Activists recruit Native youths

By Will Hoover
Advertiser Staff Writer

What was described as an "ambitious adventure" to capture the hearts and minds of youthful Native Hawaiians was quietly launched at a small gathering in the shade of 'Iolani Palace yesterday morning.

Ke Au Hou, which means "the new generation," is a Hawaiian sovereignty youth movement, founded with support from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, which aims to form a statewide roster of 1,000 members.

Those members in turn will reach out to 100,000 more young Hawaiians in an effort to engage them in the process of becoming a Hawaiian governing entity.

"Our immediate goal is to mobilize an army of 1,000 young Hawaiians and their supporters," said Imai Winchester, 23, a Hawaiian Studies graduate majoring in political science at the University of Hawai'i. "We will travel through the islands and look for youth who will become future leaders and organizers."

Ke Au Hou has a handful of members. But eventually, tens of thousands strong, "we will be the army that encourages and engages all Hawaiians in building a Hawaiian nation," he said.

Winchester said the challenges facing Hawaiians today are too important to ignore because the outcome affects the lives of so many. He said he and the other founders of Ke Au Hou believe the best way to secure a prosperous future for Native Hawaiians is through self-governance and self-determination.

And to do that requires the involvement now of those who will one day be the decision makers.

"It's time for the youth to stand up and take an active role in our own future," he said.

UH student Kaui Nani'ole, 22, who is serving as the temporary chair of Ke Au Hou, said the target group is young Hawaiians ages 18 through 30.

"But that doesn't limit anyone who wants to support and get involved. We do look to high school kids and older adults. Anybody who wants to support us, we welcome."

Wailele Sallas, 23, a TV sports producer who is the organization's media affairs coordinator, said that as a journalism student at the University of Arizona, he was startled by how little some Mainlanders actually know about Hawai'i and the Hawaiian culture.

"What we are basically trying to do is get as many people as possible educated about the issues," Sallas said. "Because at this time there are so many legal battles facing Hawaiians, and the people in the Mainland, who are also directly involved in this, don't know all the facts.

"There are a number of young people here who don't know the issues as well."

Sallas said the organization doesn't have a political agenda.

"What we're trying to do is find out what everyone is thinking. All we are is facilitators. We're here to educate as many people as we can so that they can make conscious decisions on where to lead the Hawaiian people in the future."

Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians can meet members of Ke Au Hou today at the group's booth at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Family Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Kapi'olani Park.