Ka Lāhui Hawaiʻi Political Action Committee Kick Started the Koho Pono Voter Education Campaign

Ka Lāhui Hawaiʻi (KLH) is a Native Hawaiian grassroots initiative for true self-determination as defined under the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.  Formed in 1987, KLH currently has over 20,000 Native Hawaiian citizens.  Its National Standing Committee, the KLH Political Action Committee, kick started its Koho Pono, a voter education campaign, on Saturday, June 25, 2016 at 7:30 a.m. at Papakōlea Homestead.  Meeting at the Papakōlea Community Center, community members handed out 450 Koho Pono 2016 Hawaiʻi State Legislative Report Card.

Koho Pono means literally to ʻchoose wiselyʻ and the 2016 Hawaiʻi State Legislative Report Card helps Native Hawaiians and supporters to make informed decisions this year at Hawaiʻi State election polls.  The Report Card grades State Legislators and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustees on Bills and Issues that concern the Native Hawaiian people ranging from water rights to federal recognition.  Below is the grading system:
            A = Voted pro-Native Hawaiian
            C = Voted against the interests of Native Hawaiians with reservations.
            F = Voted against the interest of Native Hawaiians.

“This 2016 Legislative Session was anti-Hawaiian with legislation introduced that could potentially take away Native Hawaiian rights to access water and lands,” says Keoki Pupuhi, a Waikīkī resident and member of the KLH Political Action Committee.  Pupuhi goes on to say, “As Hawaiians we need to be vigilant at all levels of government, federal, state, and even county, to protect our rights.”