Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement  announces ‘16 for 2016’ youth voting initiative

KAPOLEI, OAHU (HawaiiNewsNow) - By Kayla Yamamoto

The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement is looking for youth serving organizations to join them in their efforts to increase voter turnout among young adults through the non-profit's 16 for 2016 youth voter initiative.

The initiative was introduced by students from Kapolei High School and launched by CNHA last year. It targets 16 to 24-year-olds and aims to develop partnerships with local high schools, college campuses and youth serving organizations to address the fact that Hawaii has one of the lowest voter turnout rates in the country.

"Our goal is to inspire young adults throughout Hawaii to get involved, engage in their communities and vote! It's a right that too many take for granted," said CNHA President & CEO, Michelle Kauhane.

"Our culture has always been politically active and I think in recent years we have seen people disengage saying different things about Hawaii - is it a state or if it's not a state - but I remind folks that our own Queen Liliuokalani, her suggestion to us was to pick up the tool that the United States left us to cast a vote and to be actively engaged in that process," added Kauhane.

For more information about the 16 for 2016 Initiative, please email policy@hawaiiancouncil.org

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