By PETER SUR
By PETER SUR
Tribune-Herald staff writer
PAHOA — It was a classic Puna political event: Free and organic, with lots of music and a little rain.
Inspired by a sociology instructor at Hawaii Community College, student Kyla Maunakea organized a “Rock the Vote” event at the former site of the police substation in Pahoa town and invited all candidates.
Most of the people who hope to represent Puna in one of its two County Council districts showed up, as did candidates for the district’s seat in the state Legislature, all three candidates for prosecutor and hopefuls from other council districts.
The event started at 1 p.m. and ran for seven hours. Entertainment was provided courtesy of bands like One Journey, Kaleo Dem, Gin N Chronic, Bruddah Kuz & MissKilla, Uncle Greenie, Applesauce Boys, Repellent and Birth Machine.
In between the band performances, those who were attending were given impromptu civics lessons and urged to register.
Noelie Rodriguez, the sociology instructor who had inspired Maunakea to organize the event, told those who were attending to be worried and get involved.
“If you’re not worried about our nation and about our state and about our county, you’re not paying attention,” Rodriguez said. “I don’t know a lot of people who are paying a lot of attention about what’s going on who’s not very, very worried.”
So get involved, she urged, and follow the news — just “not Fox News.”
“Above all, you’ve got to get yourself to the ballot.”
She had set a goal of registering 50 people to vote and by 6 p.m. had 29 signed up.
The event gave candidates a chance to meet each other and prospective voters and their rivals in a friendly, nonpartisan setting.
“Our future is left to the young people,” said Steven Araujo (pronounced Ah-rooj), who is running for the County Council’s District 5. The newly redrawn district comprises most of Puna mauka — but not Volcano, which is in District 6 — and a part of Puna makai.
“I think the people need a better quality of life. We need to look after not only ourselves, but the future generations,” he said.
Prosecutor candidates Lincoln Ashida and Mitch Roth sat together at a table, answering voters’ questions. Later, prosecutor candidate Paul Dolan, a Project Peaceful Sky-backed criminal defense lawyer, explained how he would honor the will of the people by following the Lowest Law Enforcement Priority of marijuana ordinance.
“Some of the best prosecutors in the country … are criminal defense attorneys because they know all the tricks,” Dolan said. “You have to have a balance of prosecutor and defender.”
Candidates of all stripes were present, from Republican (Marlene Hapai and Daryl Smith) to Democrat (Bob Herkes and Russell Ruderman), Libertarian (Fred Fogel) and Independent (James Weatherford). By Maunakea’s count, 18 candidates for state and county offices were present.
The number of members of the public waxed and waned with the performances. Maunakea was pleased with the outcome, but she noted some people who said they would turn out had other plans.
A Rock the Vote event was held previously at the University of Hawaii at Hilo campus, but this was the first time it was held in Puna.
“The youth are the ones that need to know about this,” Maunakea said.
Email Peter Sur at psur@hawaiitribune-herald.com.