HONOLULU (HI Now) - As communities across Hawaiʻi prepare for Election Day, young people are helping lead the conversation through Our Kaiāulu Votes, a statewide, nonpartisan initiative encouraging civic engagement and voter participation.
Sponsored by Ke Kula ʻo Kamehameha, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and Hawaiian Council, ʻŌpio Voices featured live panel discussions with 12 student leaders from schools across the pae ʻāina about some of the most important issues facing Hawaiʻi today.
One of the panels was conducted entirely in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, highlighting the importance of Hawaiian language in leadership, civic engagement, and our communities.
“ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi has always been a language of leadership, governance, and civic life in Hawaiʻi. Creating space for young people to discuss the issues facing our communities in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi affirms that our language is not only a connection to our past, but also an essential part of shaping our future,” said Mehanaokalā Hind, senior advisor to CEO for Hawaiian Council.
Panelists explored topics including ea and self-determination, ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, civic engagement in trying times, AI and the future of Hawaiʻi, opportunity and affordability, and the next generation of leadership.
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The broadcast is part of a broader Our Kaiāulu Votes campaign that includes Walk to the Box events held across Maui, Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi Island, and Oʻahu. These events bring together students, educators, families, and community members to encourage voter participation and demonstrate that civic engagement begins long before Election Day.
“Our Kaiāulu Votes recognizes that ʻōpio are not simply the leaders of tomorrow. They are already helping shape conversations about culture, education, technology, community wellbeing, and public policy today,” said Manuwai Peters, lead facilitator for the Our Kaiāulu Votes coalition from Ke Kula ʻo Kamehameha.
Participating students represent a diverse group of schools and youth organizations from across the state, including: Ka ʻUmeke Kāʻeo Public Charter School, Kawaikini Public Charter School, Ke Kula Kaiapuni ʻo Pūʻōhala, Ke Kula ʻo Kamehameha Kapālama, Ke Kula ʻo Kamehameha Maui, Ke Kula ʻo Kamehameha Hawaiʻi, St. Andrew’s Schools, and YMCA Youth and Government.
Together, the students represent public, charter, private, and Hawaiian-focused educational programs across Hawaiʻi, bringing a wide range of perspectives to the discussion.
The movement’s rallying cry, “From ma uka to ma kai, we decide,” reflects its goal of empowering communities throughout Hawaiʻi to learn, engage, and lead together.
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With Election Day just one week away, organizers are encouraging eligible voters to make a plan to vote. Registered voters should have already received their ballots in the mail, while those who still need to register or prefer to vote in person can visit a Hawaiʻi voter service center for same-day registration and voting.
The final Our Kaiāulu Votes Walk to the Box event will be held on Monday, Nov. 2, at 9:30 a.m. along King Street in front of the Kamehameha Statue.
Learn more about the event, voter resources, and the broader Our Kaiāulu Votes movement at vote.kanaeokana.net.
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