At least a dozen brand new people were elected this past November 5th to serve at all levels of Hawaii state and county government.
Each is in the beginning weeks of a very deep dive into uncharted waters.
The fear is, as my favorite uncle said upon my first successful election to the Kauai County Council in 1998, “Gary, please don’t turn out like all the rest”. Or, as a voter wrote me recently about their newly elected Representative, “I think, hope, and pray he does a good job and does not get co-opted like so many others.”
My hope is every one of them will be successful in doing the people’s work they’ve chosen to pursue, and elected to do.
If I was going to offer them advice (and I am), I’d say first and foremost “follow your naʻau”.
Yes, listen to your gut and your heart, then do what’s right – regardless of what the big money, the embedded lobbyist, and even your own legislative “leadership” is telling you to do.
Listen, do your homework, weigh the arguments of all, then do what you know deep down is best for people and the planet.
Raise your hand, ask the questions, voice your concerns. Whether in committee, at a public meeting, in caucus, in the chambers or on the floor, be the one willing to raise your hand. Don’t just sit there waiting for someone else to say what many in the room are no doubt thinking.
Trust me on this one. You raise your hand and other hands raised in support are sure to follow.
Raise your hand, give voice to your naʻau and vote your conscience.
And never ever ask for permission from “leadership” to vote your conscience. Give them a “heads up” and hopefully sway them your way – but never ask them for permission.
Both the House and the Senate (Democrats and Republicans) will hold a separate private caucus before “going onto the floor to vote”. This is the time to raise your hand, express your thoughts, thus giving colleagues a “heads up” as to those concerns.
When you ultimately cast your vote, either on the floor or in committee, it’s important to justify that vote, both orally and in writing. The public needs and deserves to know why you’re in support or opposition.
Please resist just going along to get along, and playing the so-called “long game”.
The challenges facing our communities are too great. Far too many of our residents suffer daily living in doorways, under bridges, and in the bushes at the side of the road. Our forests, streams, coastlines, reef systems and the very purity of our drinking water – all are under constant attack.
Be willing to rock the boat. We need you to rock the boat.
Don’t engage battle just for headlines and drama. Do your homework, vote your naʻau, and then tell the world why. If that rocks the boat then so be it.
Good people can look at the same facts and circumstances and come to different conclusions.
Be humble, show respect, and do not publicly denigrate your colleagues regardless of whether they agree with you or not. Disagree with their facts and conclusions, but do not attack, belittle or denigrate.
You don’t need to be loud, but you must be strong. To survive and be successful doing the work the people have elected you to do, you must be strong yet humble. You must do your homework, be willing to raise your hand and speak out, and you must always follow your naʻau.
Do these things. The people will win, and you will sleep well at night, arising in the morning to look yourself in the mirror and get right back at it.
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Gary Hooser served eight years in the state Senate, where he was majority leader. He also served for eight years on the Kaua‘i County Council. He presently writes on Hawai‘i Policy and Politics at www.garyhooser.blog.
