Native Hawaiians sent word of constitutional convention

Notices are arriving in the mailboxes of more than 95,000 Native Hawaiians this week as the first step in the election of delegates to a constitutional convention that will consider options for Hawaiian self-determination.

“Native Hawaiians who have not registered yet but want to vote in the elections have until Oct. 15, 2015, to register,” the independent nonprofit Na‘i Aupuni announced in a news release. “Na‘i Aupuni encourages all Native Hawaiians to participate in this historic opportunity.”

The notice of election of delegates was sent Monday to all 95,690 Native Hawaiians whose ancestry had been verified by the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission by July 16. Hawaiians who are interested in becoming delegates to the aha, or constitutional convention, must apply by Sept. 15.

The convention will give Hawaiians an opportunity to decide whether they want to form an indigenous government and, if so, what form it should take. They may choose to create a governance document that would be put up for ratification by all certified Hawaiians on the roll.

Hawaiians have considered a broad range of options for self-determination, from nation-within-a-nation status to restoration of full independence from the United States.

People interested in becoming delegates must be nominated by 10 voters on the Native Hawaiian Roll. They may submit their application online at naiaupuni.org.

Na‘i Aupuni was formed in December by volunteers to guide the election process, and its board members will not run as delegates. James Kuhio Asam is its president. The organization is separate from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the State of Hawaii, and is funded by Akamai Foundation, which receives grants from OHA.

In order to vote, Native Hawaiians must register by Oct. 15 with the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission. The current certified list of eligible voters is posted at www.kanaiolowalu.org and hawaiianroll.org.

Ballots will be sent to certified voters Nov. 1. Results of the delegate election will be announced Dec. 1.

Forty delegates will be elected, based on the geographic distribution of voters in the Native Hawaiian Roll. Oahu will have 20 delegates; Hawaii island, seven; Maui, three; Kauai and Niihau, two; Molokai and Lanai: one; out of state, seven.

Delegates must live in the district they would represent and be able to attend the eight-week convention on Oahu between February and April.

Na‘i Aupuni has contracted Election-America, a private company, to handle the election. The contract allows the notice of election to be sent via mail or email.