24 Big Island delegates will attend Na‘i Aupuni convention

Na‘i Aupuni, the nonprofit organization created to organize an election process that would be a preliminary step toward Native Hawaiian self-governance, on Wednesday released a list of delegates who will attend a constitutional convention, or aha, in February.

Hawaii Island will have 24 representatives at the 151-delegate convention.

The Big Island representatives are:

• Moanikeala Akaka.

• Alvin Akina Jr.

• Chad Awai.

• Fredrico Cachola Jr.

• Clarence Ching.

• Keoni Choy.

• Kalikookalani Chun.

• Desiree Cruz.

• Kaipo Dye.

• Norine Fitzgerald.

• Lunakanawai Hauanio.

• Pua Ishibashi.

• Amy Kalili.

• Katie Kamelamela.

• Clifford Kapono.

• Manuel Kiaha.

• Lei Kihoi.

• Joshua Lanakila Mangauil.

• Shane Palacat-Nelsen.

• Kahiolani Papalimu.

• Diana Suganuma.

• Michalann Rae Trainer.

• Kanoe Wilson.

• Karyle Yamane.

The convention as originally planned was to take place throughout eight weeks and involve 40 elected delegates. Last week, on the heels of an injunction granted by the U.S. Supreme Court to block votes from being counted in the election, Na‘i Aupuni announced all 196 delegate candidates would be invited to attend a four-week aha instead.

A group of Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians contested the election, saying it denied Hawaii residents without Native Hawaiian ancestry their constitutional rights.

On Tuesday, the group filed a civil contempt motion with the U.S. Supreme Court to stop the aha on the same grounds, saying it flouted the earlier injunction.

Na‘i Aupuni released a statement Tuesday saying nothing in the previous order prohibited organizing the gathering of delegates.

Some Big Island residents who were running for a seat have stated their opposition to the open convention, saying they thought being elected was an important part of the process. Nevertheless, they still plan to attend the aha.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Email Ivy Ashe at iashe@hawaiitribune-herald.com.