forums will be held today through Saturday throughout Oahu.

About 30 candidates met last Friday to discuss sponsoring the forums, said former Big Island Mayor Dante K. Carpenter, one of the 40 candidates and supporters who sign-waived to motorists in front of the state Capitol yesterday afternoon.

"Never before in any political race has anyone seen opposing candidates meeting to share ideas to help each other," he said.

Candidate Emil Max Muller, a retired planner and manager, said he finds many Hawaiian factions have opinions about what Hawaiians should do, and who should do it.

He believes Hawaiians should not allow themselves to be stereotyped as a people too confused to know what they want, or too unruly to be able to organize themselves -- or who don't know any better.

"Hawaiians need to stand tall as we have in the past," Muller said. "Decades of suppression have kept us far below our achievable standards and separated us from our rights and resources."

Muller feels the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, whose mandate is the betterment of the Hawaiian people, will not take that step.

Mel Kalahiki, a key organizer of last summer's centennial annexation events at Iolani Palace, said he's running simply to make things "pono" for the Hawaiian people.

"This is the time for us to stand up and make things right," he said.

Officials at Ha Hawaii -- which is continuing the self-determination process started by the now-disbanded Hawaiian Sovereignty Elections Council -- say ballots will be tabulated on Jan. 26. The results should be known on Jan. 27.

Afterward, it will be up to the elected delegates to decide the how, when and where of holding a native Hawaiian convention. Former Ha Hawaii President Charles L. Rose Jr., who resigned from the nonprofit group to run as a candidate, said decisions affecting Hawaiians have been made by non-Hawaiians throughout history, and it is time to regain control.

Sharing views

Candidates for the Ha Hawaii-sponsored election of delegates will appear at the following forums this week to share their views about rebuilding the Hawaiian nation. Most forums are from 6 to 9 p.m.:

Today: Kapiolani Community College, Ohia Room #118, and at Enchanted Lakes Elementary School.

Tomorrow: Radford High School cafeteria and at Key Project in Kaneohe.

Friday: Kaumakapili Church and at the Queen Liliuokalani Children's Center on Haiku Road.

Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Makapuu Heiau, sponsored by The Nation of Ku. Grand rally for the public to meet delegates.