OHA outreach targets all Native Hawaiians

News Release from OHA April 4, 2014

HONOLULU (April 4, 2014) – The Office of Hawaiian Affairs announced today plans to begin canvassing communities across the state and the U.S. Mainland and holding town hall-style meetings as part of a larger effort to ensure as many Native Hawaiians as possible are eligible to participate in the nation-building process.

OHA is recruiting volunteers to knock on doors and make phone calls in hopes of making more Hawaiians familiar with this new opportunity to better manage their future.

“Our focus is on helping encourage Native Hawaiians to participate in the process of building a strong nation,” said OHA Ka Pouhana (Chief Executive Officer) Kamanaʻopono Crabbe. “As a facilitator, our commitment to this process is to ensure that input is meaningful and that the outcome reflects the will of the Native Hawaiian people.”

Only Hawaiians on the official Hawaiian roll will be eligible to participate in the nation-building process, which OHA has agreed to help ensure runs smoothly and effectively.

Already, more than 120,000 names are on the official roll. May 1 is the deadline for others to sign up. 

In addition to a canvassing campaign, a series of town hall-style meetings is planned statewide to help engage more Hawaiians in the nation-building process. Here are the dates and locations:

O‘ahu @ 6:30P.M.

• APR 09: Waimānalo Homestead Association Hālau
• APR 15: Ka Waihona o ka Na‘auao Public Charter School, Wai‘anae
• APR 23: Stevenson Middle School, Papakolea
• APR 30: Hale Pono‘ī, Kapolei

Lāna‘i @ 5:00P.M.

• APR 17: Hale Kupuna

Kaua‘i @ 5:00P.M.

• APR 15: Anahola Clubhouse
• APR 17: Waimea Neighborhood Center

Maui

• APR 11: Waikapu Community Center (2 sessions) 1 and 5p.m.
• APR 12: Helene Hall, Hānā, 1 p.m.
• APR 15: Kīhei Community Center, 5 p.m.
• APR 16: Lāhaina Civic Center, 5p.m.

Moloka‘i @ 10:00A.M.

• APR 18: Lanikeha Community Center

East Hawai‘i @ 6:00P.M.

• APR 05: Pāhala Community Center
• APR 08: Keaukaha School Cafeteria
• APR 15: Queen Lili‘uokalani Children's Center

West Hawai‘i @ 6:00P.M.

• APR 11: Kahilu Townhall, Waimea
• APR 16: Maka‘eo Pavillion, Kailua-Kona
• APR 21: Yano Hall, Kealakekua
• APR 24: Kohala Intergenerational Center

PDF: DOWNLOAD THE TOWN HALL MEETING SCHEDULE

---30---

Background: OHA’s “New Body Politic” Will Exclude 77% of Native Hawaiians