2018 Primary Election Candidates

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Name on ballot:

AMSTERDAM, C. Kaui Jochanan

Running for:

OHA trustee

District (if applicable):

At-Large

Political party:

Does not apply/Nonpartisan race

Campaign website:

Forth Coming

Current occupation:

Educator, Health Care Provider

Age:

Previous job history:

Educator, health care provider, President 4 health care, fitness, and products companies and one legal services company, speed reading teacher, english teacher, and author.

Previous elected office, if any:

Longtime Neighborhood Board Member, Student Body President, San Lorenzo High School, Officer, Interim Government of the Kingdom of Hawaii, and Steward of United Public Workers Labor Union.

What qualifies you to represent the people of Hawaii?

The following qualifies me to represent Native Hawaiians and our Overall People of Hawaii: First, I am Native Hawaiian Jew, my mother, Mama Loa, Leilani Hiaa Kalaeloa Kaluhiokalani Kalakauaehu, a full-blooded Native Hawaiian Alii and I understand the issues, needs, and interests of Native Hawaiians and Overall People of Hawaii. Second, I carry the torch of pioneer Native Hawaiian leaders such as my Mother and Kekuni Blaisdell, my Mentor. Third, organizing 7 Restoration and Self-Determination and Self-Sufficiency Conferences and being an Officer in The Interim Government of the Kingdom of Hawaii give me the understanding and experience to understand the needs, issues, and interests of Native Hawaiians and accordingly able to represent Native Hawaiians. Fourth, being a longtime Member of the Neighborhood Board, which also includes area of Native Hawaiians, gives me the knowledge, experience, and understanding of those in the areas of my Board as well as the City and County of Honolulu and the State of Hawaii including associated Native Hawaiians and overall People of Hawaii. Fifth, having been a minority recruiter for the University of California, I have the knowledge, understanding, and experience of minorities and their issues of which Native Hawaiians are considered a part and accordingly am able to represent them. Six, my education at 11 colleges and institutes in Hawaii, America, Europe, and Israel of the Middle East, where I also had work experience, my Masters in the Philosophy of Education at UCLA, my education in the Health Sciences at UCMCSF, and being a Health Care Provider, have all helped to qualify me. Accordingly, a few of the previously presented six factors help to qualify me to represent Native Hawaiians and the Overall People of Hawaii Nei.

What are the top three challenges facing the voters you seek to represent?

The top three challenges facing the voters I seek to represent are:
First, the Challenge is to fulfill the aim established in the 1978 Constitutional Convention to facilitate the process of self-determination leading to self-government. Accordingly, I'll fulfill the aim of advancing self-government and ask voters to elect me, C. Kaui Jochanan Amsterdam. Amsterdam's the Man. I have the best qualifications to fulfill this aim. With the Crown Lands and other resources and assets fast being lost, self-government is serious and urgent. Unfortunately, most don't know what to do. I know what to do and will do it. Amsterdam's the Man. Vote and spread the Word.
I combine the Second and Third Challenges into what OHA calls "Social Determinants", which include OHA's aims of Governance, Aina, Culture, Education, Economic Development, and Health. With Self-Government or Governance being the umbrella under which the other "Social Determinants" exist, I shall strengthen these "Self-Determinants", which are the greatest needs and challenges facing particularly, the Native Hawaiian Voters I seek to represent.

If elected, what will be your highest legislative priority?

As previously presented, meeting the 1978 aim of advancing Native Hawaiian Self-Governance is the highest priority. All other "Social Determinants" are dependent on Self-Governance. With most other candidates or people without elements of knowledge, understanding, and experience about the urgent and serious matter of Self-Governance, I do have thes elements and also have worked and served with Sover eignity Leaders and Non-Activists or the Overall Population. To miss the opportunity presently to meet the urgent need for Self-Governance, will be a tremendous oversight and great mistake for Native Hawaiians and our Overall People of Hawaii. I shall meet this priority, ask your vote and to spread the word, and know Amsterdam's The Man.

If elected, what can you do to improve the lives of your constituents?

With being elected I will advance Native Hawaiians from being marginal to being a Major Player and Great again in Hawaii, America and the World. With the loss of our Cultural Governing Entity and People of a Kingdom, Native Hawaiians experienced a weakening and undermining of the "Social Determinants" of Governance, Aina, Education, Culture, Economic Development, Health, Self-Image, and Self-Identity. I shall restore and advance the Native Hawaiian Governing Entity, which includes the alternative of the Kingdom, and restore, advance, and strengthen the "Social Determinants" and particularly the Self-Image and Self-Identity of Native Hawaiians and, in doing so, meet the aim of improving the lives of my constituents by making Native Hawaiians a Major Player and Great again in Hawaii, America, and the World. Being a Hawaiian Jew, I shall also invite the assistance of my associate Israeli Jews, who are experts in advancing Self-Determination, Nation Building, and Economic Development. With such Assistance, Faith, Action, and the Help of Ke Akua, our important improvements and aims will be achieved.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?

Since I also have been educated in the Health Sciences such as the University of California Medical Center at San Francisco, AHEPA Hospital as part of Aristotle University at Thessaloniki, Greece, and UCLA, and have practical experience such as providing patient care for Kupuna at The King Lunalilo Home, I enjoy serving and meeting the Health and Social Patient or Client Needs. Accordingly, there presently are serious and urgent needs of Families and Foster Children particularly on the Big Island of Hawaii. There is a great shortage of case workers and staff to meet these needs. Their condition is a manifestation of the weakened "Social Determinants", which I previously described. Although I reside on Oahu, I chose to be an OHA At-Large Candidate so I can serve and help the Families and Foster Children particularly on the Big Island of Hawaii. I please ask your consideration to be elected so I can serve and assist our Native Hawaiian Families and Foster Children particularly on the Big Island of Hawaii. Mahalo and Aloha for such consideration.