Group Seeking Election Forms Nā Makalehua Collective

Kaniela Ing and ʻOlu Campbell. Photos credit: Naʻi Aupuni.

A group of young Native Hawaiians have organized to form Nā Makalehua, a collective consisting of 19 individuals who are seeking delegate seats to participate in the Na‘i Aupuni Native Hawaiian constitutional convention.

The group is among 200 candidates who are vying for 40 delegate spots to serve on the Native Hawaiian constitutional convention or ‘Aha. The election of delegates will take place from Nov. 1 to 30, with election results to be announced publicly on Dec. 1, 2015.

There are two Maui candidates identified as members of Nā Makalehua: ‘Olu Campbell and Kaniela Ing.

Nā Makalehua candidates. Photos credit Naʻi Aupuni.

The complete list of Nā Makalehua members includes: Catelin Aiwohi, US Continent; Zuri Aki, O‘ahu; Nā‘ālehu Anthony, O‘ahu; ‘Olu Campbell, Maui; Jocelyn Doane, O‘ahu; Tyler Gomes, O‘ahu; Kaniela Ing, Maui; Matthew Ka‘aihue, O‘ahu; Amy Kalili, Hawai‘i Island; Dreanalee Kalili, O‘ahu; Adrian Kamali‘i, O‘ahu; Keoni Kuoha, O‘ahu; Kūhiō Lewis, O‘ahu; Shane Palacat-Nelsen, Hawai‘i Island; Anthony Melvin Makana Paris, O‘ahu; Davis Price, O‘ahu; Keani Rawlins-Fernandez, O‘ahu; Rebecca Justine ‘Iolani Soon, O‘ahu; and Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, O‘ahu.

Nā Makalehua group has committed to abide by a set of values and principles that they say will guide how they engage in the work ahead.  According to the group’s website, these values and principles include: (1) ‘auamo kuleana, fulfill responsibility; (2) ho‘āno pu‘uhonua, honor our safe zone; (3) ho‘ōla ho‘opa‘apa‘a, perpetuate a Hawaiian approach to discourse and debate; (4) mālama pilina, nurture relationships; and (5) me ka ho‘okō kapu aloha, abide by a code of deep respect.

“We each have different goals for the upcoming ‘aha and different ideas about how to best resolve the issues facing Native Hawaiians, but we have agreed to respect each others’ views and engage in a form of diplomacy that we feel is required by our communities, our families and this process,” said Anthony Melvin Makana Paris, a member of the coalition and a candidate seeking an Oʻahu seat in a press release announcement.

Amy Kalili, a candidate seeking a Hawaiʻi island seat, continued by saying, “we stand together, in aloha, as a new generation of humble and prepared warriors, to use this moment as an opportunity before us to hoʻoholomua our lāhui and fullfill our kuleana.”

On Maui there are 16 people running for three representative spots on the Valley Isle; and three individuals are running for a single representative spot for Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi.

“With the charge and blessing of mentors and kūpuna, these leaders stand together, as a new generation of humble and prepared warriors, to use this moment as an opportunity to ho‘oholomua (to move forward) their lāhui and fulfill their kuleana,” according to a group description on the Nā Makalehua website.

Naʻi Aupuni, an independent organization made up of a volunteer board of directors from the Hawaiian community, is facilitating the election.  The group was established “solely to create a path to Hawaiian self-determination.”